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Author Topic: Project - battery charging  (Read 3916 times)

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The Barge Captain

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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #15 on: 09 October 2006, 13:48:14 »
Cheap and nasty battery chargers have a very rough DC output which could damage the diodes in the alternator.  Difficult to know how bad yours might or might not be without specialist electrical test equipment.

However, if you have a "Farnell" PSU like wot i does, that only has a 2 amp output, but it is totally pure DC.  Not a bump or ripple in it - even better than the alternator  (or auto nater as i once saw a second hand one advertised in the free ads paper)
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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #16 on: 09 October 2006, 18:06:23 »
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Cheap and nasty battery chargers have a very rough DC output which could damage the diodes in the alternator.  Difficult to know how bad yours might or might not be without specialist electrical test equipment.

However, if you have a "Farnell" PSU like wot i does, that only has a 2 amp output, but it is totally pure DC.  Not a bump or ripple in it - even better than the alternator  (or auto nater as i once saw a second hand one advertised in the free ads paper)

The battery charger chosen only has a range of 200 to 800 ma.
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Taxi_Driver

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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #17 on: 09 October 2006, 18:59:41 »
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The problem with batteries is mainly over the winter months, short journeys hammer a battery and it is never really fully charged.

Even long journeys, if you are sat in a lot of traffic jams (quite usual in todays type of motoring), with lights, heater etc. on you may never really fully charge a battery during the winter months.

How often do you check the condition of your battery with a meter?

Nearly everyone assumes because the car started in the morning, the battery is OK, then suddenly, one morning - nothing!

Even newish batteries can let you down over the winter months.

My philosophy is, prevention is better than cure.

Good idea AA to keep the bat topped up as you do many short runs.....
I never check my battery i admit.....if a car starts to struggle to start then i just go get another battery for it.
I had to get another battery for my merc last winter.....the battery had been fine....car started every morning ok....then the car got left stood still for 2 weeks....the driver went on hols.
Result was battery went flat.....i assume coz of alarm draining it.....central locking still worked...but it wouldnt turn the engine over.....i did try charging the battery, but wouldnt hold a charge....i think it was the fact that it had been left flat that killed it off.

The only thing i would suggest about your project is.....

I dont see how its going to help you get into your car if the battery has died completely
Ie if the batt was ok the day before for example......and died completely overnight....so remote central locking wont even work....i think the battery is never going to get enough charge from a 1/2amp trickle charge to operate the central locking.

So my suggestion would be......if you dont want to do the force the key in the lock approach...

Is to run a +ve wire from the battery to a stud that you access from the front underneath protected with a cover....fused near as you can to the battery with say a 20amp fuse.

Then you can either connect another battery or a heavy duty enuf 12v power supply (not a 12v car battery charger) to the stud and and earth point using crock clips....this will enable the central locking to work.

Use your 1/2 amp trickle charger with a couple of crock clips connected to you battery, when your car is parked up at home.....place it in the engine bay and shut the bonnet and lock the car.

Cheers
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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #18 on: 09 October 2006, 19:32:27 »
The idea is TD, not to let the battery 'die' in the first place. My last battery died after I had been on holiday for 2 weeks. Neither myself, or the RAC bloke could get into the car forcing the key.

Had to put a current through the starter motor to get into the car.

I think, and so does Mark, that the charger would provide enough current to operate the doors by remote.

Although I have a double garage, my car will not fit in it, so it tends to get left out on the drive, the project seemed to be an easy way of charging, and an emergency power supply source, if needed.

If the battery ever dies again, and the charger will not provide enough current to open the doors, I can easily connect another battery to the socket, without (a) trying to force the lock, or (b) crawling under the car to try and get some current through the starter motor.

What I shall do, next time I go on holiday without the car, is to connect the charger to a timer, and give the battery a trickle from time to time.
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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #19 on: 10 October 2006, 17:07:21 »
Project completed!
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Allenm

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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #20 on: 10 October 2006, 17:11:06 »
Go on then ... what did you do in the end??  Any pics??
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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #21 on: 10 October 2006, 17:14:08 »
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Go on then ... what did you do in the end??  Any pics??

Can't post any pics as most of it's concealed.

Basicaly, I've use an inline plug and socket to make the conection.
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Allenm

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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #22 on: 10 October 2006, 17:16:24 »
Sounds good  :y  hope it works for you!
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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #23 on: 10 October 2006, 17:21:48 »
If you're going to the Pod, you can have a look.
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Taxi_Driver

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Re: Project - battery charging
« Reply #24 on: 10 October 2006, 17:59:56 »
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Project completed!

Well done AA  :y
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