Re: (ET) batteries and charging

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

On 12 Feb 2004 at 7:08, jim donovan wrote:

>  it is my
> understanding that the charger that is on the
> elec-traks has an output that best serves the flooded
> batteries.  Is that correct?  

"Best serves" doesn't quite say it.  The GE charger will murder your 
expensive 
VRR batteries in a few months.


> What do you sealed/gel
> type guys use to charge your pack?

I use three 12 volt automatic (cycle-dropping type) chargers.  If I had 6 
volt 
modules instead of 12 volt, I might go to six 6-volt chargers.  

You really need to charge at the module level unless you get rid of the 
battery taps for the lift and lights.  The taps unbalance the pack 
something 
awful.  The GE charger deals with that by overcharging between one and 
four 
other batteries, in order to make sure the lift and/or light batteries 
have a 
full charge.  VRR batteries just can't take that amount of overcharge.  
(It's 
not really good for flooded batteries either, but they're sturdier in this 
regard.)

One of my long-term aims is to replace those battery taps with a DC:DC 
converter.


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA
1991 Solectria Force 144vac
1991 Ford Escort Green/EV 128vdc
1970 GE Elec-trak E15 36vdc
1974 Avco New Idea 36vdc
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