RE: (ET) battery charger controller

["Elie, Larry (L.D.)" <lelie ford com>]

Can't agree more; Most chargers I have seen are in the 38-39.5 V range.
They do 
something; destroy battery packs.  36 SOUNDS like enough, but you really
nead 43+ 
for a full charge and pack life.  Personally, I think this one issue hurt 
GE
more 
than anything else.

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: Don Cohen [mailto:bond007d netsync net]
Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2000 10:46 AM
To: harry landis; elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu
Subject: Re: (ET) battery charger controller


Hi group,
If you want the batteries to last more than a few years, you have to be 
able
to apply an equalizing charge of 7-8 volts above the regular pack voltage
(43-44V) at least every month or two. If the batteries don't ever get to
gassing, stratification and sulfation will most likely kill them long 
before
their time.
Don C.

----- Original Message -----
From: "harry landis" <hlandis hotmail com>
To: <elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2000 4:44 PM
Subject: (ET) battery charger controller


> To the list:
>
> Well, it seems like there might be some interest. If there is anyone who
is
> local enough to come by with some goodies to swap, they can have the
> controller and/or the charger. And I can show them some of the other
> accessories I have made as well. If not, I can ship it.  Then maybe they
can
> report to the list how it worked out. I'm thinking that $50 would be 
> about
> the price for a controller and solid state relay. But that's just a
> guesstimate right now. It would take a few serious orders to make it 
> worth
> laying out a board and having some made.
> I like 38V because that is about the voltage that a fully charged 36V 
> pack
> will settle to with no load. That's 2.11 V/cell. Plenty of people have
> recommended higher, but I like 38V. The circuit has a pot on it to set 
> the
> voltage anywhere you like.
>
> Harry Landis
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