battery charging

alexh Casual Dubber

33 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:00 pm

#341539

Hey all

The battery on my Kombi is well and truely drained, foolishly i kept the chill boxer tiking over keeping the beer cold while coping with wild and wt weather and listening to some sounds etc.

So, It failed to start from a jump after a few does so I thought Id get a battery charger. I've splashed out the princly sum of $15 down at kmart and am now suspecting maybe I got what I paid for. I've pulled the battery out and wired it up, the connection light comes on but the charging lamp is not doing anything when I turn mains power on.

Is the charger a dud or have I just bought an inadeqaute one for the battery (either way I'm taking it back I guess). Just reading about on the net I've discovered all sorts about cranking capacities and reserves I hadn't a clue about, but the battery does seem to a big one at 650cca.

What do you reckon?

aircooled.tk

alexh Casual Dubber

33 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:05 pm

#341542

on a related issue, surfing about i've noticed solar powered trickle chargers which seem like a good idea, particularly for kmobi campers. Anyone using one of these?

aircooled.tk

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:06 pm

#341543

i say open the little caps on the battery and check the water levels, they should be just above the plates by 1cm or 2. then hook up the charger and see if there are any bubbles forming in the cells. if there arent try leaving it for a couple minutes then check again. if you get no bubbles its the charger.

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

alexh Casual Dubber

33 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:12 pm

#341553

ok, check for bubbles, sounds good, thanks!

aircooled.tk

alexh Casual Dubber

33 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:14 pm

#341558

so would that imply that if there are bubbles the charger will do the job, all be it slowly?

aircooled.tk

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:14 pm

#341559

yes mate that should be right let us know how you go mate

[Edited on 21/4/2005 by barls]

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

alexh Casual Dubber

33 posts · joined Dec 2002 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:22 pm

#341566

well no bubbles. Looks like I'll be back in Kmart tommorow wondering whether to try another one or get something better. Thanks for the help there barls.

aircooled.tk

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 21 Apr 2005, 7:26 pm

#341571

not a problem mate good luck with it mate

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

mnsKmobi Wolfsburg Wizard

589 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 22 Apr 2005, 2:13 pm

#341964

alexh wrote:Hey all

The battery on my Kombi is well and truely drained, foolishly i kept the chill boxer tiking over keeping the beer cold while coping with wild and wt weather and listening to some sounds etc.

Chalk it up to experience!

So, It failed to start from a jump after a few does so I thought Id get a battery charger. I've splashed out the princly sum of $15 down at kmart and am now suspecting maybe I got what I paid for. I've pulled the battery out and wired it up, the connection light comes on but the charging lamp is not doing anything when I turn mains power on.

Is the charger a dud or have I just bought an inadeqaute one for the battery (either way I'm taking it back I guess). Just reading about on the net I've discovered all sorts about cranking capacities and reserves I hadn't a clue about, but the battery does seem to a big one at 650cca.

What do you reckon?

The charger should still work regardless of the size of the battery. It will just take longer for a big battery. Have you checked the battery voltage without the charger? If it's a long way under 12v you probably need a new battery.

The purpose built solar battery chargers are usually a rip off. I got a 2W panel from Jaycar for $40 and stuck it to the poptop with silastic. Works a treat. Got about 3 more years out of a battery that was on the way out when I bought the kombi.

Lams Wolfsburg Wizard

536 posts · joined Sep 2004 · 23 Apr 2005, 6:11 pm

#342718

solar battery chargers - how do you use them? do you just hardwire them to the battery and leave it like that the whole time?

I know car companies use these chargers when shipping new cars (when they wait on the port for several days without starting) and some guys started buying these chargers for their cars

those who have wired them to the battery said these chargers explode when you start the car, coz they can't handle the current. mnsKombi did you ever have that problem?

speeding is bad!
relax - god's in charge

winerot Custom Title Time!

1,340 posts · joined Aug 2004 · 23 Apr 2005, 6:38 pm

#342726

plug the charger in & just give the pos & neg a quick touch if sparks
then its working or connect neg to battery & scrape pos across top of
pos terminal if sparks its working if you have a dead cell charger wont
work if i remember correctly, too many bubbles means a dead cell too.
make sure terminal connections are good.
wally

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