My battery charger seems to be faulty - cutting out as soon as it is
plugged in, with a flash coming regularly every couple of seconds
(from a fuse-like bulb located on top of the coil (cover off)).
It's a good enough charger when it's working, with boost/fast start as
well as trickle; it also has an automatic cut-out to prevent
over-charging. With the cover off, there does not seem to be any
obvious short.
Any ideas?

On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 01:40:12 -0000, "Paul King"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>wb wrote:
>> My battery charger seems to be faulty - cutting out as soon as it is
>> plugged in, with a flash coming regularly every couple of seconds
>> (from a fuse-like bulb located on top of the coil (cover off)).
>> It's a good enough charger when it's working, with boost/fast start as
>> well as trickle; it also has an automatic cut-out to prevent
>> over-charging. With the cover off, there does not seem to be any
>> obvious short.
>> Any ideas?
>
>Long distance diagnosis of this sort is impossible without greater
>information ... What make/model is the charger? When was the last time you
>used it and "knew" it to work? Why do you have the top off and what leads
>you to think its faulty? Is not the battery screwed perhaps, leading to the
>charger shutting down due to overcurrent?


It's a "GUNSON's Rapid Start Heavy Duty Starting Charger suitable for
all 12v Lead/Acid batteries
Start: 47A RMS 30A DC @ 9v (10-15 secs)
Boost: 26A RMS 17A DC @ 12v (10 minutes)
Fast: 15A RMS 10A DC @ 12v (continuous)

Recommended minimum battery capacity: 30Ah.
Full overload protection,
Reverse polarity protection.
Thermal cut-out protection."

I last used it at Christmas to quick start my car battery; it worked
fine. My son put it on an old (12v) battery he had been using for an
electric fence for his chickens (does not need full 12 volts). He
noted it flashing a making a pulsing clicking sound. I then tried it
on a working forklift battery with the same result.
I took the top off to check for any obvious shorting or dampness. I
have never noticed it flashing prior to this. Needless to say, I
can't find the instructions anywhere.

wb wrote:
> On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 01:40:12 -0000, "Paul King"
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
> >wb wrote:
> >> My battery charger seems to be faulty - cutting out as soon as it
is
> >> plugged in, with a flash coming regularly every couple of seconds
> >> (from a fuse-like bulb located on top of the coil (cover off)).
> >> It's a good enough charger when it's working, with boost/fast
start as
> >> well as trickle; it also has an automatic cut-out to prevent
> >> over-charging. With the cover off, there does not seem to be any
> >> obvious short.
> >> Any ideas?
> >
> >Long distance diagnosis of this sort is impossible without greater
> >information ... What make/model is the charger? When was the last
time you
> >used it and "knew" it to work? Why do you have the top off and what
leads
> >you to think its faulty? Is not the battery screwed perhaps, leading
to the
> >charger shutting down due to overcurrent?
>
>
> It's a "GUNSON's Rapid Start Heavy Duty Starting Charger suitable
for
> all 12v Lead/Acid batteries
> Start: 47A RMS 30A DC @ 9v (10-15 secs)
> Boost: 26A RMS 17A DC @ 12v (10 minutes)
> Fast: 15A RMS 10A DC @ 12v (continuous)
>
> Recommended minimum battery capacity: 30Ah.
> Full overload protection,
> Reverse polarity protection.
> Thermal cut-out protection."
>
> I last used it at Christmas to quick start my car battery; it worked
> fine. My son put it on an old (12v) battery he had been using for an
> electric fence for his chickens (does not need full 12 volts). He
> noted it flashing a making a pulsing clicking sound. I then tried it
> on a working forklift battery with the same result.
> I took the top off to check for any obvious shorting or dampness. I
> have never noticed it flashing prior to this. Needless to say, I
> can't find the instructions anywhere.

post the circuit diagram for us, get ready with the multimeter, and
we'll see if we can take you through it.

NT

I repaired one of these last month ( friend who lives on a barge ! )

Inside at the front is a printed circuit board with a large relay underneath
it, yes ? towards one corner ( same side as the start/boost switch towards
rear of pcb ) there is a small 10uF 25v electrolytic capacitor which will be
dried up and open circuit. This causes the relay to quickly pulse on/off
instead of coming on until the battery reaches a high enough voltage. Also
the green 12v bulb on the front panel which is lit all the time a battery is
connected had gone ( spare xmas tree bulb fitted fine ).

--
Pete Cross


> wb wrote:
> > On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 01:40:12 -0000, "Paul King"
> > <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> >
> > >wb wrote:
> > >> My battery charger seems to be faulty - cutting out as soon as it
> is
> > >> plugged in, with a flash coming regularly every couple of seconds
> > >> (from a fuse-like bulb located on top of the coil (cover off)).
> > >> It's a good enough charger when it's working, with boost/fast
> start as
> > >> well as trickle; it also has an automatic cut-out to prevent
> > >> over-charging. With the cover off, there does not seem to be any
> > >> obvious short.
> > >> Any ideas?
> > >
> > >Long distance diagnosis of this sort is impossible without greater
> > >information ... What make/model is the charger? When was the last
> time you
> > >used it and "knew" it to work? Why do you have the top off and what
> leads
> > >you to think its faulty? Is not the battery screwed perhaps, leading
> to the
> > >charger shutting down due to overcurrent?
> >
> >
> > It's a "GUNSON's Rapid Start Heavy Duty Starting Charger suitable
> for
> > all 12v Lead/Acid batteries
> > Start: 47A RMS 30A DC @ 9v (10-15 secs)
> > Boost: 26A RMS 17A DC @ 12v (10 minutes)
> > Fast: 15A RMS 10A DC @ 12v (continuous)
> >
> > Recommended minimum battery capacity: 30Ah.
> > Full overload protection,
> > Reverse polarity protection.
> > Thermal cut-out protection."
> >
> > I last used it at Christmas to quick start my car battery; it worked
> > fine. My son put it on an old (12v) battery he had been using for an
> > electric fence for his chickens (does not need full 12 volts). He
> > noted it flashing a making a pulsing clicking sound. I then tried it
> > on a working forklift battery with the same result.
> > I took the top off to check for any obvious shorting or dampness. I
> > have never noticed it flashing prior to this. Needless to say, I
> > can't find the instructions anywhere.
>
> post the circuit diagram for us, get ready with the multimeter, and
> we'll see if we can take you through it.
>
> NT
>

