Re: (ET) charger

["David Roden (Akron OH USA)" <roden ald net>]

On 22 Oct 2001, at 9:30, Jeremy Gagliardi com wrote:

> 
> Is it possible to hook up the chargers in series, or will that fry their
> circuits?

If the chargers are transformer isolated, and if they have NO charge 
controller circuitry, they ~might~ work in series.  (The first condition 
is likely, the second is not.  All but the very cheapest chargers now 
have at least nominal change control.)

But even if both of these conditions are true, your batteries will charge 
more evenly if you connect them as you describe (one charger to each two 
batteries).  There is no advantage to connecting the chargers in series.

If you are going to use this one-charger-for-each-two-batteries scheme, I 
recommend rewiring the lift motor tap so that it is either 12 or 24 
volts, not 18.  This will help the batteries in a "charger pair" 
discharge more evenly during tractor use.

BTW, I use a similar scheme.  I run my tractor with six 12v gel batteries 
in series/parallel, and charge them with 3 12v chargers.  Works fine.


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
1991 Solectria Force 144vac
1991 Ford Escort Green/EV 128vdc
1979 General Engines ElectroPed 24vdc
1970 GE Elec-trak E15 36vdc
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