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Charging two EarthX batteries

 
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haribole



Joined: 21 Feb 2014
Posts: 33
Location: United States

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2020 5:12 pm    Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries Reply with quote

I have two earthX batteries and use an external port to connect an optimate TM-291, 5 AMP charger to charge these two batteries. Current setup is to manually connect / disconnect the cable from the port to either battery.  The only problem with this approach is that when one battery is charged, I have to manually connect the second battery. Some kind of a voltage sensing relay to switch out the first battery and and connect the charger output to the second battery would be an ideal solution.
Wonder if anyone has any tips? I looked at some dual battery chargers, but not sure how these would work with the optimate charger and earthX batteries.
Thanks
Hari


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nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
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PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2020 6:43 pm    Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries Reply with quote

At 08:09 PM 5/3/2020, you wrote:
Quote:
I have two earthX batteries and use an external port to connect an optimate TM-291, 5 AMP charger to charge these two batteries. Current setup is to manually connect / disconnect the cable from the port to either battery. The only problem with this approach is that when one battery is charged, I have to manually connect the second battery. Some kind of a voltage sensing relay to switch out the first battery and and connect the charger output to the second battery would be an ideal solution.

Wonder if anyone has any tips? I looked at some dual battery chargers, but not sure how these would work with the optimate charger and earthX batteries.

Thanks
Hari

Why do you need to 'charge' these batteries?
How often do you fly. How long is your
longest storage interval?

There is 'tribal knowledge' that suggests
a benefit for hooking 'shore power'
to the battery(ies) in a parked airplane. But unlike
the flooded battery in your grandpa's '54, 6v Pontiac,
modern SVLA and LiFePo batteries have very low self-discharge
rates.

Unless you're storing the airplane for a long
period of time, shore power connection
isn't really useful . . . and if the charger
is poorly designed for such service . . . it
may be detrimental to the service life of the
battery.

What does EarthX recommend for battery maintenance
during various intervals of inactivity?

Here's a data-dump on the topic of self-discharge
in batteries . . . along with a wealth of other
battery info.

https://tinyurl.com/yczco6vp

If you're going to store for a long time and especially
if ambient temps are high, consider removing the battery(ies)
for storage under your bed . . . or some other environmentally
friendly space.

Otherwise, your batteries should live and perform
well with no external attention. You do need a charger
in case of inadvertent depletion of the battery(ies) . . .
in which case, I would charge them independently
before flight.


Bob . . .


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haribole



Joined: 21 Feb 2014
Posts: 33
Location: United States

PostPosted: Mon May 04, 2020 5:25 am    Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries Reply with quote

Bang on Bob! I was over thinking in the wrong direction and not enough in the right direction! 🙏🙂

On Sun, May 3, 2020, 10:50 PM Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:

Quote:
At 08:09 PM 5/3/2020, you wrote:
Quote:
I have two earthX batteries and use an external port to connect an optimate TM-291, 5 AMP charger to charge these two batteries. Current setup is to manually connect / disconnect the cable from the port to either battery.  The only problem with this approach is that when one battery is charged, I have to manually connect the second battery. Some kind of a voltage sensing relay to switch out the first battery and and connect the charger output to the second battery would be an ideal solution.

Wonder if anyone has any tips? I looked at some dual battery chargers, but not sure how these would work with the optimate charger and earthX batteries.

Thanks
Hari

  Why do you need to 'charge' these batteries?
  How often do you fly. How long is your
  longest storage interval?

  There is 'tribal knowledge' that suggests
  a benefit for hooking 'shore power'
  to the battery(ies) in a parked airplane. But unlike
  the flooded battery in your grandpa's '54, 6v Pontiac,
  modern SVLA and LiFePo batteries have very low self-discharge
  rates.

  Unless you're storing the airplane for a long
  period of time, shore power connection
  isn't really useful . . . and if the charger
  is poorly designed for such service . . . it
  may be detrimental to the service life of the
  battery.

  What does EarthX recommend for battery maintenance
  during various intervals of inactivity?

  Here's a data-dump on the topic of self-discharge
  in batteries . . . along with a wealth of other
  battery info.

  https://tinyurl.com/yczco6vp

  If you're going to store for a long time and especially
  if ambient temps are high, consider removing the battery(ies)
  for storage under your bed . . . or some other environmentally
  friendly space.

  Otherwise, your batteries should live and perform
  well with no external attention. You do need a charger
  in case of inadvertent depletion of the battery(ies) . . .
  in which case, I would charge them independently
  before flight.


  Bob . . .


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