Re: (ET) E-15, need a smart battery charger guidance & recommendations

["David Roden" <etpost drmm net>]

On 18 May 2017 at 23:49, David Tiefenbrunn wrote:

> I saw on the other thread, I should get a model that hits harder for
> the charging ...

Agreed; the Soneil 3610SRF seems pretty small for this use.  If I'm 
reading 
the Soneil website right, it charges at only 4.5 amps.

I take it you don't have to use the tractor very often?  At that rate, the 
charging time from all the way flat would be rather long.  Just the bulk 
phase (0% to 80%) would take about a full day (24h).

>  I'd need some circuit to monitor that all 3 pairs are in the same
> state of charge to avoid damage if one charger failed. 

An easy way to do this would be to buy 3 of those cheap bar-graph 
voltmeters 
I see in varioius places online (typically $3-10 each) and put them side 
by 
side, maybe with their long axes set vertically, on the instrument panel.  
If you see one dipping way bekiw the others, you know something's wrong.  
(Be sure to fuse them.)

I did something similar years ago with analog edgewise panel meters.  The 
bargraph displays would be better, because they're more visible.

Another method, maybe even cheaper and certainly easier to mount, would be 
to configure 3 LEDs (any color), one for each 12v pair or battery, with a 
series zener diode and resistor so they're just on at 10.5 volts.  Even 
better, make 6 to monitor every single golf car battery.  Human eyes are 
pretty good at seeing differences in brightness.  If you see one LED go 
out 
on acceleration, or even get appreciably dimemr than the others, you know 
you should stop and investigate.


David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA

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