Re: (ET) Charging push mowers

[Jim Coate <jbc coate org>]

yep, measure both volts and amps and plot versus time.

The values will change dramatically during the first few minutes, then 
settle into a slow and steady voltage rise (the bulk phase) and then do 
something interesting depending on how smart the charger is or isn't. 
You don't need all that much data until the end of the bulk phase, 
but... until you know the pattern you won't know when that is so will 
need to check say every half hour as has been suggested.

If you want to throw money at it, get an Link-10 meter (formerly known 
as an "E-meter") with an RS-232 port, connect to your computer, and have 
the data logged continuously for you.  :-)


tbamc wrote:
> Does anyone happen to know how 'smart' the chargers are in the 
> Craftsman, B and D, etc. push mowers?
>
> If not, and I want to figure it out in the two I've got, will I need to 
> charge a battery and take multiple measurements, over time?   (Would I 
> need to measure both V and A, and how often?)
>
> Thanks.
>
> Thon



--
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