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Battery charger / power supply

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art(at)zemon.name
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 3:58 pm Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

Would this be good for my plane after I have an engine and for testing the panel now?https://m.harborfreight.com/2815-amp-automatic-microprocessor-controlled-battery-charger-63299.html



Â Â Â  -- Art Z.



Sent from my phone. Please excuse brevity and bizarre typos.

cluros(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 4:26 pm Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

The problem I see with that charger Art is that it will not act as a power supply. If you want to test the panel or power the aircraft, that charger will turn itself off automatically if it sees the drain.



I would go with something like this that has a power supply mode. This one will supply 5A continuously while you work. If I'm going to have the master on more than a couple minutes I plug it into ground power to support the battery.

https://www.amazon.ca/NOCO-G7200-7-2-Amp-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B004LWTHP2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1508718168&sr=8-1&keywords=genius+charger+7200



On Sun, Oct 22, 2017 at 4:56 PM, Art Zemon <art(at)zemon.name (art(at)zemon.name)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Would this be good for my plane after I have an engine and for testing the panel now?https://m.harborfreight.com/2815-amp-automatic-microprocessor-controlled-battery-charger-63299.html



Â Â Â  -- Art Z.



Sent from my phone. Please excuse brevity and bizarre typos.

skywagon

Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 4:45 pm Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

Hi Art,

 I think you are asking 2 questions about battery and panel test.

  

 If you are just trying to  keep a good battery  charged/maintained, there are several low cost "maintainers" out  there.  Harbor F. has one for about $5 - 10, depending on their crazy sales  ads.  It is small and works for "maintaining" only.  Not for charging  a flat battery or testing panels as its current ability is too low.  

  

 The only detail to note in its use... is to measure the float voltage once  it has stabilized the charging level of the battery.  My suggestion is that  it should "float" about 13.2 to 13.4 v.  Others may disagree.  If  it is not that, save your receipt, return it and get another unit.  The  older style units, with a little case modification, could be adjusted to the  correct voltage range.  Not sure the current models can be adjusted.

  

 Now, for general charging/maintaining and panel testing, I believe the unit  you suggested should work fine.  Keep in mind that it's top current ability  is 15 amps.  So, don't fire up the panel and accessories to more than  approx. 12 amps or so.  

 All should be fine.  Let us know if use this unit how it performs. . .  .

 Dave

  

   

 [quote]   ---

jimkale(at)roadrunner.com
Guest

Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:04 pm Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

I read with interest the battery charging information.Â Â  

I agree that a battery charger/maintainer is the way to go.

 

I do not get the cheap (made in China battery chargers) the life expectancy of some of the cheap parts in them is too much of an issue for me.Â Â  All it takes is for a resistor, or capacitor to go out and the charger to go into a high voltage mode and you have a melt down on your battery.Â Â  It could possibly catch fire and burn your airplane up.

 

I pay a little more and get one of the high quality BATTERY MINDER charger/maintainers.Â  They have a proven reputation and are built with high quality parts.Â  They also have circuits to prevent high runaway voltage just in case one of the critical parts fail.

 

Think about what you are risking with a battery charger malfunction.Â Â  Fortunately, most of the time, if there is a part failure, they just shut down, and drain your battery to zero.Â  Then you get to buy another battery and another charger.

 

From: owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-aeroelectric-list-server(at)matronics.com] On Behalf Of Art Zemon

Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2017 6:56 PM

To: aeroelectric-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Battery charger / power supply

 

Would this be good for my plane after I have an engine and for testing the panel now?

https://m.harborfreight.com/2815-amp-automatic-microprocessor-controlled-battery-charger-63299.html

    -- Art Z.



Sent from my phone. Please excuse brevity and bizarre typos.

art(at)zemon.name
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 3:08 am Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

Having gotten home from dinner (so I'm no longer surfing the HF website on my phone) and slept (so I'm more rational), I reread the Batteries chapter of the AEC. Based on what I read this morning, it is time for me to buy the battery(ies) for my plane and a trickle charger. I'll let the battery supply the higher current for testing the panel and then let the charger replenish the battery at a lower current.

Cheers,

Â  Â  -- Art Z.

-- 

https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/"If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

ceengland7(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:02 am Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

On 10/23/2017 6:06 AM, Art Zemon wrote:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		                  Having           gotten home from dinner (so I'm no longer surfing the HF           website on my phone) and slept (so I'm more rational), I           reread the Batteries chapter of the AEC. Based on what I read           this morning, it is time for me to buy the battery(ies) for my           plane and a trickle charger. I'll let the battery supply the           higher current for testing the panel and then let the charger           replenish the battery at a lower current.

         

         

         Cheers,

         Â            Â  -- Art Z.

