Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » House battery's draining
| House battery's draining [message #155916] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 11:08  |
Wander Inn
Messages: 100
Registered: January 2010
Location: Phoenix Az.
Karma: 0
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I have a Progressive Dynamics Inc. A PO installed converter, #PD9245.
With all the fuses pulled and no 120 volt power source, the
converter sparks when I connect to the 12 volt connection. Is this normal?
Mike
Mike & Chris Hughes
1977 Kingsley
Phoenix, Az.
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #155917 is a reply to message #155916] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 11:14  |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Wander Inn wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 09:08 |
I have a Progressive Dynamics Inc. A PO installed converter, #PD9245.
With all the fuses pulled and no 120 volt power source, the
converter sparks when I connect to the 12 volt connection. Is this normal?
|
Yes.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #155937 is a reply to message #155924] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 13:11 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Emery, I have also noticed when hooking up house batteries to an unpowered
(not plugged into house current) IOTA and Progressive Dynamics Inverters
that there is a discharge current present when the cables are attatched. I
disconnected everything on the 12 VDC side as well as the charging cable
from the isolator and with only the inverter connected to the batteries, I
still noticed a considerable draw on the batteries. I wondered if this was
a normal thing with inverters that are solid state controlled. The old buzz
boxes did not display such antics. I do not know if this is a normal thing
for these devices, but it would seem to me that it would keep the house
batteries in constant need of being pluggged in. Strange!
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403
On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 9:47 AM, Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com> wrote:
>
> On Jan 8, 2012, at 10:43 AM, Mike & Chris Hughes wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Would the converter draw down my battery?
> >
> > Mike
>
> No, to te contrary, if it is working correctly and if your batteries are
> OK, it should be charging your battery
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM
>
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #155940 is a reply to message #155937] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 13:34 |
emerystora
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
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I cannot address the Progressive Dynamics but I have had a Xantrex Statpower 40+ in now for over 11 years and it has never drawn down the batteries when not plugged in -- sometimes for months in storage. I have never heard anyone in the past say that it happened with the PD converters. You mention an Inverter so I cannot say on that. Or, did you mean to say converter?
Emery Stora
On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:11 PM, James Hupy wrote:
> Emery, I have also noticed when hooking up house batteries to an unpowered
> (not plugged into house current) IOTA and Progressive Dynamics Inverters
> that there is a discharge current present when the cables are attatched. I
> disconnected everything on the 12 VDC side as well as the charging cable
> from the isolator and with only the inverter connected to the batteries, I
> still noticed a considerable draw on the batteries. I wondered if this was
> a normal thing with inverters that are solid state controlled. The old buzz
> boxes did not display such antics. I do not know if this is a normal thing
> for these devices, but it would seem to me that it would keep the house
> batteries in constant need of being pluggged in. Strange!
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, OR
> 78 GMC Royale 403
>
> On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 9:47 AM, Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> On Jan 8, 2012, at 10:43 AM, Mike & Chris Hughes wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Would the converter draw down my battery?
>>>
>>> Mike
>>
>> No, to te contrary, if it is working correctly and if your batteries are
>> OK, it should be charging your battery
>>
>> Emery Stora
>> 77 Kingsley
>> Santa Fe, NM
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
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Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #155946 is a reply to message #155940] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 14:13 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Emery, sorry, I use the term more or less interchangeably. I guess
technically an electrical device that converts 12 V dc to 120 VAC would
have an exact name, but In this case I was referring to an electrical
device that takes 120 VAC on the primary side and converts it to 12 VDC on
the secondary side. It would have to both reduce the voltage and rectify
the AC into DC. Some of the secondary output is used to pover lighting and
water pumps and fan motors and etc., and some would be used to recharge the
house batteries. Both of the devices that I have noticed the draw on had so
called "smart chargers" incorporated into their operation, as well as
cooling fans that run intermittenly. I thought perhaps there might be a
transformer that was "always on" that would account for the draw. Don't
know for sure, that is why I asked the group if any of you have encountered
this as well.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403
On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 11:34 AM, Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com> wrote:
> I cannot address the Progressive Dynamics but I have had a Xantrex
> Statpower 40+ in now for over 11 years and it has never drawn down the
> batteries when not plugged in -- sometimes for months in storage. I have
> never heard anyone in the past say that it happened with the PD converters.
