More charger questions

[erniecarpet@...]

Hey Scott- how's it feel to be out of the 2 bird club?

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston, Mt
--x president of that club



************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Scott Forman]

Hate to split up the thread, but the other one was getting long.

My 86 PT38 has what I assume are the original battery chargers. I have
noticed, though, that on the 'D.C. Charge' gauge above the co-pilots
chair, the juice being applied to the batts trails off over time,
presumably as the batts get closer to full charge. Why is this if the
chargers put out a constant flow of juice?

Scott Forman
82 FC35RB sold today, but still in my possession
86 PT38

[Leroy Eckert]

My BB manual says that activity is normal but I do not know why. The prior
owner installed a Trace inverter/charger in place of the original factory
system, that according to my files was a Heart.
That gauge in my coach does not move much. Never has since I have owned the
coach. However, my Trace LED monitor panel for the inverter/charger has several
different colored lights. During the charging process the red dc string
gradually diminishes to nothing when the charger goes to float charge. It acts
like that gauge. Once on float charge, the red lights re-appear and shows dc
voltage useage. (ie. when the compressor for the toilet air runs, it shows a15
amp dot.)
I am challanged after the mid -range of electrical knowledge is reached.
I haven't worried about it because everything is cruising along fine. If it
ain't broke, I'm not messing with it.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 "Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Forman
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 6:37 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] More charger questions


Hate to split up the thread, but the other one was getting long.

My 86 PT38 has what I assume are the original battery chargers. I have
noticed, though, that on the 'D.C. Charge' gauge above the co-pilots
chair, the juice being applied to the batts trails off over time,
presumably as the batts get closer to full charge. Why is this if the
chargers put out a constant flow of juice?

Scott Forman
82 FC35RB sold today, but still in my possession
86 PT38





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Scott Forman]

Feels fine as long as I don't think too much about it.
I am glad I seem to have found a good home for my FC, I will miss
her, a lot of sweat equity invested in her.





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, erniecarpet@... wrote:
>
> Hey Scott- how's it feel to be out of the 2 bird club?
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Livingston, Mt
> --x president of that club
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's free at
http://www.aol.com.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Pete Masterson]

Having had battery chargers (automotive) dating back to the 60's that
exhibited this effect, I believe that the resistance of the battery
increases as the charge level increases. However, that is not the
same as the controlled voltage of the modern 3-stage chargers.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart Texas



On May 14, 2007, at 6:37 PM, Scott Forman wrote:

> Hate to split up the thread, but the other one was getting long.
>
> My 86 PT38 has what I assume are the original battery chargers. I
> have
> noticed, though, that on the 'D.C. Charge' gauge above the co-pilots
> chair, the juice being applied to the batts trails off over time,
> presumably as the batts get closer to full charge. Why is this if the
> chargers put out a constant flow of juice?
>
> Scott Forman
> 82 FC35RB sold today, but still in my possession
> 86 PT38
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

Your close Pete! Batteries in good condition have a pretty constant
resistance. But as they charge the terminal voltage rises and as the
terminal voltage approaches the regulated charger voltage the current
deceases due the lower voltage across the batteries resistance. Battery
condition indicators usually just measure this terminal voltage. For
example a Trojan T105 has a terminal voltage of 6.37 at full charge and 6.05
at 50% charge. A properly regulated charger (or alternator) will initially
charge at 7.4vdc. (Actually 14.8vdc for our 12 volt systems.) The
alternator will modify this charging voltage based on battery temperature.
That is why we have remote regulators in the wanderlodge FCs., located in
the battery compartment, because the batteries are not in the engine
compartment and are not at the same temperature as the alternator.
Regulators back off the charging voltage as the temperature rises.



Well designed chargers electronic chargers base their charging current based
on terminal voltage. The original "battery boilers" have no such sensing.
They just charge on no matter what the battery condition.



- Chuck Wheeler -

82 FC 31 SB

Fort Worth, TX

_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Pete Masterson
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 8:21 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] More charger questions



Having had battery chargers (automotive) dating back to the 60's that
exhibited this effect, I believe that the resistance of the battery
increases as the charge level increases. However, that is not the
same as the controlled voltage of the modern 3-stage chargers.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@mac. com
On the road at Lockhart Texas

On May 14, 2007, at 6:37 PM, Scott Forman wrote:

> Hate to split up the thread, but the other one was getting long.
>
> My 86 PT38 has what I assume are the original battery chargers. I
> have
> noticed, though, that on the 'D.C. Charge' gauge above the co-pilots
> chair, the juice being applied to the batts trails off over time,
> presumably as the batts get closer to full charge. Why is this if the
> chargers put out a constant flow of juice?
>
> Scott Forman
> 82 FC35RB sold today, but still in my possession
> 86 PT38
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Bruce Morris]

Actually when I took mine apart I found there is a thermal switch on the
old chargers that will shut it down if the charger goes above a certain
temperature. Other than that there is nothing but a bridge rectifier
and a couple big capacitors if my memory is right.

.

Bruce Morris in Raleigh, NC
Phone: (919)872-7635 Cell: (919)740-8941 (Verizon)
Wanderlodge Owners Online <http://www.wanderlodge.us> Webmaster

FMCA# 7142s VB KI4ME
Vietnam Vet - 1966-67 3rd MarDiv Navy Corpsman "DOC"



Chuck Wheeler wrote:
>
> Your close Pete! Batteries in good condition have a pretty constant
> resistance. But as they charge the terminal voltage rises and as the
> terminal voltage approaches the regulated charger voltage the current
> deceases due the lower voltage across the batteries resistance. Battery
> condition indicators usually just measure this terminal voltage. For
> example a Trojan T105 has a terminal voltage of 6.37 at full charge
> and 6.05
> at 50% charge. A properly regulated charger (or alternator) will initially
> charge at 7.4vdc. (Actually 14.8vdc for our 12 volt systems.) The
> alternator will modify this charging voltage based on battery temperature.
> That is why we have remote regulators in the wanderlodge FCs., located in
> the battery compartment, because the batteries are not in the engine
> compartment and are not at the same temperature as the alternator.
> Regulators back off the charging voltage as the temperature rises.
>
> Well designed chargers electronic chargers base their charging current
> based
> on terminal voltage. The original "battery boilers" have no such sensing.
> They just charge on no matter what the battery condition.
>
> - Chuck Wheeler -
>
> 82 FC 31 SB
>
> Fort Worth, TX
>
> _____
>
> From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>
> [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> ] On Behalf Of Pete Masterson
> Sent: Monday, May 14, 2007 8:21 PM
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] More charger questions
>
> Having had battery chargers (automotive) dating back to the 60's that
> exhibited this effect, I believe that the resistance of the battery
> increases as the charge level increases. However, that is not the
> same as the controlled voltage of the modern 3-stage chargers.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@mac. com
> On the road at Lockhart Texas
>
> On May 14, 2007, at 6:37 PM, Scott Forman wrote:
>
> > Hate to split up the thread, but the other one was getting long.
> >
> > My 86 PT38 has what I assume are the original battery chargers. I
> > have
> > noticed, though, that on the 'D.C. Charge' gauge above the co-pilots
> > chair, the juice being applied to the batts trails off over time,
> > presumably as the batts get closer to full charge. Why is this if the
> > chargers put out a constant flow of juice?
> >
> > Scott Forman
> > 82 FC35RB sold today, but still in my possession
> > 86 PT38
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]