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Radioflyer
Joined: 04 Feb 2009
Posts: 43
Location: Boston
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 Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 5:11 am Post subject: Schumacher for battery maintenance, vote now! |
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After several postings here about how this is the best no-nonsense maintainer for Pb-acid chemistry I got myself one from Walmart. Model SEM 1562A. I put it on an Odyssey PC625 and checked the voltages. The unit was charging at 15.6V. After 3 hrs, the float charge kicked in, hovering around 14.6 volts. Later I believe I found a review on Amazon from somebody who measured about the same voltages.
What I wanted was 14.6 charge/13.2 float since that was what was reported in this forum as correct for the chemistry and for this unit. I think the original units came with a 12/6V switch. This unit (same model number) has a 12/6V automatic function with no switch. It seems the switch is not the only thing that has changed.
I'm returning the unit and now will search for something else. Any suggestions?
--Jose
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bobmeyers(at)meyersfamily
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| Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject: Schumacher for battery maintenance, vote now! |
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Two pieces of information from Enersys about Odyssey batteries.
Although they try and push their chargers, they do list specs for
selecting a non Odyssey charger or a maintainer.
In all cases, they say to never use a unit that goes over 15v because
of the risk of popping the valve. They say to check the charger with
a volt meter for compliance.
For the 625 they list a 6A (.4C10) charger as a minimum if it is used
for deep cycling rather than just a float charger. I am not sure what
your intended use is. As a float unit only the Schumacher is sized
fine for the 625.
I have two non-odyssey chargers that roughly follow the curve Bob
posted for you but they are 12A and 25A respectively. They are both
smart enough to switch to a float charge quickly if the battery is
full or nearly so.
Bob Meyers
Building Sonex 982SX Web Site Index http://meyersfamily.org/Sonex982.html
On Mar 21, 2010, at 9:09 PM, Radioflyer wrote:
| Quote: |
>
Ok, Bob, you suggested that I monitor the battery over a few days.
Here is the summary of the Schumacher SEM-1562A voltages across my
AGM battery(Odyssey PC625). (The battery had been already (night
prior) charged/maintain by the same device.)
Day 1 - The unit started at 14.6V (yellow light on) and quickly
ramped up to 15.2V. About 1.5hr later, the float commenced (green
light on). The Voltages ranged (sinusoidally?) from 13.6 to 15.3V
over about a 20 second period.
Day 2 - (24hrs later) The unit was still ranging thru 13.6 to 15.2V.
Day 3 - The unit ranged from 13.7 to 15.8V, but there was more
loiter time nearer the 13.7V end. 12 hrs later in the day (or maybe
less) the unit had stabilized at 13.7V
Day 4 - Values continue to be stable at 13.7V with no indication of
any further change. I then disconnected the Schumacher and
terminated measurements.
The Schumacher started with a brief topping off voltage of 15.2V,
continued with a long float of 13.6 to 15.2V averaging to about
14.4V, and finally settled on a constant 13.7V. The volatges seems
high to me. The manual states max charge of 14.6V, maintainance
13.3V, but I don't know if these are "averaged" values. So, is this
optimal or reasonable behavior for maintaining my battery? Clearly,
this new version of the SEM-1562A is operating quite differently
from the original version.
--Jose
Read this topic online here:
http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=291207#291207
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skywagon
Joined: 11 Feb 2006
Posts: 184
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| Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:28 am Post subject: Schumacher for battery maintenance, vote now! |
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Wondering, if these products are coming out of China or some other mass
producing factory where the final calibration "station" to set the peak
charge and float voltages pots is poorly set-up or non-existent. I have
used the BatteryMinder model 12117; the small unit. I like it.
When I first operated it and monitored the various voltages as Jose did, I
noted also the peak and float voltages were too high. Both levels were
controlled by separate pots within the unit. I called BatteryMinder and
spoke to someone with product knowledge, related my finding, asked for
verification of my views on what the levels should be and he answered, yes,
both settings were too high and I was correct with my settings. He asked
that I send it in for recalibration and I told him the unit was apart and I
had located the control pots for each voltage level and would like to make
the adjustments myself. He verified that was Ok and to check back if I
could not bring the charging levels down to normal. The mini pots had
enough range. After several days of monitoring the maintainers activity on
a standard Concord type AC battery, it was verified that it was doing what
it was designed to do.
Conclusion.... many products of good designs like this one are leaving the
factories with thinly disguised Q/C
---
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Radioflyer
Joined: 04 Feb 2009
Posts: 43
Location: Boston
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| Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:22 am Post subject: Re: Schumacher for battery maintenance, vote now! |
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And I think the original version of the Schumacher SEM-1562A had adjustment trimpots also. However, this new version of the same model is microprocessor controlled and has no trimpots. The voltages must be controlled by firmware.
--Jose
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