> You mention an Inverter so I cannot say on that. Or, did you mean to say
> converter?
>
> Emery Stora
>
> On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:11 PM, James Hupy wrote:
>
> > Emery, I have also noticed when hooking up house batteries to an
> unpowered
> > (not plugged into house current) IOTA and Progressive Dynamics Inverters
> > that there is a discharge current present when the cables are attatched.
> I
> > disconnected everything on the 12 VDC side as well as the charging cable
> > from the isolator and with only the inverter connected to the batteries,
> I
> > still noticed a considerable draw on the batteries. I wondered if this
> was
> > a normal thing with inverters that are solid state controlled. The old
> buzz
> > boxes did not display such antics. I do not know if this is a normal
> thing
> > for these devices, but it would seem to me that it would keep the house
> > batteries in constant need of being pluggged in. Strange!
> > Jim Hupy
> > Salem, OR
> > 78 GMC Royale 403
> >
> > On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 9:47 AM, Emery Stora <emerystora@mac.com> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> On Jan 8, 2012, at 10:43 AM, Mike & Chris Hughes wrote:
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Would the converter draw down my battery?
> >>>
> >>> Mike
> >>
> >> No, to te contrary, if it is working correctly and if your batteries are
> >> OK, it should be charging your battery
> >>
> >> Emery Stora
> >> 77 Kingsley
> >> Santa Fe, NM
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> GMCnet mailing list
> >> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> >> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
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>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM
>
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #155948 is a reply to message #155937] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 14:19 |
rvanwin
Messages: 325
Registered: April 2007
Location: Battlefield, MO
Karma: 6
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| James Hupy wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 13:11 |
Emery, I have also noticed when hooking up house batteries to an unpowered
(not plugged into house current) IOTA and Progressive Dynamics Inverters
that there is a discharge current present when the cables are attatched. I
disconnected everything on the 12 VDC side as well as the charging cable
from the isolator and with only the inverter connected to the batteries, I
still noticed a considerable draw on the batteries. I wondered if this was
a normal thing with inverters that are solid state controlled.
|
I have a PD9260 converter (I think you meant to say converter instead of inverter) and when my batteries discharged once over a period of 3 to 4 weeks I got concerned about the converting pulling a drain on the batteries. I did some checking and found that when connecting the batteries, I would get a spark. I checked to make sure every thing was disconnected and with only the PD powered, I still got the spark when connecting. I called PD and discussed this with them and they said it should not do this and should not drain the battery. They sent me another converter. When I was hooking it up, I got the same spark. I then hooked my ammeter between the + post and when I attached it to the cable, I got an amp draw but then it when to zero. I suspect the PD charges a capacitor initially but then no draw. Went looking for cause of battery drainage over long period of time. I found that the Fantastic Vents (I have the rain sensor type) will draw amps even when not running. They have to be turned completely off (the speed knob turned to the zero setting to prevent a drain.
Randy & Margie
'77 Eleganza II '403'
Battlefield, MO
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #155955 is a reply to message #155922] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 14:43 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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| Wander Inn wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 09:43 |
Would the converter draw down my battery?
|
Like what Randy says, I am fairly sure that the "spark" is charging "something" in the control circuits of the PD converter. I have not noticed any battery drain when not plugged in for a period of time.
I have NOT measured anything and only have experience with my two units.... but they both act the same.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #155961 is a reply to message #155955] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 15:42 |
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ljdavick
Messages: 3548
Registered: March 2007
Location: Fremont, CA
Karma: -3
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Senior Member |
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Did he say CONverter or INverter? Many inverters will draw power all the time. Converters should never draw 12v power - its supposed to go the other way!
The converter wouldn't be plugged into the inverter, would it? No, it couldn't be...
Larry Davick
Sent from my iPad
On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:43 PM, Mike Miller <> wrote:
>
>
> Wander Inn wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 09:43
>> Would the converter draw down my battery?
