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Re: (ET) e-14 heat from timer while charging



Can you use a good DC voltmeter and measure the voltage across the entire battery pack? With the tractor off and the charger off, it should measure maybe 37 or 38 volts. Or lower if the pack is really discharged.

Next, make sure the main disconnect switch is turned 'on', and then turn on the charger. And yes, ***the main disconnect must be 'on' to use the charger***.

Now turn the charger on and measure the voltage across the battery pack again - it should go up a little. As time goes by (in hours) the voltage should continue to slowly rise. When the pack is fully charged (12+ hours) and the charger is still on, the voltage should be up to at least 43 volts and 44 or 45 is good too.

With your comments on the timer problems, the above test may not work, in which case bypass the timer as other have suggested and repeat the experiment and see if the voltage gets up to 43+ volts at the end of charge.

And once again remember that the main disconnect must be 'on' to use the charger!!




Daniel Childress wrote:
Have pursued my problem a little farther. Checked out my batteries with a hydrometer and found that all were discharged. "fuel gauge" shows full charge. I disconnected the timer from the tractor. Leaving it connected to the charger. Plugged it in and turned it past start to letter c. Checked the amperage going into and out of the timer. 18.3 amps. The power wire "black" comes out of the power cord and into the timer. From the timer it goes down into the charger. The connection at the timer seems to have a short. Upon moving the wires that attach to the timer the hum of the charger quits. Slight movement of the wires "at the wire spade connections on the timer" it seems to turn back on. Humming again. The timer is heating up, black wires are hot. the insulation around the connection "spade" on the timer is charred. Also the ac plug that you plug in the charger to the house current is charred. Help please.
Daniel Childress wrote:
> It is the current coming from the line that is suppling ac from the
> house outlet.  It goes into the timer at a spade connector.  Then
> down to the charger.  This intermittent open connection seems to be
> creating all the heat.
>



--
Jim Coate
1970's Elec-Trak's
1997 Solectria Force
1998 Chevy S-10 NiMH BEV
1997 Chevy S-10 NGV Bi-Fuel
http://www.eeevee.com