I stumbled across...
The fact that these low energy consuming devices last a lot longer when smothered with silicone dielectric grease. The PC board, components, around the LCD (or LED) display, and smoosh the connectors and pins with grease. Same with shunts although I prefer the high-priced spread, the blue De-Oxit anti-corrosion liquid for shunts. With a drawer full of recently purchased 16 volt MOVs and TVS devices, I slap on some of those to protect the digital circuitry.
Coming to the store today I played with a pigtail cigarette-lighter Voltage alarm unit some kind person on this forum referred me to - and that was five years ago. The meter is a champ but when the alarm circuit is enabled the whole she-bang drops .16 volt and when the piezo alarm sounds the displayed voltage has a .22 volt minus error. So I set the alarm to sound at .2 volts higher voltage. Works for me.
pnichols señor, with as much rain as you got this winter, better fit a turbocharger onto that Stil.
I am researching availability of 2-watt precision resistors in the 220 ohm to 50 ohm range. Overkill capacity but I want structural strength to be augmented by 4:1 heat shrink tubing. For the single deck 11-position rotary switch. I found one with AU plated contacts and a Teflon bushing. Already have a chicken-head knob for it. Next part is painful - a 4" Simpson or Triplett 100 mv analog meter. All for the Gigawatt. With señor Piantuna's beautiful 12" square plastic box the Gigawatt has a new home. EB Pabst ball bearing 120 vac fans, and an Omron timer unit. Heh heh heh...programmable (via the voltage resistor network) ZOTS for AGM or flooded batteries while floating long term.
Thirty-years ago, what they have now was only the stuff of dreams. Think of an aged Willy Wonka puffing on a chocolate Cohiba. I am going to get this meter and incorporate it into the charger. And use Mr. Wizards digital pickup ammeter, and a 5-1/2 digit voltmeter. I have a 10" stainless steel rack handle for a lift bar and am shopping for 8" stainless tack handles for front panel protection. Ooooo you ought to see the PCB with the 120 volt incoming protection circuitry. Twelve 20mm MOVS and 10 180 volt 1500 watt TVS devices.
56-total amperes out of one Gigawatt is good enough for me. The Paul Bunyan grade BORG can do the 100+ amp heavy lifting if desired.
When I was working I always shuddered at the thought of retiring. Shheeeeze, five telephone directory size electronics parts catalogs, a few dozen downloaded white papers and a clear shot at the internet and whoppee...
EDIT EDIT ADDENDUM...
Dang! Like hanging a squawking chicken in front of a salt water croc, I bit. With Mr. Wizard's inductive ammeter (WOW! The price of those jumped 5 bucks!) I'm going to have a charger meter panel face with enough gauges, meters and knobs to impress a twin engine private pilot. Or maybe a Rodney Dangerfield grade motor yacht owner.
Twist
Tweak
Noodge
Fondle