>
>
> Like what Randy says, I am fairly sure that the "spark" is charging "something" in the control circuits of the PD converter. I have not noticed any battery drain when not plugged in for a period of time.
>
> I have NOT measured anything and only have experience with my two units.... but they both act the same.
> --
> Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
> (#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
> http://m000035.blogspot.com
> _______________________________________________
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Larry Davick
A Mystery Machine
1976(ish) Palm Beach
Fremont, Ca
Howell EFI + EBL + Electronic Dizzy
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #155964 is a reply to message #155961] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 16:20 |
James Hupy
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
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Senior Member |
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That would kinda like using a fan to turn a windmill generator. Should
work, right? Kinda like the hybrid car theory. Let's see, hmmm, 50 mile
range, 8 hour charge time, 200 mile round trip, shouldn't take more than 4
days the way I figure. <Grin> But, what the heck, Americans are in too big
a hurry anyway. While we are waiting to recharge our batteries, perhaps we
could do deep breathing, meditation, high colonics, something, anything!
<VB Grin>.
Jim Hupy
Salem, OR
78 GMC Royale 403
On Sun, Jan 8, 2012 at 1:42 PM, Larry Davick <ljdavick@comcast.net> wrote:
> Did he say CONverter or INverter? Many inverters will draw power all the
> time. Converters should never draw 12v power - its supposed to go the
> other way!
>
> The converter wouldn't be plugged into the inverter, would it? No, it
> couldn't be...
>
> Larry Davick
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:43 PM, Mike Miller <> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Wander Inn wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 09:43
> >> Would the converter draw down my battery?
> >
> >
> > Like what Randy says, I am fairly sure that the "spark" is charging
> "something" in the control circuits of the PD converter. I have not
> noticed any battery drain when not plugged in for a period of time.
> >
> > I have NOT measured anything and only have experience with my two
> units.... but they both act the same.
> > --
> > Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
> > (#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77
> 23' Birchaven Side Bath
> > http://m000035.blogspot.com
> > _______________________________________________
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #155990 is a reply to message #155916] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 18:33 |
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RF_Burns
Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
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I haven't seen the schematics of of the Progressive Dynamics power convertor, but I can say... after 35+ years in electronics that I have not seen a DC power supply (nor just about any other electronic device) that doesn't have a capacitor (or 2) as the first components at the DC power connection. The buzz box (not OEM but same vintage) that was in my 77 when I got it, had some regulation so it has a capacitor right at the terminals. The original buzz box might only have been a transformer and rectifier and no capacitor for filtering.
Anyway, a good capacitor will draw an initial high current while it charges, then current to it will approach zero.
I would not be alarmed at the "Spark", its the constant current draw you are looking for.
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #156003 is a reply to message #155916] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 19:40 |
Gary Mau
Messages: 152
Registered: February 2004
Location: Davenport, Iowa
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I and another posted some time ago about seeing a small spark when connecting the house battery. We both tracked it down to the PD converter. If you have one with the remote pendant, you'll notice its' LED flashing even with all the output fuses pulled. I only measured around a 7 milliamp flow with the pendant plugged in and around 3 with it unplugged. Most feel this is nothing to worry about but it is enough that you'll see a spark.
Gary Mau
Former 76 Royale owner
Davenport, IA
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #156006 is a reply to message #155990] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 19:51 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| RF_Burns wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 19:33 |
I haven't seen the schematics of of the Progressive Dynamics power convertor, but I can say... after 35+ years in electronics that I have not seen a DC power supply (nor just about any other electronic device) that doesn't have a capacitor (or 2) as the first components at the DC power connection. The buzz box (not OEM but same vintage) that was in my 77 when I got it, had some regulation so it has a capacitor right at the terminals. The original buzz box might only have been a transformer and rectifier and no capacitor for filtering.
Anyway, a good capacitor will draw an initial high current while it charges, then current to it will approach zero.
