Converter In-Rush Thermistors etc, UPDATE -4
UPDATE on 17 Nov, Update 2 on 22 Nov, Update 3 on 16 Jan 14, Update 4 on 19 Oct 14. --------------- In a recent thread there was mention of how you can wreck your gizmo (in my case a converter) ...
Forum Discussion
Update using the repaired older PM3-100 with the new 5R020 thermistor.
Camping , 32F, four 6s rated at 458AH down to 12.1v about 50% of whatever their capacity is now in the cold.
Fired up the Honda 3000 , let it warm up some, plugged in the 100 amper, no load, it ran ok, showing 13.7v as set (I have the lid off and can get at the internal voltage pot) I wanted to try it at that first and then crank up the voltage if that was ok.
Clamped onto the batteries, no smoke, charger running fine so I took the clamps off, back to no load and reset the voltage to 14.78, where I like to have Vabs, about 14.8 (although at freezing temp, should be 15.2ish to be 14.8 equivalent). Waited ten minutes and clamped back on.
Poof there was a puff of smoke from the thermistor and a crack appeared in it near the top while the Honda roared up under the load.
No more smoke and everything kept running for another two hours while the recharge got done. So next day, need another recharge
Ran up the Honda in eco for about five minutes, plugged in the PM3 no load, 14.8 output ok, so clamped on the batts (at 12.1v again)
Immediately, no smoke from Thermistor but Honda conked out. Couldn't take the load. So now want to restart the Honda with Eco off so it won't conk out. Thermistor feels cold, but decide to wait ten minutes anyway. Fired up the Honda , Eco off, and roared up ok, plugged in PM3, still 14.8 no load, clamped on.
Poof! puff of smoke from thermistor in a different place over from the crack formed yesterday and a red spot! Red spot went out and no more smoke, everything still running. An hour into the recharge and everything still fine, getting the amp hours back in, no problem.
So it appears things are not right, but the thing still works. There was mention of 16 minutes to let the thermistor cool down, so my 10 minutes might have been too soon. Although the thing felt cold to the touch. Whatever.
My plan is to keep using this charger until the thermistor falls apart instead of replacing it right away. Who knows, it might keep working for a long time if I can ever just get a recharge going and have no restart needed, so it gets a cold start every time.
I have not got the other charger fixed yet, left it home. Camping comes first! :) ( I have my Vectors on standby but not needed---yet)
Camping , 32F, four 6s rated at 458AH down to 12.1v about 50% of whatever their capacity is now in the cold.
Fired up the Honda 3000 , let it warm up some, plugged in the 100 amper, no load, it ran ok, showing 13.7v as set (I have the lid off and can get at the internal voltage pot) I wanted to try it at that first and then crank up the voltage if that was ok.
Clamped onto the batteries, no smoke, charger running fine so I took the clamps off, back to no load and reset the voltage to 14.78, where I like to have Vabs, about 14.8 (although at freezing temp, should be 15.2ish to be 14.8 equivalent). Waited ten minutes and clamped back on.
Poof there was a puff of smoke from the thermistor and a crack appeared in it near the top while the Honda roared up under the load.
No more smoke and everything kept running for another two hours while the recharge got done. So next day, need another recharge
Ran up the Honda in eco for about five minutes, plugged in the PM3 no load, 14.8 output ok, so clamped on the batts (at 12.1v again)
Immediately, no smoke from Thermistor but Honda conked out. Couldn't take the load. So now want to restart the Honda with Eco off so it won't conk out. Thermistor feels cold, but decide to wait ten minutes anyway. Fired up the Honda , Eco off, and roared up ok, plugged in PM3, still 14.8 no load, clamped on.
Poof! puff of smoke from thermistor in a different place over from the crack formed yesterday and a red spot! Red spot went out and no more smoke, everything still running. An hour into the recharge and everything still fine, getting the amp hours back in, no problem.
So it appears things are not right, but the thing still works. There was mention of 16 minutes to let the thermistor cool down, so my 10 minutes might have been too soon. Although the thing felt cold to the touch. Whatever.
My plan is to keep using this charger until the thermistor falls apart instead of replacing it right away. Who knows, it might keep working for a long time if I can ever just get a recharge going and have no restart needed, so it gets a cold start every time.
I have not got the other charger fixed yet, left it home. Camping comes first! :) ( I have my Vectors on standby but not needed---yet)
