 | |
Trickle Charging While on Vacation?
Volvo automobiles Volvo automobiles. (alt.autos.volvo)
 |
| | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
 
| |||
| |||
|
Re: Trickle Charging While on Vacation? -
08-11-2008
, 07:25 AM
|
Maarten Deen wrote: Leftie <No (AT) Thanks (DOT) net> writes: Maarten Deen wrote: Aside from purpose chargers, is it a Relly Bad Thing(tm) to just hook up a regulated power supply to the battery or will that also do the trick? I have the same problem with my oldtimer convertible which does not see the light of winter. That depends on what you mean by "regulated." If it switches off when the battery voltage hits 13.6 or so, and doesn't try to charge at 10 amps, it may be ok. But seriously, why not spend $35 for a real battery maintainer? I'm thinking of a laboratory power supply, set so 12 or 13 V. It will not give more than that voltage and the current will drop to almost 0 when the battery is full. I'm wondering if that is bad for the battery or not. Oh, and I'm Dutch  Maarten Is the power supply happy connected to a 13V unlimited current supply if the mains fails?? Many are not. Steve H There are standing recommendations to use only chargers and not power |
mentions above, which is probably the reason for such recommendations,
is easy to protect against. Just fit a blocking diode of a large enough
amperage rating on the +ve lead, and crank up the output voltage by .2V
to take account of the voltage drop across the diode. This prevents the
battery supplying voltage to the output terminals of the power supply if
the mains fails, or, if someone 'helpfully' turns the PSU output down.
Ken P.
#12
| |||
| |||
|
|
Aside from purpose chargers, is it a Relly Bad Thing(tm) to just hook up a regulated power supply to the battery or will that also do the trick? I have the same problem with my oldtimer convertible which does not see the light of winter. I'm thinking of a laboratory power supply, set so 12 or 13 V. It will not give more than that voltage and the current will drop to almost 0 when the battery is full. I'm wondering if that is bad for the battery or not. |
preset and a high current capability. A trickle charger is just a
regulated power supply with the voltage preset and a low current
capability.
The problem with using a normal regulated power supply is if you make an
error in setting the voltage. If it is too low you won't get a full
charge and if it is too high you will burn off the electrolyte and ruin
the battery. I think the power supply should be set at 13.6 volts or
slightly less, not 12 or 13 volts. That makes a big difference.
Battery manufacturers should have a spec sheet which lists the optimum
trickle charge voltage.
Also, never set a battery on a concrete floor. That shortens the life.
I am not sure exactly why except the floor is a huge thermal sink and
causes condensation in humid weather. It also causes a thermal gradient
in the battery.
--
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA
Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos.
The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery.
http://rhodyman.net/homevo.html
|
« Previous Thread
|
Next Thread »
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
Linear Mode
| |
Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.