I would not be alarmed at the "Spark", its the constant current draw you are looking for.
|
Bruce,
The "Buzz Box" was a ferro-resonant device so it provided a constant voltage regardless of the supply line voltage. It was carefully set to a voltage that would charge a brand new battery to destruction in about a year's time. And yes, the bones of the one I have in the barn had a filter cap on the output and a big oil filled for the LC circuit.
Matt
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #156017 is a reply to message #155916] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 20:45 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| Wander Inn wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 12:08 |
I have a Progressive Dynamics Inc. A PO installed converter, #PD9245.
With all the fuses pulled and no 120 volt power source, the
converter sparks when I connect to the 12 volt connection. Is this normal?
Mike
77 Kingsley
|
Mike,
I went back and pulled up the thread from the beginning.
You have two 6V golf cart batteries for a house bank.
They go dead over night and you don't know why....
Good so far?
Do you have a real volt meter? Even a POS* CCV* from HF* would do.
An easy place to measure the house bank voltage is between the buss (the bar that runs to one end of all the fuses) and the negative terminal on the converter.
If you really have a drain that big, you should be able to see the battery voltage drop as soon as you disconnect shore power.
There may be an immediate drop when shore power is disconnected, but if it is still dropping 15 minutes later, you do have a problem.
Can you see this voltage drop?
Have you tried pulling all of the fuses out of the house distribution panel?
If not, do this now. Is the battery voltage still dropping??
If the voltage drop continues, disconnect the converter at its positive terminal. Still dropping? You have a hidden problem.
Not dropping? Put fuses back in one at a time. Watch for an arc or a warm fuse.
Find one?
Find out what is on that circuit that is not working right. For reference, a trunk or glove compartment light will take three days to keep a car from starting, so what ever this is, it is big.
Didn't find one??? Oh dear.....
To kill to GC-2s over night, something is hot somewhere. So, the best way to find it is disconnect things, but before you get to involved, get a marker light bulb (not a stop light) and connect two wires to it.
Try the light bulb where the across the fuse mounts. If the bulb lights, something wants power. See if you can find it and turn it off or disconnect it.
Get it yet???? Well.........
I hope you have a slide out house bank. Disconnect and try the light bulb.... Lights? go on...
The positive terminal should a heavy wire the goes to a solenoid and a puck-like circuit breaker. From there one wire is the start power for the APU. Disconnect it and try the light bulb. The one from the other side goes to a distribution point (bolt) that I remember as being in the front of the APU (genset) space. There are two new wires there. One of those goes to the buss mentioned above. The heavier one goes to the front for the booster. Take the two new ones off and try the light bulb again. If the batteries are being drained by the circuit, the bulb will light.
I'm tired, its late.
When you have more, come on back, I'll be watching.
***Piece of S tuff, Cheap Chinese Version, Harbor Fright
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #156027 is a reply to message #155961] |
Sun, 08 January 2012 23:18 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Larry,
Mike (Wander Inn) was troubleshooting a drain on his house battery and found that when connecting his PD9245 CONVERTER to the input to the fuse block (ie: the battery) he got a spark.
He asked if this is normal.
I told him it was.
OTHERS typed INVERTER... not Mike. I do not know if Mike even has an Inverter.... But his PD9245 converter acts just like both my PD9245 and PD9260 converters. (They "spark" when being connected, but do not draw down the battery.)
In an earlier posting in a slightly different thread I suggested for Mike to hunt for his leak/drain with a test light. Matt has just posted a similar procedure. I am wondering if Mike has tried this?
| ljdavick wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 13:42 |
Did he say CONverter or INverter? ....
On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:43 PM, Mike Miller <> wrote:
>
>
> Wander Inn wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 09:43
>> Would the converter draw down my battery?
>
>
> Like what Randy says, I am fairly sure that the "spark" is charging "something" in the control circuits of the PD converter. I have not noticed any battery drain when not plugged in for a period of time.
|
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining [message #156047 is a reply to message #156027] |
Mon, 09 January 2012 09:22 |
k2gkk
Messages: 4452
Registered: November 2009
Karma: -8
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Senior Member |
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If a "converter" (i.e., battery charger/power supply) is powered up
(~ 13V DC on output) when connected to the battery, the battery will
almost certainly be at a lower voltage than the converter output.
