Connecting a charger to D3 battery ?

[Glynhouse]

I might start another thread on how to use the search function on here cause I can't find anything I want.

Left the fridge connected to the battery yesterday after an SES search was called off, found it lunch time today, after disconnecting and waiting for 10 minutes it had a voltage at the terminals of 11.5, missed first try but started next try no probs, surprised me.

What is the correct way to connect a charger ? the book says remove the battery ? rang the dealer and they said connect normally, positive to battery and earth lead to body or engine earth - I used an earth point next to the battery.

It is the original battery has 10/06 stamped on it, so it has done well. Tested O.K. last month but this may stir it up a bit.

DD

[101RRS]

I charge mine normally and have no issues - the book says not to put the negative cable on the negative terminal of the battery but on the earth point just in front of the battery but my earth point is all covered in paint and will not earth (I haven't scrapped the paint away) so I have used the earth terminal on the battery and not had any issues (my charger is a smart charger with a calcium setting if that make a difference). However I do accept it should be on the earth point.

Garry

[drivesafe]

Hi DD and it’s actually quite normal to be able to start any modern vehicle with a battery at 11.5v.

As long as the battery is in a good condition, and as yours started your motor, then it’s pretty safe to say your battery is in good nick.

I have probably jinxed your battery now.

As to the earth connecting. When you connect a battery charger or jumper leads, always connect the positive first, at the battery’s positive terminal and then the negative should be connect to a good earth point AWAY from the battery.

The reason for this is that the battery may have a build-up of gas near it and you might cause a spark as you connect the neg lead to the battery.

This could be a double whammy because not only does the battery blow up, but you are most likely leaning over it at the time.

BTW, removing the leads should be done in reverse order, neg first then the pos, and the reason for this is if you put the neg lead on first or remove it last and you drop the pos lead, you get a dead short.

If the neg lead is not connected and you drop the pos lead, nothing happens.

[rufusking]

Drivesafe/Tim, can you comment on charging via the HIgh Current Extension? I assume the SC80 will engage due to the charging voltage and concurrently charge the Aux & Starting batteries. Is it I viable to connect a solar panel (through a regulator) via this method?

[drivesafe]

Drivesafe/Tim, can you comment on charging via the HIgh Current Extension? I assume the SC80 will engage due to the charging voltage and concurrently charge the Aux & Starting batteries. Is it I viable to connect a solar panel (through a regulator) via this method?

Hi rufusking, and ABSOLUTELY.

This is one of the advantages of using the SC80 or the USI-160 ( in SHEARED mode ) in that with other isolators, if they have reverse voltage monitoring, they still only connect the auxiliary battery to the cranking battery once the auxiliary battery's terminal voltage is over the cut-in voltage of the isolator.

This is all good and well but because the auxiliary battery terminal voltage has to be up around 13.2v to activate the isolator, when it does, there will then be a large current flow from the auxiliary battery as it discharges back into the cranking battery.

This action will not harm either battery but it does cause a waste of power.

With the SC80 and the USI-160, because the batteries will most likely still be connected, the solar energy is used far more efficiently.

[Glynhouse]

Thanks for the answers guys, the suggested hook up routine is the same as is on my smart charger, which is how I did it.
I had a heavy cable end unused that I fitted to one of the earth terminals in front of the battery and I now have a nice clean relatively soft place to hook my charger or anything else on.

Don't worry about jinxing my battery Tim, I won't be game to leave it in much longer, next trip bush with the van and I think it will be changed. Be happy if I get anywhere near that life from the next.

While I have the floor anyone here got any tips on trying to make sense of the search function ? try as I might can't get anything useful from it.

DD