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Re: (ET) Re Inventing the Wheel
I see. I wonder if I could rig it to plug into the accessory outlet on
the
side of the tractor. That way, I wouldn't even have to have it in the
tractor.
Regarding the Landis unit, it was meant to be a home-grown, low cost way
of
controlling the stock GE charger--keep your charger, just control it
differently. The Soneil is a charger and controller in one.
I see the 3610SRF is US$179.66. That's not "cheap", but then neither are
6
brand new batteries to replace some overboiled ones, either. The 3605S is
only
US$60.96. That's not a bad price, but forgive my ignorance, is it big
enough
to charge the ET batteries?
-----
By the way, I love reinventing the wheel. It's good practice for when I
have
to "invent" a customized version of it for the government. There's no
sense in
using a regular wheel, when you can make one from the ground-up from brand
shiny new specs that'll net your company millions of $$$ in contract
revenue.
Ah, but I kid. Seriously, though, going back to square one and designing
something from scratch is not only interesting, it may get one started in
something worthwhile. I was seriously thinking about getting out my
electronics book again, and seeing if I could make a simple enough circuit
myself.
--
Jeremy Gagliardi
>----Original Message----
>From: darryl econogics com
>Date: Aug 8, 2007 13:51
>To: "Jeremy Gagliardi com"<jeremy gagliardi com>
>Subj: Re: (ET) Re Inventing the Wheel
>
>Disclosure: I am a Soneil distributor.
>
>The Soneil chargers are intelligent, 3-stage chargers for lead-acid
>batteries. Therefore, they take a slightly different approach to the
>issue as they are chargers, not charge controllers.
>
>They do monitor the battery pack voltage at all times. If the pack is
>above 0.5 volts (no pack connection protection), and below the
>fully-charged voltage, the charger will start in bulk-charge mode
>(constant current). This is maintained until the first set point is
>reached, at which time the charge shifts to stage 2, constant voltage
>mode. When the current drops below a set point the charger shifts to
>stage 3, float charge.
>
>For "failsafe", that's a challenge for all possible conditions of
>lead-acid batteries. For example, the charger does not sense if a
>battery has been removed making a 30-volt pack, and in this case, it
>would overcharge the remaining five batteries, trying to get them to
>43.2 volts. The charger is fused, has polarity error detection, no pack
>connection detection, and programmed set points for maximum voltage and
>voltage to trigger the charger back into Stage 1 charging. LEDs to
>provide some information. Internal fan for cooling based on internal
>thermostat. No audible alarms. Basically, it has the smarts to charge
>the batteries when they need it, and not charge when they don't need it.
>
>It can be run in parallel with the original GE charger, as both are
>fully isolated.
>
>I know a few other folks with ETs use them, and reports have been
>positive. It is not the perfect solution for everyone, but it's been an
>ideal "plug-in and forget" solution for me. Batteries are well
>maintained, the tractor is always ready to go, and watering demands are
>greatly reduced from using the OEM charger.
>
>Specs for the 3610SRF, which I have used in my E12 to replace the
>orginal charger for about 4 years now are available at:
>http://www.soneil.com/Completesets/3610SRF.pdf
>
>Another option could be the Soneil 3605S, which could be used as a
>charge maintainer if the original charger is used for bulk charging.
>That's just Cdn$79. (The 3610SRF is actually Cdn$188.)
>
>Disclosure (again): I am a Soneil distributor, because I was so
>impressed with the 3610SRF I am using on my E12.
>
>Darryl McMahon
>
>"Jeremy Gagliardi com" <jeremy gagliardi com> wrote:
>
>>
>> > Or you could buy a Soneil Charger for $100.
>>
>> Ah, now you see, this is another good case, of I didn't know that. I
>thought
>> because these beasts were 36V, which is not standard, that there were
>no charge
>> controllers for it. I thought they were are geared fro 12, 24 or 48V.
>>
>> Now the question is does it handle all of the conditions? Does it
>have a
>> failsafe? I'm looking it up, but I'm not seeing right away what the
>specifics
>> are...
>>
>> --
>> Jeremy Gagliardi
>>
>>
>> ----Original Message----
>> From: ThompsonG DFO-MPO GC CA
>> Date: Aug 8, 2007 9:37
>> To:
>> Subj: (ET) Re Inventing the Wheel
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "We need to find an 'inspired' Microcontroller Engineer (meaning EE
>& CS
>>
>> skills) who wants to design PIC (or similar) microcontroller into a
>charge
>> controller with real time clock, alarm (piezo buzzer, etc), voltage
>readout,
>> and maybe temperature and current monitoring. [adding more features
>adds some
>> cost in hardware, and tedious software testing]
>>
>> I know bits and pieces of this (strong enough in hardware part), but
>am far too
>> weak in C or Assembly language programming to get it done in timely
>manner.
>>
>> Maybe we could form an 'Open Source' team to design this - similar to
>the
>> project for PWM motor controllers called OSMC (Open Source Motor
>Controller).
>>
>> In that case, a few guys collaborated on electrical hardware and
>software
>> design for a microprocessor controlled, Pulse Width Modulated DC motor
>> controller, for hobby Robotics competition."
>>
>>
>>
>> Or you could buy a Soneil Charger for $100.
>>
>>
>>
>> Geof Thompson
>>
>--
>Darryl McMahon
>It's your planet. If you won't look after it, who will?
>
>The Emperor's New Hydrogen Economy (eBook and trade paper)
>http://www.econogics.com/TENHE/
>
>
>