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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
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 Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 10:40 am Post subject: Battery charger/maintainers |
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Odyssey claims that a Battery Tender (and I presume
Battery Minders with charge rates under 1A are incapable of
charging an Odyssey product due to "low initial charge
rates(?)"
I have long thought that a lead-acid product
of any capacity would eventually achieve a full
state of charge at any rate . . . as long as the
top-off voltage plateau was reached and held for
a substantial period of time . . . say 1 hour
or more.
I've never owned an Odyssey but I've used Battery-Tender
charger-maintainers for years on batteries up through
33 a.h. and found that the batteries took some time to
charge but cap-checked pretty much as expected. It's
not clear to me how would an Odyssey be that much different
than a Panasonic.
I found some test data I gathered on two wall-warts
(a Tender and a Minder) along with the Schumacher 1562
[img]cid:7.1.0.9.0.20131023133031.02075268(at)aeroelectric.com.3[/img]
A Battery Minder I tested does not appear to accomplish a true
top-off cycle. On the other hand, the Battery Tender does seem to
conduct a top-off . . .
[img]cid:7.1.0.9.0.20131023133031.02075268(at)aeroelectric.com.4[/img]
But the real value in $low$ charger/maintainers seems to be the
Schumacher 1562
[img]cid:7.1.0.9.0.20131023133031.02075268(at)aeroelectric.com.5[/img]
The 1562 is about 2/3 the cost of the wall-warts, about twice
the "initial charge" rate and exhibits a robust/practical
implementation of a top-off cycle.
I have Battery Tenders in my shop . . .which seem to have served
me well . . . along with the 1562's for years.
Data shown above gives me pause to wonder if people do not make a
distinction between Battery Tenders and Battery Minders.
It's the Battery Minder that may be the bad-boy on the
street.
Bob . . .
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Tim Olson
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 2872
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| Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 11:50 am Post subject: Battery charger/maintainers |
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chasb(at)satx.rr.com
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 8:11 am Post subject: Battery charger/maintainers |
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Bob,
In my case, the problem child was/is, very definitely, a Battery Tender.
Of note, I do have a Battery Tender, Jr. on a SLVA battery that I bought from a computer store, sort of a cheap PC-680 knockoff (12 volts and 17 a.h.) The battery runs an electric gate on my driveway. The Battery Tender, Jr. has maintained that battery for nearly ten years now with no problems ever noted. Of course, the gate doesn't require the battery performance compared to that necessary to start an airplane.
Charlie Brame
RV-6A, N11CB
San Antonio
------------------------------------------------------------------
Time: 11:40:33 AM PST US
From: "Robert L. Nuckolls, III" <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)>
Subject: Battery charger/maintainers
Odyssey claims that a Battery Tender (and I presume
Battery Minders with charge rates under 1A are incapable of
charging an Odyssey product due to "low initial charge
rates(?)"
I have long thought that a lead-acid product
of any capacity would eventually achieve a full
state of charge at any rate . . . as long as the
top-off voltage plateau was reached and held for
a substantial period of time . . . say 1 hour
or more.
I've never owned an Odyssey but I've used Battery-Tender
charger-maintainers for years on batteries up through
33 a.h. and found that the batteries took some time to
charge but cap-checked pretty much as expected. It's
not clear to me how would an Odyssey be that much different
than a Panasonic.
I found some test data I gathered on two wall-warts
(a Tender and a Minder) along with the Schumacher 1562
Emacs!
A Battery Minder I tested does not appear to accomplish a true
top-off cycle. On the other hand, the Battery Tender does seem to
conduct a top-off . . .
Emacs!
But the real value in $low$ charger/maintainers seems to be the
Schumacher 1562
Emacs!
The 1562 is about 2/3 the cost of the wall-warts, about twice
the "initial charge" rate and exhibits a robust/practical
implementation of a top-off cycle.
I have Battery Tenders in my shop . . .which seem to have served
me well . . . along with the 1562's for years.
Data shown above gives me pause to wonder if people do not make a
distinction between Battery Tenders and Battery Minders.
It's the Battery Minder that may be the bad-boy on the
street.
Bob . . .
________________________________ Message 10 ______________
[quote][b]
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skywagon
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:17 am Post subject: Battery charger/maintainers |
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I too use several Battery Tenders (BY) &/or the 1562 model sold by Sears and others. Early on, I found that some maintainers ship from the factory with either the high point and float level voltages set incorrectly.
