RE: (ET) time for a new pack...

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

I measure across the full pack.  What do you measure DURING charge?  When 
the needle goes into the white (charging) region?  At 47V (max I allow) 
the needle is about 1/4 the way into the charge region.  You don't want it 
that high for long as you start gassing.  42.5V or so is well in the green 
region, perhaps 2/3 of the way up.  39.2 is perhaps a bit below the mid 
point of the green.  I don't drop to 39V until about 2 hours of mowing.  
There are some battery charge links you might want to check on this.  2.4V 
per cell auto, 2.5V per cell deep-discharge are rule of thumb charge 
limits.  There are 3 cells in ALL '6V' batteries.  That's 7.5V each or 45V 
for the pack at 2.5V per cell or 7.2 at 2.4V per cell.  That agrees pretty 
well with the bottom of the white charge region.  Not that we will all 
agree on this; Neil Dennis quoted an article in great detail some time ago:

"The recommended best
charging method  for industrial use is constant current until about 90%
of full charge, than constant voltage to complete as this is
automatically self limiting.  Use about 2.35 volts max per cell.  My
book says that a battery may be charged at an amp rating equal to its
amp/hour rating if fully discharged - i-e a 100 amp hour battery may be
charged at 100 amps.  If only 60% discharged the rate should be 60 amps
and ad-infinitum.  "

I think he had a battery page link for that as well.  I think those values 
are equally valid.  That is about 7V per battery, not the 7.5 I target, 
regardless, that gives 42.3V, significantly above the 39.2V you are 
quoting.  BTW, ALL of these values are at no-load; the load will indeed 
droop the meter reading significantly.  My meter is a 4-1/2 digit Fluke.  
I'm pretty confidant about the values.  I'd be less confidant about how 
your and my fuel meter agree.

Larry Elie


-----Original Message-----
From: marty canada [mailto:emcanada yahoo com]
Sent: Thursday, August 09, 2001 1:19 PM
To: tractors GE
Subject: RE: (ET) time for a new pack...


Where are you guys checking the voltage??

When I plug in my E-12 and check voltage with the charger on it never 
reads more than 1/2v
above where it reads before I turn the charger on.
After a full charge, with the "fuel gauge" in the white area I get a 
reading of (Max)39.2v.

This is with an all new pack and a new capacitor from Bill Gunn.

I am using a new digital multimeter supposedly accurate to +/- .1v

Marty

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