Re: (ET) E-15 not getting out of first speed

[Larry Chace <RLC1 etnainstruments com>]

After Mike's query about the battery voltages I reported, I got 
curious and tried a different (better!) VOM and got somewhat lower 
readings.  Hmm...

So, I charged the batteries again and let them sit overnight.  The 
better VOM measured 38.2v, just as Mike had suggested.  Running the 
mower deck by itself dropped the voltage to 36.9v.  With the gearbox 
in neutral, running the drive motor in speeds #1, #2, #3, and #4 gave 
37.0v, 36.9v, 36.6v, and 36.5v.  With everything turned off again, 
the voltage was 37.4v, and it slowly increased to 38.0v after about 5 
minutes.

This was on a set of 5-year-old Crown flooded batteries (from Harold 
Zimmerman).  They have been charged by a MinnKota 330 (3 banks of 10 
amps each) with occasional use of the standard GE charger (rebuilt 
and working well).  The MinnKota replaced a similar NOCO charger that 
failed just after the warranty ran out.  Sigh!

The MinnKota is fitted with XLR plugs that connect to XLR sockets on 
the I-5 and on the E15, so that either can be charged as needed.  In 
the winter, when both the snowthrower and snowplow are in use, one of 
the ETs gets the MinnKota and the other gets the GE charger.

Larry Chace, Ithaca, NY  I-5 and E15