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#1
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? I think this subject should have it's
own thread. Unlike transponders, we almost all need them. |
#2
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 24, 10:03*am, Grider Pirate wrote:
VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? *I think this subject should have it's own thread. *Unlike transponders, we almost all need them. Powersonic batteries. Battery Tender Plus charger. Bullet proof, inexpensive. Excellent technical info available at both manufacturers' websites. I like the Battery Tender Plus because it is a reasonable size capacity three mode charger that also includes a 6 hour limit on absorption mode. If you read the tech info on those two sites, you'll understand why that might be a good thing. That charger will safely and correctly charge almost any 12V AGM battery from about 5 AH up. The Powersonic chargers also work great, but need to be matched to battery capacity, making them less universal. More exotic and expensive solutions work also, but unless you need more than 14 AH capacity or have weight or space constraints I don't see it as worth the bother. Of course, some people just like exotica... nothing wrong with that. -Evan Ludeman / T8 |
#3
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery
and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). I recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some place to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are *far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. This is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely confident in your ability. That's my public service announcement for the day :-). -T8 |
#4
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote:
One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some place to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are *far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely confident in your ability. That's my public service announcement for the day :-). -T8 And Evan, why do we put fuses on the batteries and why do we use aircraft wire? I wonder if the aircraft in the following report had a fused battery and aircraft wire? http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...01X51612&key=1 Ray Lovinggood Carrboro, North Carolina, USA |
#5
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 24, 11:39*am, rlovinggood wrote:
On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote: One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some place to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are *far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely confident in your ability. That's my public service announcement for the day :-). -T8 And Evan, why do we put fuses on the batteries and why do we use aircraft wire? * I wonder if the aircraft in the following report had a fused battery and aircraft wire? http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...01X51612&key=1 Ray Lovinggood Carrboro, North Carolina, USA Yeah, there's one convert, for sure! Btw, if anyone wonders where to get them, McMaster Carr is a good source of Molex connectors and crimp on terminals. Get a good quality crimper and a wire stripper while you are at it. They also sell teflon insulated wire. Mouser Electronics is another source for good quality electrical bits, including circuit breakers (but not teflon wire IIRC). Some of the glider supply guys have a pretty good selection of stuff too. -Evan Ludeman / T8 |
#6
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 24, 11:39*am, rlovinggood wrote:
On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote: One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some place to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are *far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely confident in your ability. That's my public service announcement for the day :-). -T8 And Evan, why do we put fuses on the batteries and why do we use aircraft wire? * I wonder if the aircraft in the following report had a fused battery and aircraft wire? http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...01X51612&key=1 Ray Lovinggood Carrboro, North Carolina, USA We put the fuse right at to the battery so there is never a high current running through the rest of the circuitry. Wire short anywhere- fuse blows. This simple protection prevents having to deal with the consequences of many sins, including the PVC insulated wire many production gliders are incorporating. This is a simple and very useful safety enhancement which costs about $3 and takes 20 minutes to accomplish. Unless something falls on the battery terminals, you're pretty well covered. FWIW UH |
#7
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote:
One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some placeer Moxex-type connectors to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are *far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely confident in your ability. That's my public service announcement for the day :-). -T8 For any battery connections I highly recommend Anderson Powerpole connectors: http://www.andersonpower.com/product...onnectors.html. They are hermaphorditic (sexless) and are being used as a defacto standard in the Amateur Radio community for battery connections. This article: http://www.westmountainradio.com/supportrr.htm gives details on their application. There was a recent article in one of the ham magazines discussing their advantages over Molex-type connectors. The use of 30-amp size connectors has been suggested as standard due to their rugged construction and low contact resistance. Don. |
#8
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 24, 9:01*pm, Donald S Brant Jr wrote:
On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote: One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some placeer Moxex-type connectors to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are *far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely confident in your ability. That's my public service announcement for the day :-). -T8 For any battery connections I highly recommend Anderson Powerpole connectors:http://www.andersonpower.com/product...onnectors.html. They are hermaphorditic (sexless) and are being used as a defacto standard in the Amateur Radio community for battery connections. *This article:http://www.westmountainradio.com/supportrr.htmgives details on their application. *There was a recent article in one of the ham magazines discussing their advantages over Molex-type connectors. *The use of 30-amp size connectors has been suggested as standard due to their rugged construction and low contact resistance. Don. We also use Powerpoles for the same reason. They will take much more abuse than Molex connectors and have virtually no power loss. Can get them at any hobby shop that handles RC cars. Note these are not hobby products, they are industrial connectors. UH |
#9
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 25, 9:25*am, wrote:
On Aug 24, 9:01*pm, Donald S Brant Jr wrote: On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote: One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some placeer Moxex-type connectors to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are *far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely confident in your ability. That's my public service announcement for the day :-). -T8 For any battery connections I highly recommend Anderson Powerpole connectors:http://www.andersonpower.com/product...onnectors.html. They are hermaphorditic (sexless) and are being used as a defacto standard in the Amateur Radio community for battery connections. *This article:http://www.westmountainradio.com/sup...tmgivesdetails on their application. *There was a recent article in one of the ham magazines discussing their advantages over Molex-type connectors. *The use of 30-amp size connectors has been suggested as standard due to their rugged construction and low contact resistance. Don. We also use Powerpoles for the same reason. They will take much more abuse than Molex connectors and have virtually no power loss. Can get them at any hobby shop that handles RC cars. Note these are not hobby products, they are industrial connectors. UH I'll have to check these out. FWIW, my Molex recommendation was intended for the spade lug connectors that attach directly to the battery -- these are bullet proof. I agree that the Molex disconnects are a little light duty. -T8 |
#10
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Glider Batteries and Chargers
On Aug 24, 7:59*am, T8 wrote:
On Aug 24, 10:03*am, Grider Pirate wrote: VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? *I think this subject should have it's own thread. *Unlike transponders, we almost all need them. Powersonic batteries. *Battery Tender Plus charger. *Bullet proof, inexpensive. *Excellent technical info available at both manufacturers' websites. I like the Battery Tender Plus because it is a reasonable size capacity three mode charger that also includes a 6 hour limit on absorption mode. If you read the tech info on those two sites, you'll understand why that might be a good thing. *That charger will safely and correctly charge almost any 12V AGM battery from about 5 AH up. The Powersonic chargers also work great, but need to be matched to battery capacity, making them less universal. More exotic and expensive solutions work also, but unless you need more than 14 AH capacity or have weight or space constraints I don't see it as worth the bother. *Of course, some people just like exotica... nothing wrong with that. -Evan Ludeman / T8 Hmm, that's EXACTLY what I use in my motorcycle! I'll have to see if the Battery tender will deal with my 14v (10ah) glider battery. |
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