PD9245 and Lifeline GPL-31XT testing
I just acquired a Progressive Dynamics PD9245 converter to specifically charge a New Lifeline AGM GPL-31Xt at 125AH capacity. I tested the converter tonight on a different battery, and saw Voltages...
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I was not sure how to read the date code stickers on the New Lifeline GPL-31xt.
One sticker says FO, and the other has a barcode and some numbers:
01541778 .
I fired off an Email to lifeline last night and this morning a response related that it was made in June 2015, but no other details.
After initial delivery, I bumped it upto and held it at 14.40v for a while Via my Meanwell but the amps had only tapered very slowly down to 1.21. I am use to a rapid descent of Amps when top charging my Northstar AGM, so this slow amp taper was unexpected and had me questioning the freshness of this battery.
The ends of the case were actually bulging a bit. They flattened back out a while after I removed it from the MeanWell at 1.21a at ~ 3.5 hours at 14.4v
Last Night, over 8.5 hours, I depleted this 125AH lifeline, and according to my 8awg leaded GT Power RC watt meter:
62.864 A/H
776.6 W/H
This would be an Average 7.4 amp load
This battery achieves achieves its 20 hour rating under a 6.25a load, So Peukert get in there and starts waving his thunder stick around at some rate at 7.4 amps
Minimum voltage recorded was 12.01v at loads upto 14 amps
Voltage rebounded to 12.23 the Instant I removed all loads from battery
6 hours later it had rebounded to 12.37v!
I found this impressive. I had a few doubts yesterday as to the freshness of this battery, and this quasi capacity test was to see the battery had been sitting around and got a quick partial charge before delivery. It read 13.00 volts upon receipt. I read the Lifeline response as to a June 2015 manufacture date, after I saw voltage rebounded to 12.37.
I Then removed screwy31 from PD9245. It had been held at 13.2v by the PD9245 for several hours at that point.
I attached the Lifeline, and plugged in the PD9245.
43 amps settled to 42.5. Input line 118.5vAC.
~ 15 minutes later I came back and saw 13.6, and 35.2 amps, and the pendant light blinking rapidly indicating storage mode.
I pressed the button for 14.4 and got 42.5 amps again and a raising voltmeter.
Now 15 minutes later 14.2v and 38.9amps.
I have a cheap voltmeter/Ammeter on the PD output.
V/A combo unit
While initially it read pretty close to my clamp on meter as to amp flow, when amps tapered way down, the combo unit reads 0.00 and the clamp on meter will read as high as 1.14a.
Voltage was really close.
I tried adjusting the calibration pots. They are extremely difficult to turn. I have a dozen different precision screwdrivers, but only one of them ( flat head) fit in what appears to be a phillips head and no dice on getting it to acknowledge currents under an amp.
I had to readjust the pot again this morning at ~40 amps to read close to my clamp on meter.
I am a bit disappointed with this, but Oh well. Perhaps a better 75Mv shunt and less temporary wiring on the meter leads
I Am not so happy that the PD decided to revert to 13.6v storage mode on its own when the battery obviously can take so much more.
But after a pendant toggling, it is now holding 14.5v and amps have tapered to 13.9 amps on the combo meter and 14.57 amps on my clamp on meter @ ~ 1:20 after starting PD.
Now to see when it goes into normal 13.6 mode
One sticker says FO, and the other has a barcode and some numbers:
01541778 .
I fired off an Email to lifeline last night and this morning a response related that it was made in June 2015, but no other details.
After initial delivery, I bumped it upto and held it at 14.40v for a while Via my Meanwell but the amps had only tapered very slowly down to 1.21. I am use to a rapid descent of Amps when top charging my Northstar AGM, so this slow amp taper was unexpected and had me questioning the freshness of this battery.
The ends of the case were actually bulging a bit. They flattened back out a while after I removed it from the MeanWell at 1.21a at ~ 3.5 hours at 14.4v
Last Night, over 8.5 hours, I depleted this 125AH lifeline, and according to my 8awg leaded GT Power RC watt meter:
62.864 A/H
776.6 W/H
This would be an Average 7.4 amp load
This battery achieves achieves its 20 hour rating under a 6.25a load, So Peukert get in there and starts waving his thunder stick around at some rate at 7.4 amps
Minimum voltage recorded was 12.01v at loads upto 14 amps
Voltage rebounded to 12.23 the Instant I removed all loads from battery
6 hours later it had rebounded to 12.37v!
I found this impressive. I had a few doubts yesterday as to the freshness of this battery, and this quasi capacity test was to see the battery had been sitting around and got a quick partial charge before delivery. It read 13.00 volts upon receipt. I read the Lifeline response as to a June 2015 manufacture date, after I saw voltage rebounded to 12.37.
I Then removed screwy31 from PD9245. It had been held at 13.2v by the PD9245 for several hours at that point.
I attached the Lifeline, and plugged in the PD9245.
43 amps settled to 42.5. Input line 118.5vAC.
~ 15 minutes later I came back and saw 13.6, and 35.2 amps, and the pendant light blinking rapidly indicating storage mode.
I pressed the button for 14.4 and got 42.5 amps again and a raising voltmeter.
Now 15 minutes later 14.2v and 38.9amps.
I have a cheap voltmeter/Ammeter on the PD output.
V/A combo unit
While initially it read pretty close to my clamp on meter as to amp flow, when amps tapered way down, the combo unit reads 0.00 and the clamp on meter will read as high as 1.14a.
Voltage was really close.
I tried adjusting the calibration pots. They are extremely difficult to turn. I have a dozen different precision screwdrivers, but only one of them ( flat head) fit in what appears to be a phillips head and no dice on getting it to acknowledge currents under an amp.
I had to readjust the pot again this morning at ~40 amps to read close to my clamp on meter.
I am a bit disappointed with this, but Oh well. Perhaps a better 75Mv shunt and less temporary wiring on the meter leads
I Am not so happy that the PD decided to revert to 13.6v storage mode on its own when the battery obviously can take so much more.
But after a pendant toggling, it is now holding 14.5v and amps have tapered to 13.9 amps on the combo meter and 14.57 amps on my clamp on meter @ ~ 1:20 after starting PD.
Now to see when it goes into normal 13.6 mode
