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haribole
Joined: 21 Feb 2014 Posts: 33 Location: United States
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 5:12 pm Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries |
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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 Guest
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 6:43 pm Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries |
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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
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2020 5:25 am Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries |
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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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