Matronics Email Lists Forum Index Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists
 
 Get Email Distribution Too!Get Email Distribution Too!    FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Battery Charging Question - Fight or Switch?

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
mark.steitle(at)austin.ut
Guest





PostPosted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:50 am    Post subject: Battery Charging Question - Fight or Switch? Reply with quote

Bob,

Following an earlier Aero-Electric discussion on battery chargers, I
purchased a Schumacher SC-1200A charger to use in maintaining the
Odyssey PC-680 batteries in my airplane. The charger has settings for
flooded-cell, deep-cycle, and AGM/Gel-cell batteries. I've been using
the AGM/Gel-cell setting. I read today in the document titled Charging
Odyssey Drycell Batteries (www.odysseybatteries.com/charging.htm) where
it states, "In general, do not use either the gel cell or maintenance
free setting, if provided on your charger. Choose the deep cycle
option, should there be one on your charger." So, now I'm confused as
to which to use. My PC-680 doesn't appear to have been harmed by
charging on the AGM/Gel-cell setting, but now I'm confused. Should I
switch to the deep-cycle setting, or continue as before?

Mark

Lancari ES

Austin, TX


- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List
Back to top
brian



Joined: 02 Jan 2006
Posts: 643
Location: Sacramento, California, USA

PostPosted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 4:47 pm    Post subject: Battery Charging Question - Fight or Switch? Reply with quote

Mark R Steitle wrote:

Quote:
Following an earlier Aero-Electric discussion on battery chargers, I
purchased a Schumacher SC-1200A charger to use in maintaining the
Odyssey PC-680 batteries in my airplane. The charger has settings for
flooded-cell, deep-cycle, and AGM/Gel-cell batteries. I've been using
the AGM/Gel-cell setting. I read today in the document titled Charging
Odyssey Drycell Batteries (www.odysseybatteries.com/charging.htm) where
it states, "In general, do not use either the gel cell or maintenance
free setting, if provided on your charger. Choose the deep cycle
option, should there be one on your charger." So, now I'm confused as
to which to use. My PC-680 doesn't appear to have been harmed by
charging on the AGM/Gel-cell setting, but now I'm confused. Should I
switch to the deep-cycle setting, or continue as before?

The charging voltages for AGM and gel-cells are quite different. If the
manufacturer has put an AGM/gel setting it means that the manufacturer
does not understand the difference between AGM and gel batteries.

My guess is that the deep-cycle is probably closer as the charging
voltages that AGM batteries like are quite close to the charging
voltages needed for properly charging deep-cycle flooded-cell batteries.

Ballpark charging voltages (70F-80F, (21C-27C):

AGM/deep-cycle Gel-cell

Charge 14.3V 13.7V

Float 13.4V 13.4V

It is interesting to note that the charge and float voltages for
gel-cells are close enough together that you can actually get away with
one setting for charge and float with gel-cells. 13.6V would probably
work well for both charge and float.

--
Brian Lloyd 2243 Cattle Dr.
brian-yak at lloyd dot com Folsom, CA 95630
+1.916.367.2131 (voice) +1.270.912.0788 (fax)

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery


- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List

_________________
Brian Lloyd
brian-yak at lloyd dot com
+1.916.367.2131 (voice) +1.270.912.0788 (fax)

I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things . . .
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
mark.steitle(at)austin.ut
Guest





PostPosted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 6:24 am    Post subject: Battery Charging Question - Fight or Switch? Reply with quote

Brian,
Thanks for your most excellent reply. Looks like I should start using
the deep-cycle setting from now on.

Mark S.

--


- The Matronics AeroElectric-List Email Forum -
 

Use the List Feature Navigator to browse the many List utilities available such as the Email Subscriptions page, Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, Photoshare, and much more:

http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?AeroElectric-List
Back to top
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> AeroElectric-List All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group