         

         

         -- 

                                                        https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/                                      "If                     I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only                     for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

                 

               

             

           

         

       

     	
     I'm getting the impression that we might be talking about leaving     the charger on the battery all the time. There's a lot of empirical     evidence for that being a bad idea, even with a 'smart' 'maintainer'     style charger. AGM batteries have very little self-discharge over     time, so they don't need to be 'maintained'. As an example, my 4+     year old AGM battery in my RV-4 often sits for over a month without     being flown, but it starts the plane just fine after sitting. On the     other hand, there have been numerous posts on this and other     lists/forums by people who've left a 'smart maintainer' style     charger hooked to their AGM battery and had the battery die a very     premature death. It's extremely rare to hear about early death when     the battery is just used normally.

     

     Charlie

     	          		Virus-free. www.avast.com 		 	 [url=#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2] [/url]

nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:10 am Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

At 06:06 AM 10/23/2017, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Having gotten home from dinner (so I'm no longer surfing the HF website on my phone) and slept (so I'm more rational), I reread the Batteries chapter of the AEC. Based on what I read this morning, it is time for me to buy the battery(ies) for my plane and a trickle charger. I'll let the battery supply the higher current for testing the panel and then let the charger replenish the battery at a lower current. 	


   That will work.  My current favorites for $value$ in

   small charger/maintainers are the Schumacher SEMI1562A



  http://tinyurl.com/y8o3ryb5



   or Battery Tender Jr



  http://tinyurl.com/y8dzte5o



   I have both of these products in service

   in my shop and I have installed them on

   farm equipment for several friends.



   Left plugged in and connected to your

   ship's battery at all times, you can use

   the battery for short interval testing

   (say 30 minutes to a hour) in the battery-

   only, endurance mode. The charger will

   have the battery topped back off by

   the next morning.



   The Schumacher has about 2x the output of the

   Battery Tender so it will top off a bit

   quicker . . . but both will do the job.



   For extended ground ops on the airplane,

   consider something like this:



  http://tinyurl.com/ycg5uuf3



   This can be floated across the ship's

   battery but should not be used to charge

   a depleted battery.



 



 

 

   Bob . . .

art(at)zemon.name
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:23 am Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

Charlie,

For now, I will use the battery for testing the electrical devices in the plane while I am assembling it. I will use the charger to recharge the battery since the plane does not (yet) have an engine.

Â  Â  -- Art Z.





On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 10:05 AM, Charlie England <ceengland7(at)gmail.com (ceengland7(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		                     On 10/23/2017 6:06 AM, Art Zemon wrote:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		                  Having           gotten home from dinner (so I'm no longer surfing the HF           website on my phone) and slept (so I'm more rational), I           reread the Batteries chapter of the AEC. Based on what I read           this morning, it is time for me to buy the battery(ies) for my           plane and a trickle charger. I'll let the battery supply the           higher current for testing the panel and then let the charger           replenish the battery at a lower current.

         

         

         Cheers,

         Â            Â  -- Art Z.

         

         

         -- 

                                                        https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/                                      "If                     I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only                     for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

                 

               

             

           

         

       

     	




     I'm getting the impression that we might be talking about leaving     the charger on the battery all the time. There's a lot of empirical     evidence for that being a bad idea, even with a 'smart' 'maintainer'     style charger. AGM batteries have very little self-discharge over     time, so they don't need to be 'maintained'. As an example, my 4+     year old AGM battery in my RV-4 often sits for over a month without     being flown, but it starts the plane just fine after sitting. On the     other hand, there have been numerous posts on this and other     lists/forums by people who've left a 'smart maintainer' style     charger hooked to their AGM battery and had the battery die a very     premature death. It's extremely rare to hear about early death when     the battery is just used normally.

     

     Charlie

   

  	         [/url] 		Virus-free. [url=https://www.avast.com/sig-email?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=emailclient&utm_term=link]www.avast.com 		 	 [url=#m_6940801807452127696_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2] [/url]

  

	




-- 

https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/"If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

art(at)zemon.name
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:32 am Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 10:09 AM, Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		    At 06:06 AM 10/23/2017, you wrote:

  	  Quote: 	
		  Having gotten home from dinner (so I'm no longer surfing the HF website on my phone) and slept (so I'm more rational), I reread the Batteries chapter of the AEC. Based on what I read this morning, it is time for me to buy the battery(ies) for my plane and a trickle charger. I'll let the battery supply the higher current for testing the panel and then let the charger replenish the battery at a lower current. 	


 Â  That will work.Â  My current favorites for $value$ in

 Â  small charger/maintainers are the Schumacher SEMI1562A



  http://tinyurl.com/y8o3ryb5



 Â  or Battery Tender Jr



  http://tinyurl.com/y8dzte5o



 Â  I have both of these products in service

 Â  in my shop and I have installed them on

 Â  farm equipment for several friends.