In the early models of the BT (and, maybe still . .) the case could be removed and inside were two mini-pots that could be adjusted for the correct high and float voltage points.
My suggestion to anyone using these units to at least check the float voltage after the battery and maintainer have stabilized. Using your trusty DVM check that the float voltage is about 13.2 v. on a 12 v. battery. A higher float voltage might gas the battery in long term storage mode depending on its chemistry health.
D
[quote] ---
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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 11:56 am Post subject: Battery charger/maintainers |
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At 12:17 PM 10/24/2013, you wrote:
| Quote: | I too use several Battery Tenders (BY) &/or the 1562 model sold by Sears and others. Early on, I found that some maintainers ship from the factory with either the high point and float level voltages set incorrectly.
In the early models of the BT (and, maybe still . .) the case could be removed and inside were two mini-pots that could be adjusted for the correct high and float voltage points.
My suggestion to anyone using these units to at least check the float voltage after the battery and maintainer have stabilized. Using your trusty DVM check that the float voltage is about 13.2 v. on a 12 v. battery. A higher float voltage might gas the battery in long term storage mode depending on its chemistry health.
|
My good friend Skip Koss at Concorde reminds
me that the Battery Minder brand has expanded
over the years to include a constellation of battery
maintenance products.
http://tinyurl.com/mzn8z92
Skip says Concorde has evaluated and endorsed the S2
model for their batteries . . . he said and I
quote, "Bob, the charge curve on the 1562 looks like
the BatteryMINDER “S2” curve that we endorse,
except that the BatteryMINDER has an ambient temperature
sensor that regulates the charging and float (OCV)
voltage at temperatures from -40 to 140F perfectly,
can be and SHOULD be left on these hanger queens
24/7 and their batteries will last them 8-10 years."
No doubt the data under which we've labored
since I pitched a BatteryMinder wall wart based on
a gimpy recharge curve 10 years ago is probably
invalid. Everybody has had a chance to
run the marketplace race and I suspect that the
original prohibitions against BatteryMinder
are inappropriate.
Similarly, Battery Tender's stable of products
has blossomed too.
http://tinyurl.com/q6qq637
Bottom line is that either of these brands have
earned a fresh look at present performance.
It's highly probable that Schumacher's technology
has evolved as well. I'll pick up a new 1562
and run the plot. Until more data is known,
my opinion as to the performance/value of this
product is unchanged . . . but new numbers could
break that bubble in a heartbeat.
Bob . . . [quote][b]
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ralphmariafinch(at)gmail.
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| Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 2:05 pm Post subject: Battery charger/maintainers |
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Aviation Consumer (September 2011) had a comparison of battery chargers. Here's their conclusion:
Our Winner
There really is no contest; the VDC BatteryMINDer aviation chargers win in all departments, except price. But for that price you get what you pay for. You get an aviation-specific, simple-to-use, full-featured, temperature-compensated, powerful charger capable of charging up to three batteries at once, or one battery much faster and safer than any other charger tested. About the only other time you will find a temperature probe other than the BatteryMINDer is with costly, deep-cycle marine/RV chargers costing many hundreds of dollars.
There are two different BatteryMINDer charging profiles for aircraft batteries (S2 and S3) and two different voltages (12 and 24), so read the VDC aviation Web page section carefully or ask them for help, but the Web site is quite clear.
The S2 models are for Concorde batteries (AGM and flooded) and Gill (AGM and flooded) batteries. The S3 models are for the expensive Gill LT Series AGM and Odyssey/Hawker batteries.
Prices on the VDC Web site for the top recommended models 12248-AA-S2 and S3 (12-volt) and 24041-AA-S2 and S3 (24-volt) BatteryMINDer series are in the $198 price range. For now, they are including a free digital multi-meter as part of this charger purchase. There are also European versions that operate from 220/240 volts.
Until withdrawn, they are offering a trade-up from any type/brand non-aviation specific charger (including their own non-aviation types) at a substantial discount from their suggested retail. Offer details are available on the first page of the aviation section of their Web site www.battery-minders.com.They also have two types of solar panels with controllers for inside the airplane, as well as super charger/25-amp, 24-volt power supply combination unit, model 28252-AA.
[quote][b]
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