On 15 Feb 2005 04:59:51 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>wb wrote:
>> On Tue, 15 Feb 2005 01:40:12 -0000, "Paul King"
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>> >wb wrote:
>> >> My battery charger seems to be faulty - cutting out as soon as it
>is
>> >> plugged in, with a flash coming regularly every couple of seconds
>> >> (from a fuse-like bulb located on top of the coil (cover off)).

>
>post the circuit diagram for us, get ready with the multimeter, and
>we'll see if we can take you through it.
>
>NT


Sorry, I've no circuit diagram but I've posted some photos here:

http://fr.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tod...bum?.dir=/c9de

Hope this helps.
I think my charger is an older one than Pete suggests

Regards

wb wrote:
> On 15 Feb 2005 04:59:51 -0800, (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> >> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> >> >> My battery charger seems to be faulty - cutting out as soon as
it
> >is
> >> >> plugged in, with a flash coming regularly every couple of
seconds
> >> >> (from a fuse-like bulb located on top of the coil (cover off)).


> >post the circuit diagram for us, get ready with the multimeter, and
> >we'll see if we can take you through it.


> Sorry, I've no circuit diagram but I've posted some photos here:
>
> http://fr.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tod...bum?.dir=/c9de
>
> Hope this helps.


Certainly brought a smile to my face

>
>> >post the circuit diagram for us, get ready with the multimeter, and
>> >we'll see if we can take you through it.
>
>
>> Sorry, I've no circuit diagram but I've posted some photos here:
>>
>> http://fr.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tod...bum?.dir=/c9de
>>
>> Hope this helps.
>
>
>Certainly brought a smile to my face

Glad to hear it NT, which is more than can be said for my son's
chickens - they got a visit from the fox last night - left nothing but
a few feathers!
I'd be grateful for any suggestions (about the charger, not the fox!).
I have the technology (ie multimeter) but not the knowledge
(self-evident!).

Regards

wb wrote:

> >> >post the circuit diagram for us, get ready with the multimeter,
and
> >> >we'll see if we can take you through it.
> >
> >
> >> Sorry, I've no circuit diagram but I've posted some photos here:
> >>
> >> http://fr.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tod...bum?.dir=/c9de
> >>
> >> Hope this helps.
> >
> >
> >Certainly brought a smile to my face

> I'd be grateful for any suggestions (about the charger, not the
fox!).
> I have the technology (ie multimeter) but not the knowledge
> (self-evident!).


Well I made it, but I guess I wasnt clear enough.
1. your charger is faulty
2. the only way youre giong to fix it is with a circuit diagram and
some electronics expertise.
3. You can borrow the latter off the net, but you'll have to come up
with the circuit diagram.

Otherwise youre outta luck.

NT

On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 13:47:18 +0000, wb <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>>
>>> >post the circuit diagram for us, get ready with the multimeter, and
>>> >we'll see if we can take you through it.
>>
>>
>>> Sorry, I've no circuit diagram but I've posted some photos here:
>>>
>>> http://fr.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tod...bum?.dir=/c9de
>>>
>>> Hope this helps.
>>
>>
>>Certainly brought a smile to my face
>
>Glad to hear it NT, which is more than can be said for my son's
>chickens - they got a visit from the fox last night - left nothing but
>a few feathers!
>I'd be grateful for any suggestions (about the charger, not the fox!).
>I have the technology (ie multimeter) but not the knowledge
>(self-evident!).
>
>Regards

Hi,

Does it cut out even when no battery is connected?

If so switch off and try disconnecting one of the wires from the
secondary (non mains) side of the transformer that go to the black box
on the heatsink.

Then does it still cut out?

If so it's likely to be a short in the transformer which is probably
not worth replacing, if not it's likely to be the black box (bridge
rectifier) on the heatsink which should be fairly cheap and easy to
replace.

cheers,
Pete.

On Fri, 18 Feb 2005 14:23:52 +0000, Pete C <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 13:47:18 +0000, wb <(E-Mail Removed)>
>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sorry, I've no circuit diagram but I've posted some photos here:
>>>>
>>>> http://fr.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/tod...bum?.dir=/c9de
>>>>

snip

>
>Does it cut out even when no battery is connected?
>
>If so switch off and try disconnecting one of the wires from the
>secondary (non mains) side of the transformer that go to the black box
>on the heatsink.
>
>Then does it still cut out?
>
>If so it's likely to be a short in the transformer which is probably
>not worth replacing, if not it's likely to be the black box (bridge
>rectifier) on the heatsink which should be fairly cheap and easy to
>replace.
>
>cheers,
>Pete.


Thanks Pete,

It does cut out when no battery is connected but doesn't when I
disconnect either wire going to the black box from the transformer.
So, hopefully, a new bridge rectifier will solve my problem. Is this
the sort of thing I can get at Maplins - I've had a look but none has
the same markings as mine: AC BR354 A 38
I'd be grateful for any pointers on this one. Many thanks for your
help thus far.

Regards,
Brian