Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Batteries & Chargers => Topic started by: comtoray on February 10, 2012, 10:08:44 am
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Where is the best place to source these batteries please thanks...Ray :-)
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Try e bay, type in 'sealed lead acid battery'.
I have also bought from Rexel, Senate electrical.
Ian
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http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/lead-acid.html
Fast service. Next day if you order early enough.
Cheap P&P
Good quality.
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http://www.component-shop.co.uk/
Lots of members swear by these guys.
Cheap, fast despatch and low low postage.
Just a very satisfied customer
Ned
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Great minds eh Richard?
Ned
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Just beat you to it Ned. {-)
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Thanks guys the link to component shop isnt working at the moment ill try later cheers :-))
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Its working now. Just takes a while to download. http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/lead-acid.html
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Its working now. Just takes a while to download. http://www.component-shop.co.uk/html/lead-acid.html
Ive just recieved my new12 volt battery, it is showing 12.89 on the meter is it ok to sail or will it need its first charge thank you...Ray
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Best to take it through a charge - discharge - recharge cycle before sailing. Better than learning to walk on water.
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Best to take it through a charge - discharge - recharge cycle before sailing. Better than learning to walk on water.
Hm now i sure my charger wont discharge it what now {:-{
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use a load like a car head light bulb or a high power motor to disscharge the battery
john
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Best to take it through a charge - discharge - recharge cycle before sailing. Better than learning to walk on water.
NO!!!!! Not if it is a sealed lead acid battery. It should be delivered fully charged and if it is reading 12.89 volts then it is. If you discharge it you will ruin it. If you have a half way decent charger it will detect when the battery is fully charged and switch to trickle charging mode.
Also bear in mind that SLA batteries don't like being discharged below 50% of their nominal capacity so if you have a 10 Ah battery, the effective capacity is nearer 5 Ah. You can work out your safe running time by measuring the current drain with an ammeter while holding the model in the bath at an average throttle setting. Thus, if the motor(s) draw 2.5 amps then you will have a couple of hours duration etc.
Colin
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NO!!!!! Not if it is a sealed lead acid battery. It should be delivered fully charged and if it is reading 12.89 volts then it is. If you discharge it you will ruin it. If you have a half way decent charger it will detect when the battery is fully charged and switch to trickle charging mode.
Also bear in mind that SLA batteries don't like being discharged below 50% of their nominal capacity so if you have a 10 Ah battery, the effective capacity is nearer 5 Ah. You can work out your safe running time by measuring the current drain with an ammeter while holding the model in the bath at an average throttle setting. Thus, if the motor(s) draw 2.5 amps then you will have a couple of hours duration etc.
Colin
Thank you Colin cheers...Ray :-)
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Its a 12volt battery and its reading 12.89volts sounds like its charged to me, how many volts do you want ? (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/Smileys/thinking1.gif)
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Its a 12volt battery and its reading 12.89volts sounds like its charged to me, how many volts do you want ? (http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/Smileys/thinking1.gif)Well my older one charges to 13.65 :}
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When you take a 12v battery off charge it will frequently read over 13v for a bit (while it's still excited!) but will then settle down to something over 12.5 if it is in good nick which is what your battery is showing.
Colin
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When you take a 12v battery off charge it will frequently read over 13v for a bit (while it's still excited!) but will then settle down to something over 12.5 if it is in good nick which is what your battery is showing.
Colin
Thank you Colin understood and thanks for the clarity :-))
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NO!!!!! Not if it is a sealed lead acid battery. It should be delivered fully charged and if it is reading 12.89 volts then it is. If you discharge it you will ruin it. If you have a half way decent charger it will detect when the battery is fully charged and switch to trickle charging mode.
I don't read what I said as "discharge it until it won't discharge any more", so, with any new battery, I would run it on a load, measuring the voltage, until it had dropped a volt or so, then recharge until the charger either went to trickle or the voltage maxed out. That way, you know its charged. Trusting a supplier.....well....
In a technical hobby, involving owner choice of components, doing technical things rather than the equivalent of plugging Lego together should be expected.
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SLA batteries should never be run until flat, one sure way to ruin a battery that should last any user a good five years at the very least, if looked after.
The discharge cycle on a charger, if you have that facility, is meant to stop the battery from going fully flat and to test it's load bearing capacity. Basically it will tell you if there is a fault in the battery plates and should only be used when you suspect a fault with holding it's charge.
Most people in my experience will lay up a battery over winter and only charge it when they need it. SLA batteries will loose charge over time and then will be ruined, rarely will running the discharge bring them back from the dead. So if you aren't using the battery for a few months put it on charge monthly over the winter. Keeping the battery warm and not in a cold shed/garage / workshop will also help keep them in good condition and prolong their life.
A slow steady charge is better for the battery, rapid chargers work by feeding a higher current through the gel and can cause bubbles to form on the plates inside eventually these tiny bubbles corrode the lead plates that hold the charge.
A newly bought battery will be fully charged and should be put under load by the equipment that is going to use it. Right away if possible install it in your boat and run it, under load (in the boat on the lake ) for thirty minutes or so then charge it up. Charge it every time you get home.
You should have no problems then keeping SLA's for years to come and they will give you many years of sailing..