Genny starter battery intrigue [RE-wrenches]

[David Katz]

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Hi Geoff,
Use a multimeter with a mA scale.  Put it in series with the module and 
lay the module face down to measure the discharge current.  You should 
probably measure the charging current too.
Next, disconnect one of the battery cables and measure the same way to 
the generator when it is off to see if there is any draw there.
Finally, put a load on the battery and see if the voltage drops really 
low. Maybe there is a dead cell in the battery that floats ok, but drops 
2 volts with a load.
Cheers,
David
David Katz
President, AEE Solar
formerly Alternative Energy Engineering
1155 Redway Drive - Box 339
Redway, CA 95560 USA
(707) 825-1200
(707) 825-1202
email: david at aeesolar.com
web: www.aeesolar.com


Geoff Greenfield wrote:

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>here to start looking younger today!
>http://click.topica.com/caadslIbz8QcsciHNopa/Nexiderm
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>
>I have a customer who's rarely used backup genny can't keep it's battery
>alive.  It is a northstar cheapo from northern tool and it is fine for his
>needs (so far) except for when his battery self-discharges.
>
>It came set up with a built in AC trickle-charger, complete with it's own
>plug and cord.  The customer also bought a little el cheapo "battery
>maintainer" pv panel that came with a cig lighter plug... meant to go on the
>dashboard.  It is an amorphous panel, about 16" x 4", and I have no idea if
>it has any self regulation or diode...
>
>so- this thing is hooked up to the batt... last I looked the batt terminals
>read 13.5 on a sunny day and now the batts dead.  I am going over to
>troubleshoot for him... I guess I'll use my fluke to check for a diode - do
>you listers think nighttime discharge is the problem?  Maybe there was a
>built in diode in the car lighter he clipped off to hardwire this in?  How
>would I test for nightime discharge.... isolate the batt and the pv and
>monitor voltage drop over time?  I'm assuming the amperage is too small to
>be picked up with my clamp on.
>
>Or might there be some other drain to suss out...  I will look for
>continuity - the starter should be out of the system by the relay right?
>
>Our back up plan is to plug the shorepower trickle charger in (we did send
>an ac light/plug circuit to the genny shed) but I would like to avoid
>another phantom load - although this system can take it)
>
>For a brighter energy future,
>
>Geoff Greenfield
>NABCEP Certified Energy Practitioner
>
>THIRD SUN SOLAR & WIND POWER Ltd.
>340 West State Street
>Athens, OH 45701
>
>www.third-sun.com
>(740) 597-3111
>
>
>  
>

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