John P
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| posted on 5/3/21 at 02:14 PM |
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Issue with Old Style Battery Charger - Advice Please
HI,
I've got an old style battery charger which is effectively just a plate rectifier and transformer so I guess there's not actually a lot to
go wrong.
For some time the ammeter hasn't seemed to be working correctly in that although it does move ever so slightly when you turn on the charger it
certainly doesn't indicate more than a fraction of an amp.
There is definitely a DC output but I don't have any way of checking the actual current produced and with a modern battery I can't even
see if there are any bubbles coming off the plates.
I don't really want to buy a new charger as this is used on my 6-volt vintage Austin and smart chargers seem to have issues if the battery
voltage drops significantly which does tend to happen when the car isn't used much.
I was going to order a new ammeter such as:
https://cpc.farnell.com/hobut/f3pam602-10a/ammeter-0-to-10a/dp/PM11548?ost=f3pam602-10a
It's not that expensive at just under £9.00 including carriage but am I just wasting my time?
Any advice,
John.
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Toys2
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| posted on 5/3/21 at 02:35 PM |
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It sounds feasible, they can be found cheaper
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DC-Amperemeter-Voltmeter-Analog-Panel-Meter-Ammeter-Voltmeter-50uA-50A-5V-50V-OT/313443086775?hash=item48faa9f1b7:g:9osAAOS
wWuNgQKuB
Does it charge the battery though? Maybe flatten it by leaving your lights on and then see if it will charge in the normal time
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JeffHs
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| posted on 5/3/21 at 02:56 PM |
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I've got exactly the same issue with my old charger, ammeter moves slightly but it does still charge fine. Both our daily drivers have suffered
from flat batteries in lock down, but the charger has saved the day.
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gremlin1234
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| posted on 5/3/21 at 03:02 PM |
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plate rectifiers do fail over time, I would replace the diode bridge with something like
https://cpc.farnell.com/multicomp/kbpc1504/diode-bridge-rect-1-ph-400v-module/dp/SC15168
mounted on a suitable heatsink
note many of the modern 'smart' chargers do 6v as well.
edit to add, you can test the old-school charges by connecting them to a spare headlamp bulb
edit 2: actually, get both ammeter and rectifier, and change them both.
[Edited on 5/3/21 by gremlin1234]
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steve m
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| posted on 5/3/21 at 04:03 PM |
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I also have exactly the same issue with an old 12v charger, Ammeter doesnt really do much, but if you briefly touch red and black together it goes
full deflection, and returns
Ive not used mine in years, and even when i did, i just got to the point of i could start the car, and i certainly wouldnt just leave it switched on
overnight
Thats was probably spelt wrong, or had some grammer, that the "grammer police have to have a moan at
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 5/3/21 at 05:34 PM |
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I just use a cheap hand held multimeter and check the voltage is above 13v, usually is around 15v and charge till the battery is fizzing. I'm
sure there's more scientific ways but it seems to work and once in the car a quick run and it's done. If you are leaving the car a while a
basic trickle charger is ideal but you need to check iy can regulate itself for that purpose.
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ReMan
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| posted on 6/3/21 at 01:47 PM |
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if you short the wires does it then move to full output current?
www.plusnine.co.uk
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ReMan
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| posted on 6/3/21 at 01:47 PM |
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if you short the wires does it then move to full output current?
www.plusnine.co.uk
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jacko
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| posted on 6/3/21 at 02:10 PM |
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Buy a new charger 🙈🙈 greedy sod. Hehe
Graham
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