 Â  Left plugged in and connected to your

 Â  ship's battery at all times, you can use

 Â  the battery for short interval testing

 Â  (say 30 minutes to a hour) in the battery-

 Â  only, endurance mode. The charger will

 Â  have the battery topped back off by

 Â  the next morning.

	




â€‹Yup. That's exactly what I have in mind. I won't have the big-current stuff turned on at all. Radios won't be transmitting. Lights won't be on more than momentarily. Pitot heat not on. Etc.

Cheers,

Â  Â  -- Art Z.â€‹





-- 

https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/"If I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

cluros(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 7:36 am Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

Charlie, I'm not sure "starts the plane just fine" is a good metric of battery health. This summer my one year old AGM battery started the plane fine 3 times in one day right before it self discharged to 10V in 4 days.



Sebastien



On Oct 23, 2017, at 08:05, Charlie England <ceengland7(at)gmail.com (ceengland7(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		                     On 10/23/2017 6:06 AM, Art Zemon wrote:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		                  Having           gotten home from dinner (so I'm no longer surfing the HF           website on my phone) and slept (so I'm more rational), I           reread the Batteries chapter of the AEC. Based on what I read           this morning, it is time for me to buy the battery(ies) for my           plane and a trickle charger. I'll let the battery supply the           higher current for testing the panel and then let the charger           replenish the battery at a lower current.

         

         

         Cheers,

                       -- Art Z.

         

         

         -- 

                                                        https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/                                      "If                     I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only                     for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

                 

               

             

           

         

       

     	
     I'm getting the impression that we might be talking about leaving     the charger on the battery all the time. There's a lot of empirical     evidence for that being a bad idea, even with a 'smart' 'maintainer'     style charger. AGM batteries have very little self-discharge over     time, so they don't need to be 'maintained'. As an example, my 4+     year old AGM battery in my RV-4 often sits for over a month without     being flown, but it starts the plane just fine after sitting. On the     other hand, there have been numerous posts on this and other     lists/forums by people who've left a 'smart maintainer' style     charger hooked to their AGM battery and had the battery die a very     premature death. It's extremely rare to hear about early death when     the battery is just used normally.

     

     Charlie

   

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ceengland7(at)gmail.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 8:12 am Post subject: Battery charger / power supply

No argument to the bare statement, but it's barely tangential to the subject at hand. And nowhere near enough data to know what happened to yours. Did you leave it on a trickle charger all the time? Was the charging system in your a/c working properly? Was your battery defective?



I had one that died after about the same lengthÂ  of time. When I pulled the cowl to check it, there was a pinhole in the side of the battery; obviously done in shipping (or in the plant) almost a year earlier. It had been slowly puking acid vapors out that 'vent' since new. Worked fine until it didn't.



On Mon, Oct 23, 2017 at 10:35 AM, Sebastien <cluros(at)gmail.com (cluros(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  Charlie, I'm not sure "starts the plane just fine" is a good metric of battery health. This summer my one year old AGM battery started the plane fine 3 times in one day right before it self discharged to 10V in 4 days.



Sebastien



On Oct 23, 2017, at 08:05, Charlie England <ceengland7(at)gmail.com (ceengland7(at)gmail.com)> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		                     On 10/23/2017 6:06 AM, Art Zemon wrote:

     

      	  Quote: 	
		                  Having           gotten home from dinner (so I'm no longer surfing the HF           website on my phone) and slept (so I'm more rational), I           reread the Batteries chapter of the AEC. Based on what I read           this morning, it is time for me to buy the battery(ies) for my           plane and a trickle charger. I'll let the battery supply the           higher current for testing the panel and then let the charger           replenish the battery at a lower current.

         

         

         Cheers,

         Â            Â  -- Art Z.

         

         

         -- 

                                                        https://CheerfulCurmudgeon.com/                                      "If                     I am not for myself, who is for me? And if I am only                     for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?" Hillel

                 

               

             

           

         

       

     	
     I'm getting the impression that we might be talking about leaving     the charger on the battery all the time. There's a lot of empirical     evidence for that being a bad idea, even with a 'smart' 'maintainer'     style charger. AGM batteries have very little self-discharge over     time, so they don't need to be 'maintained'. As an example, my 4+     year old AGM battery in my RV-4 often sits for over a month without     being flown, but it starts the plane just fine after sitting. On the     other hand, there have been numerous posts on this and other     lists/forums by people who've left a 'smart maintainer' style     charger hooked to their AGM battery and had the battery die a very     premature death. It's extremely rare to hear about early death when     the battery is just used normally.

     

     Charlie

   

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