Well i began the new test.
Dialing in voltage was a dream unloaded. The new range was 10.03v to 15.33 with the new pot installed. I set it to exactly 14.7v plugged it into the battery, and it shot up to 38.09 amps and was buzzing away.
Uncomfortable with this, I still let it continue.
5 minutes later 38.89 amps and the case temp on the side was 126f, a little hotter, but the rear of the case, which always was 15 degrees cooler, was 15 degrees hotter!!.
I let it go, buzzing along, uncomfortable but more confident in it for some unexplained reason.
5 minutes later 39.74 amps, verified by DC clamp on meter at 39.34 amps,
buzzing changing note.
1 minute later, see where this is going?, 41.24 amps WTF????
I'm thinking I should lower the pot to reduce amps.
I look at the battery monitor, I look back at the gtpower and now amps are lowering, about 1 amp a second. Hmmmm strange
Grab my IR gun to take measurements and POOF, smoke and flames crackling and buzzing. The flames and sparks visible through fan hole.
I rip out the power cord from the power strip. It did not trip the breaker in the power strip
The Cheapowatt, is dead.
I should have kept it below 36.2 amps.
Time to open it up, see what smoked.
Pics to come.
Somebody mail me $22.59!!!! I'm crying a mile of tears.
Ha.
