Re: (ET) RE: Installing Landis controller in an Elec-Trak E-20

[Dave & Debbie Barden <daveb seanet com>]

the instruction sheet that came with my Landis controller indicated that 
he 
does have two models one with a red LED that is on when the voltage is 
low.  
And the other model has a green LED that is on only when the voltage is 
above 
the set point. I need another for my newly purchased second E12 and plan 
to ask 
for the green LED model.

dave 
seattle
E12S's

> Well then, something must be wrong. Here are the conditions I have 
> observed
> over the past few days, since I installed the Landis controller:
> 
> LED remains on
> Controller reference voltage is 38.0VDC
> Solid state relay voltage is 120VAC
> "Fuel level" is on full, verging on charge
> Charger remains silent
> 
> All voltage measurements were taken with a Sperry digital multimeter 
> (model
> DM-350A, with a 3.5 digit display -- link below). The reference voltage
> wires are connected to the small accessory receptacle, as Jeremy 
> suggested
> for the E20. The relay is connected to the wires that used to go to the
> rotary timer switch (the two large ones, not the two small ones).
> 
> It is possible that the charger has run or that the LED turned off while 
> I
> was not around. I have only checked it about six times in the last two 
> days.
> The fact that the battery pack is exactly at the setpoint makes me 
> suspect
> that the device is working, regardless of what the LED says.
> 
> May I suggest a small design improvement? How about a green LED in 
> addition
> to the red one? The green LED would be on when the battery pack is above 
> he
> setpoint voltage, and off otherwise. The red would do the reverse. That 
> way,
> it would be easier and more intuitive to tell what the controller was 
> doing.
> 
> I suppose the true test will be to mow my yard, so that the batteries 
> need
> charging again. Then I should definitely hear the charger come on as 
> soon as
> I plug it back in.
> 
> It is possible that I damaged the controller on my first attempt at
> installing it. However, now I am quite sure it is installed correctly. 
> If it
> in fact is not working properly, what should I do next? As usual, I
> sincerely appreciate all your help and guidance.
> 
> --greg
> 
> P.S. I am sending a copy of this message to the Elec-Trak mailing list, 
> in
> case anyone else on it has experience with the Landis controller in an 
> E20
> tractor.
> 
> AW Sperry Digital Multimeter DM-350A
> http://www.awsperry.com/awsperry2/awsperry/db_search2.cgi?name=DM-350A&item=
> dm-350a
> 
> Gregory Wilcox
> 31 Overlook Drive
> Candler, NC 28715-9260
> (828) 665-7531
> (775) 255-1617 (fax)
> Email address: gwilcox buncombe main nc us
> Personal home page: http://buncombe.main.nc.us/~gwilcox/
> Greg's Grains: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gregs_grains/
> Blue Ridge Bicycle Club: http://www.blueridgebicycleclub.org/
> UUs for the Ethical Treatment of Animals: http://www.uua.org/ufeta/
> Mass Extinction Underway: http://www.well.com/user/davidu/extinction.html
> 
> "If present trends continue, the result will be irreversible 
> impoverishment
> of species. At the current rate, we will lose half the plant and animal
> species on Earth by the end of the century." -- E.O. Wilson, Salon 
> Magazine,
> January 14, 2002
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: harry landis [mailto:hlandis hotmail com]
> Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2003 5:54 PM
> To: gwilcox buncombe main nc us; Jeremy gagliardi com
> Subject: RE: Installing Landis controller in an Elec-Trak E-20
> 
> 
> I don't think it is useful to put the controller in parallel with the 
> stock
> timer, but if the timer works OK, it probably won't hurt. If the timer 
> gets
> stuck on, it could overcharge the batteries.
> The LED should be red only if the charger is not plugged in, or if the
> batteries are really low. If it is red, and plugged in, the charger 
> should
> be running and making noise. If it is not, something is wrong.
> 
> Harry
> 
> 
> From: "Gregory Wilcox" <gwilcox buncombe main nc us>
> To: <Jeremy gagliardi com>
> CC: "Harry Landis" <hlandis hotmail com>
> Subject: RE: Installing Landis controller in an Elec-Trak E-20
> Date: Sat, 14 Jun 2003 17:39:05 -0400
> 
> Harry and Jeremy,
>       I have permanently installed the Landis controller in my Elec-Trak 
> E20. 
It
> seems to be working fine, as the red LED is on and the charge indicator 
> is
> on full. I left the setpoint at 38V.
>       The charge indicator does not go into the "charge" zone, but I 
> think I
> understand why. With the stock timer, the current is applied 
> continuously,
> and the battery pack voltage can increase by several volts. (I have seen 
> it
> as high as 42V.) The Landis controller, on the other hand, applies 
> current
> periodically, and only for five minutes at a time. So the pack gets fully
> charged, but the voltage never gets a chance to go much higher than the
> setpoint.
>       One more question, and a suggestion: in Jeremy's first message to 
> me, 
he
> wrote that he wired the Landis controller in parallel with the stock 
> timer
> (excerpt below). Harry, is this necessary?
>       I mounted the controller on top of the plate that holds the timer
> potentiometer. (I used one of the existing holes, and drilled a second 
> one.)
> This is contrary to the advice in the instructions regarding heat
> dissipation, but I failed to notice that part until just now. I think I 
> will
> remount it yet again.
>       In any case, the controller faces up, so I can see the LED. It is 
> nice 
to
> be able to watch the LED and know that the device is working. If I 
> remount
> the controller, I will still do so in a way that leaves the LED visible.
>       There is a problem with this orientation, however. The solid state 
relay
> terminals carry live 120V AC (house) current. When it faces up, these
> terminals are exposed. There is a major shock hazard from touching the
> device while it is in operation. Doing so could cause serious injury or
> death. I would like to build an enclosure for it, with a hole for the 
> LED.
> Mr. Landis, may I humbly suggest that this could be easier done at the
> "factory"? I would gladly have paid a few dollars more for the peace of
> mind; I am sure others would too.
>       As always, thank you both very much for your help with my 
> questions.
> --greg
> ______________________________________________________
> 
> Subject: Re: (ET) Installing Landis controller on E20
>     Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2003 11:01:23 -0400 (EDT)
>     From: Jeremy Gagliardi com
>       To: elec-trak cosmos5 phy tufts edu
> 
> Although many say it is a replacement for the timer switch, I actually
> hooked mine in parallel with the timer switch, so either device can 
> activate
> the charger.  Once a year after its winter hibernation, I like to run the
> timer switch for a long charge to make sure all cells are fully charged.
> I'm no expert, and it may not be necessary,
> but that's what I do.
> 
> 
> 
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