nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect
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 Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:09 pm Post subject: Battery spoofer for testing smart charger maintainers (COR |
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While contemplating a series of tests to investigate the
condition of a couple of Bob Noffs' chargers, I suffered one
of those epiphany moments that suggest the legacy test
protocols were exceedingly slow, clumsy and not very creative.
The smart charger maintainer has no way to KNOW what kind
of device is connected to its output terminals. All it can do
is output energy under some protocol (probably semi-constant
current), watch how the 'battery' responds to that output and
react to changes over time.
Went to the bench and clipped these parts together:
[img]cid:7.1.0.9.0.20130114180650.01e5bbe8(at)aeroelectric.com.1[/img]
In my case, a 5 ohm resistor was used for a load (about 2.2A). A convenient
alternative would be a 35 or 55w halogen lamp from Walmart. You need
two meters and a bench supply capable of carrying the lamp load at
15 volts or more. The lamp load total (along with ratings on your
bench supply) needs to be some value greater than the output current
rating for the SCM under test.
First, hook up the power supply, voltmeter, and load. See power
supply for say 10 volts (depleted battery level).
Clip SCM to the load while monitoring the charger's
output on the ammeter. You should see a current reading that is in
the ball park for the SCM under test. I just did this test with a
Battery Tender. Got an initial charge current of 0.9A.
Put on your "battery spoofer's" hat and slowly increase the voltage
while watching the ammeter reading. Somewhere north of 14 volts you
should see a sharp drop in current. That voltage reading will be
the top-off termination point for your particular SCM.
Slowly decrease the power supply and watch for the amperage to
increase from zero. Adjust the voltage so that you get current
reading on the order of 10 milliamps. This voltage will be the
maintenance float voltage for your SCM under test.
I just tested the two SCMs that Bob Noffs sent me some weeks
ago. Both tested a zero output. So one couldn't do a comparative
looksee for voltage switching levels or maintenance protocols.
You were right Bob. These critters just laid there.
If anyone has a relatively new SCM that seems not to function,
this test will confirm/deny your suspicions. Further, the results
of the testing will offer concrete justification for warranty
claims for either gross failures like I just described . . . or
failure to demonstrate recharge rates and voltages commensurate with
expected performance.
[url=??] Bob . . . [/url]
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
01/14/13
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