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

[Jim Coate <jbc coate org>]

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