Topic: Dodged a bullet.. (Read 3903 times)

Murph · « **on:** 06 January 2013, 17:01:32 »

Figuratively speaking

While I was busy looking for my water leak yesterday I thought I'd better check the condition of my powersounder.
It looked OK but I removed it anyway.

The plug was very tight in it's socket so I gave it a little wiggle and out it popped.... or at least some of it did.

The rest stayed in the socket and looked very melted/burnt.

Am I right in thinking this was a time bomb about to blow?

05omegav6 · « **Reply #1 on:** 06 January 2013, 17:04:48 »

Best buy a lottery ticket

zirk · « **Reply #2 on:** 06 January 2013, 17:30:38 »

Bit of scraping with a screwdriver and some switch cleaner be good as new, ready to back in the car.

Murph · « **Reply #3 on:** 06 January 2013, 17:52:01 »

Oh right, nice one!

I'll get right on that then...

tidla · « **Reply #4 on:** 06 January 2013, 19:44:00 »

Mine is still sitting on the fence in the garden..

YZ250 · « **Reply #5 on:** 06 January 2013, 20:52:57 »

Quote from: tidla on 06 January 2013, 19:44:00

Mine is still sitting on the fence in the garden..

Seperate it, chuck the inners away, poke the taped up connector through the connector hole and hey presto, it's visually back to Thatcham spec................. or you could fit a new one like I did.

Andy B · « **Reply #6 on:** 06 January 2013, 20:56:26 »

Quote from: YZ250 on 06 January 2013, 20:52:57

.................. or you could fit a new one like I did.

Likewise. I took the cover off one end & discovered it was fully encapsulated with a black rubber. After a very quick dig to see if it'd easily come out (it wasn't

) the whole thing went into the wheelie bin.

Murph · « **Reply #7 on:** 06 January 2013, 21:01:37 »

I have already found a later type one from an 02 Vectra, but it looks like I'll need to go back and get the plug - I forgot that bit!

dbug · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 January 2013, 01:12:50 »

Quote from: Murph on 06 January 2013, 21:01:37

I have already found a later type one from an 02 Vectra, but it looks like I'll need to go back and get the plug - I forgot that bit!

Wouldn't trust a 2nd hand one mate - our Omega is on 03 plates and the original powersounder "died" and had to be removed

05omegav6 · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 January 2013, 01:17:50 »

Wouldn't trust a 'new'one either, without confirming that it has been made in the last year or so $:-\$

Dave DND · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 January 2013, 11:12:02 »

Quote from: ex taxi al on 07 January 2013, 01:17:50

Wouldn't trust a 'new'one either, without confirming that it has been made in the last year or so $:-\$

Research seems to indicate that its the constant charging/discharging of these that causes the batteries to swell and burst their seals - whilst its not impossible for a new one to be faulty, its unlikely to suffer initially from the same type of fault as the leaking cells.

Murph · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 January 2013, 16:31:14 »

Noted - cheers fella's!

Marks DTM Calib · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 January 2013, 16:52:44 »

Major issue with them is that they dont actualy have a 'charge' circuit (of any level of quality) and hence they get pretty heavily over charged

Dave DND · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 January 2013, 17:03:30 »

Quote from: Marks DTM Calib on 07 January 2013, 16:52:44

Major issue with them is that they dont actualy have a 'charge' circuit (of any level of quality) and hence they get pretty heavily over charged

And heavily discharged when the main battery dips a little low in voltage - its the extremes of supply voltages that causes these internal batteries to sweat a little and eventually leak.

A thought?
I wonder if some form of voltage limiter / stabilser could be put in line to ensure that the powersounder does not replicate the extremes of voltage of the main battery. The sounder is there to detect 12V and nothing more, so if something were put in place to smooth it out a little, and maintain the correct voltage, it may just prevent the powersounders from failing ?

$:-\$

Murph · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 January 2013, 17:15:18 »

Sounds like a good idea.
With a new set of batteries soldered in it should then last much longer.

Didnt someone convert to an external R/C car type battery?

biggriffin · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 January 2013, 10:15:34 »

the majority on here favor the remove and not replace.

ive had a car self combust due to a dodgey power sounder. :'(should have known better, but got a good payout from the insurance so felt better.

Shackeng · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 January 2013, 12:44:37 »

Quote from: biggriffin on 15 January 2013, 10:15:34

the majority on here favor the remove and not replace. ive had a car self combust due to a dodgey power sounder. :'(should have known better, but got a good payout from the insurance so felt better.

I'm doing a line in old power sounders for those hoping their car will self-combust. £5 each plus 25% of the payout.

Dave DND · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 January 2013, 16:07:02 »

Quote from: Shackeng on 15 January 2013, 12:44:37

Quote from: biggriffin on 15 January 2013, 10:15:34
the majority on here favor the remove and not replace. ive had a car self combust due to a dodgey power sounder. :'(should have known better, but got a good payout from the insurance so felt better.

I'm doing a line in old power sounders for those hoping their car will self-combust. £5 each plus 25% of the payout.

Worth pitching that idea on Dragons Den !!

Kevin Wood · « **Reply #18 on:** 15 January 2013, 17:08:00 »

Quote from: Dave DND on 15 January 2013, 16:07:02

Quote from: Shackeng on 15 January 2013, 12:44:37
Quote from: biggriffin on 15 January 2013, 10:15:34
the majority on here favor the remove and not replace. ive had a car self combust due to a dodgey power sounder. :'(should have known better, but got a good payout from the insurance so felt better.

I'm doing a line in old power sounders for those hoping their car will self-combust. £5 each plus 25% of the payout.

Worth pitching that idea on Dragons Den !!

Yep, could offer a "really desperate" model packed with barbecue lighters, a fuse already attached, complete with a box of swan vestas, for those with recent MOT failures.

Murph · « **Reply #19 on:** 15 January 2013, 19:17:35 »

...or mystery oil leaks?

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Author Topic: Dodged a bullet.. (Read 3903 times)

05omegav6

05omegav6