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
Yes, I will do the clamp on first method but I may not be able to tell anything different since the way I have been doing it also works, at least for the number of times I have done it.
There is a disadvantage in clamping on first because then you don't get to check the converter's output voltage first, which sometimes you want to do with a variable voltage unit. Once clamped on you get battery voltage mixed in. I can pre-set to my usual 14.8 and just leave it there though.
I do like being able to jack that 14.8 up to 15.2 when it is 32F out, but I can pre-set that the day before too.
Also we do know that first the older 100amper had that small thermistor in it that blew and PM sent me the higher R, higher amp one as a replacement two years ago, so they were aware of the issue with the original in the PM3-100. They are doing PM4s now.
Later I got the prototype external adjustable 100amper and as seen the photos, it had a redesigned input end with an even bigger thermistor, so they must have been working on that. I don't know what the production ones are like inside.
AFAIK the "car showroom" models like my newer 100amper are the same as the converters but with the jumper cable attachments for the output. I never got a set of instructions with mine. I don't know if you would with a production model, and if you did, whether it would say in big writing to attach the cables before turning on the charger.
I'm ok with things now, thanks to all the help here, and I doubt anybody who gets one of these will have the issues I have had. If they ever did, there is an excellent 3 yr warranty through Randy if you get it there or a 2 yr warranty elsewhere. I really like my 100amper, adjustable voltage charger for the way I do things.
There is a disadvantage in clamping on first because then you don't get to check the converter's output voltage first, which sometimes you want to do with a variable voltage unit. Once clamped on you get battery voltage mixed in. I can pre-set to my usual 14.8 and just leave it there though.
I do like being able to jack that 14.8 up to 15.2 when it is 32F out, but I can pre-set that the day before too.
Also we do know that first the older 100amper had that small thermistor in it that blew and PM sent me the higher R, higher amp one as a replacement two years ago, so they were aware of the issue with the original in the PM3-100. They are doing PM4s now.
Later I got the prototype external adjustable 100amper and as seen the photos, it had a redesigned input end with an even bigger thermistor, so they must have been working on that. I don't know what the production ones are like inside.
AFAIK the "car showroom" models like my newer 100amper are the same as the converters but with the jumper cable attachments for the output. I never got a set of instructions with mine. I don't know if you would with a production model, and if you did, whether it would say in big writing to attach the cables before turning on the charger.
I'm ok with things now, thanks to all the help here, and I doubt anybody who gets one of these will have the issues I have had. If they ever did, there is an excellent 3 yr warranty through Randy if you get it there or a 2 yr warranty elsewhere. I really like my 100amper, adjustable voltage charger for the way I do things.
