Thread: Problem Charging Aux Batteries with Smart Charger

Forget to mention the traxide controller is the UCI 160.

Originally Posted by go-disco4

Hi All,

Thanks for all your comments.

C-TEK connected to Cranking battery. Both battery measured the same voltage. Always the case. Also the charging voltage is the same for both batteries measured at the terminals.

The initial V for both batteries was 12.6 the morning after I got back. Charge it all day and next morning was 12.48. Charge it all day again and the next morning was 12.53. Charge it again and during the FLOAT part of the charging cycle, the CTEK was delivering only 13.06 Volts to both batteries.

Did not check the V the next day.

Thanks

GD-4

PS; Picture of car in Dargo posted in the "Show me..." thread.

OK so you're charging the start battery and that is flowing to the second battery.
The start battery is showing a float charge, but put under load would probably revert to about 12.6-7, which is fully charged.
If two batteries of different sizes are connected the larger battery may only charge to the level of the smaller battery, I believe.
If your battery is showing 12.6 then it is fully charged and should not need charging for at least a week, depending on what is draining it.

Originally Posted by D4206

A further question regarding charging the start battery and optima via the Anderson plug..... I've connected the Ctek charger to the Anderson plug and checked voltages at both the start battery (14.7v) and Optima battery (12.4v). Does this difference in voltage mean that only the optima is being charged? I thought both batteries would be charged at the same time.

The switch on the controller is away from the led light, which should mean that they are connected? The light is flashing once every couple of seconds.

Correction to the above....the optima is being charged and is showing 14.7v, the start battery is reading 12.4v, To me that would indicate that they are not connected. Why wouldn't they be connected by the controller?

They could be connected but still give different readings.

Originally Posted by D4206

The switch on the controller is away from the led light, which should mean that they are connected? The light is flashing once every couple of seconds.

Hi and if the LED is flashing once every few seconds, then the USI-160 is off.


Try starting your motor and let it run until the LED goes to a solid glow. ( about 15 seconds )


Then you can turn your motor off and the charger will now charge both batteries.

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi and if the LED is flashing once every few seconds, then the USI-160 is off.


Try starting your motor and let it run until the LED goes to a solid glow. ( about 15 seconds )


Then you can turn your motor off and the charger will now charge both batteries.

Thanks Tim, I'll try this in the morning. When they're both charging should they both show the same voltage?

I'm still trying to understand how the system works. I'm assuming the batteries may have been disconnected because the car had not been used for a day? Ie the time out feature?

Originally Posted by D4206

Thanks Tim, I'll try this in the morning. When they're both charging should they both show the same voltage?

I'm still trying to understand how the system works. I'm assuming the batteries may have been disconnected because the car had not been used for a day? Ie the time out feature?

Yes and it sounds like the USI-160 did TIME-OUT because the cranking battery voltage was still way above the Cut-Out voltage of 12.0v

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Yes and it sounds like the USI-160 did TIME-OUT because the cranking battery voltage was still way above the Cut-Out voltage of 12.0v

All good Started the car and waited for the light to go solid as you suggested and now both batteries are charging (via the Ctek plugged into the rear Anderson plug) and reading the same voltage.

Cheers,
Bill