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Thread: Sometimes you feel foolish!

  1. 1st January 2012, 04:57 PM #1
    JDNSW's Avatar
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    Sometimes you feel foolish!

    Yesterday I went to move the County for the first time since getting back from Yass, to unhook the trailer. Hopped in, turned the key - started to turn then nothing. No power at all.

    So I took the passenger seat cushion out, opened the battery compartment, and turned on the headlights to provide a load and started to measure voltages, battery showed just a flicker. With thoughts best not expressed about the makers of the two month old battery, I got in the 2a and went and borrowed the tractor battery.

    Before fitting it I checked its voltage (it has a 2W solar panel to keep it topped up. Same reading as the County battery. Then the penny dropped................

    The meter was switched to AC.

    Switching to DC showed both batteries giving about 12.8V. Tracking voltage from there quickly showed voltage at the end of the positive battery lead, but putting the probe on the stack of tags on the solenoid terminal brought the headlights on as the probe shorted from it to the next tag. Disconnected the earth, the loosened the nut, wiggled the wires, retightened it, good as new. (Strictly should have removed all the tags and cleaned them, but it is not particularly accessible)

    Then had to refit the tractor battery.

    John
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
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  2. 1st January 2012, 08:12 PM #2
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    noise

    Yep! the switch. That's a fair bit of noise you measured on AC.

    I have just bought myself two 5W 12volt panels off eBeachy, although I'm yet to receive them, I don't think they come with regulators as they are cheapies.

    Any suggestions, in regards to the type of regulator I should be looking for ?
    Add; they are for float charging tractor batteries
    .
    Last edited by wrinklearthur; 1st January 2012 at 08:13 PM. Reason: Add info
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  3. 1st January 2012, 09:08 PM #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by wrinklearthur View Post
    Any suggestions, in regards to the type of regulator I should be looking for ?
    Add; they are for float charging tractor batteries
    .
    A German made one like this, I have had one on my ute for 3 years, still going fine:

    Solar Regulator Charge Controller 5A 12V PWM Hundreds sold | eBay

    Will take 5 amps if you get a bigger (<80W) panel.
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  4. 1st January 2012, 10:59 PM #4
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    P=ExI thanks

    Quote Originally Posted by bee utey View Post
    A German made one like this, I have had one on my ute for 3 years, still going fine:

    Solar Regulator Charge Controller 5A 12V PWM Hundreds sold | eBay

    Will take 5 amps if you get a bigger (<80W) panel.
    Hi Bee utey

    I've put it in my watch list.

    Thanks
    .
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  5. 2nd January 2012, 06:23 AM #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by wrinklearthur View Post
    Yep! the switch. That's a fair bit of noise you measured on AC.

    I have just bought myself two 5W 12volt panels off eBeachy, although I'm yet to receive them, I don't think they come with regulators as they are cheapies.

    Any suggestions, in regards to the type of regulator I should be looking for ?
    Add; they are for float charging tractor batteries
    .
    I would suggest that a 5w panel on a tractor battery will not need any regulator. The actual power delivered from it in optimum sunlight will only be about 3w, or about a quarter of an amp, with an effective duty cycle of, say, 30%, this averages out over 24hrs as less than 100mA. This is about the same as the self discharge rate of the battery.

    John
    John

    JDNSW
    1986 110 County 3.9 diesel
    1970 2a 109 2.25 petrol
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  6. 2nd January 2012, 06:39 AM #6
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    same one from jaycar
    Jaycar Electronics - Search results

    up to about about 1% of a batteries CCA rating or 6 hour rate for deep cyclesI dont even bother with a regulator I just drop on a blocking resistor to stop them from discarging the battery over night.

    my 500ma panel purchased from a garage sale more than 10 years ago now keeps the paralleled n70's in Foz nicely charged
    Dave

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  7. 2nd January 2012, 07:31 AM #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Blknight.aus View Post
    I just drop on a blocking resistor
    A blocking diode I hope.

    I had a 5W panel on the ute, wouldn't keep the battery up during the darkest overcast days of winter. 20W panel and regulator did better.
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  8. 2nd January 2012, 07:52 PM #8
    superquag
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    Quote Originally Posted by JDNSW View Post
    Then the penny dropped................

    The meter was switched to AC.

    John
    You won't be the last... Did that today whilst charging up the bus batteries... tried to read the initial voltage with my clamp meter... got the same... Put my glasses on ... - the meter can only read AC voltage using the probes. (AC / DC on the clamp)

    3 hours at 54 amps and I did'nt need a meter...

    James
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  9. 2nd January 2012, 08:20 PM #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by bee utey View Post
    A blocking diode I hope.

    I had a 5W panel on the ute, wouldn't keep the battery up during the darkest overcast days of winter. 20W panel and regulator did better.
    yes, thats the one, cunning little black fellow with a silver band. bout the same size and with the same leg count as the resistor.
    Dave

    "In a Landrover the other vehicle is your crumple zone."

    For spelling call Rogets, for mechanicing call me.

    Fozzy, 2.25D SIII Ex DCA Ute
    Tdi autoManual d1 (gave it to the Mupion)
    Archaeoptersix 1990 6x6 dual cab(This things staying)


    If you've benefited from one or more of my posts please remember, your taxes paid for my skill sets, I'm just trying to make sure you get your monies worth.
    If you think you're in front on the deal, pay it forwards.
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  10. 2nd January 2012, 09:36 PM #10
    superquag
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    Quote Originally Posted by Blknight.aus View Post
    yes, thats the one, cunning little black fellow with a silver band. bout the same size and with the same leg count as the resistor.
    Fatter...
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