Therefore, a certain amount of current WILL flow from the converter
TO the battery, thus creating a spark.
If there is no 120V AC supply to the converter, there should be NO
current flow and therefore no spark when the connection to the
battery bank is made.
Making the connection between the converter/charger/power supply
to the battery BEFORE power is applied to the converter would be
the safest course of action. While I believe it highly unlikely
that any significant amount of outgassed hydrogen from the battery
would be present, eliminating ANY possibility of a spark there
would be the safest way to proceed.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ D C "Mac" Macdonald ~ ~~
~ ~ Amateur Radio - K2GKK ~ ~
~ ~ USAF and FAA, Retired ~ ~
~ ~ ~ Oklahoma City, OK ~ ~ ~
~~ ~ ~ "The Money Pit" ~ ~ ~~
~ ~ ~ ex-Palm Beach, 76 ~ ~ ~
~ www.gmcmhphotos.com/okclb ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
_______________
*[ ]....[][ ][]\
*--OO---[]---O-*
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> From: m000035@gmail.com
> Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 23:18:16 -0600
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] House battery's draining
>
>
>
> Larry,
>
> Mike (Wander Inn) was troubleshooting a drain on his house battery and found that when connecting his PD9245 CONVERTER to the input to the fuse block (ie: the battery) he got a spark.
>
> He asked if this is normal.
>
> I told him it was.
>
> OTHERS typed INVERTER... not Mike. I do not know if Mike even has an Inverter.... But his PD9245 converter acts just like both my PD9245 and PD9260 converters. (They "spark" when being connected, but do not draw down the battery.)
>
> In an earlier posting in a slightly different thread I suggested for Mike to hunt for his leak/drain with a test light. Matt has just posted a similar procedure. I am wondering if Mike has tried this?
>
>
> ljdavick wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 13:42
> > Did he say CONverter or INverter? ....
> >
> > On Jan 8, 2012, at 12:43 PM, Mike Miller <> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Wander Inn wrote on Sun, 08 January 2012 09:43
> > >> Would the converter draw down my battery?
> > >
> > >
> > > Like what Randy says, I am fairly sure that the "spark" is charging "something" in the control circuits of the PD converter. I have not noticed any battery drain when not plugged in for a period of time.
>
>
>
> --
> Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
> (#1)'73 26' exPainted D. -- (#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
> http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #156052 is a reply to message #155916] |
Mon, 09 January 2012 10:32 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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With my IOTA 30A converter, I notice a spark each time I reconnect the house battery negative after the coach sits. One would think this a parisitic drain, but I think it's a transient regarding the IOTA electronics, as leaving the the thing connected and parked, no AC, does not cause a dead battery. Judging the "spark size" if that draw continued, I would say the battery would be flat in a week if it were parasitic. I always disconnect Negatives on all batteries that will sit in storage after they are fully charged so they don't get the slow parasitc drain of death over winter and as a fire safety requirment in garages, both my own and where I store the coach. It's just good practice if you are not keeping the smart charger plugged in and especially good if you still run the buzz box to fully charge the battery (some other smart charger or engine alt) and then disconnect it rather than leave it pluggin in in 'crock pot' mode.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: House battery's draining [message #156057 is a reply to message #155916] |
Mon, 09 January 2012 11:20 |
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RF_Burns
Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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Re: Spark when connecting Power Converter... or any other device containing electronics.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, just about every device containing electronics, whether it supplies power as in a converter or consumes power as in a radio or inverter... has a capacitor right at the DC power connection. This capacitor acts as a filter to the DC power at the connection point.
A capacitor is like a battery that can be charged near instantly and because of this instant charging, the current flow can be 10's or 100's of amps for an instant (near zero) period of time. This instant charge current is what you see as a spark and/or hear as a snap. Once the capacitor is charged, the current falls to near ZERO (there is some small leakage current usually in the microamp range depending on the type and size).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor
So don't be alarmed at the little spark, its only there for an instant (read micro-seconds), its the continuous current you are looking for.
Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that
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