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"Steve" wrote in news

PSdne3EP8SwLaPeRVn-
:

I'm told and have noted myself that the wall wart type seem to work fine.

If you still want to charge with a battery charge station, then be very
observant for overheating.

For those with LESS than 12V battery packs only:

If you want to charge these packs in the boat, the solution is quite
simple. Use a voltmeter to determine which wire is + and -. Cut the wires
off at the stupid wall wart.

Get a tail light bulb socket or use any socket you can plug a tail light
bulb into....just one filament, like a backup light bulb...almost any will
work of the bright ones. Put the bulb socket in series with the positive
lead to your house batteries so the current to the battery pack is limited
by the filament in series with it. The bulb also makes a great current
indicator as to how much current the pack is drawing. The center wire of
the bulb goes to the house battery. Wrap any exposed metal on the light
socket with tape to keep it from grounding out to anything...it's hot to
the battery now. Plug in the battery pack to the charging stand and the
bulb will glow fairly bright until the pack comes up to voltage (7.2 or 9V
packs) When you notice the bulb gets dimmer and the pack starts to get
warm...it's charged. DO NOT LEAVE IT CHARGING CONSTANTLY this way as the
charge will continue indefinately. You adjust the charging current,
therefore the charging time, by changing to different bulbs. I'm using 6V
high-intensity lamps instead of tail light bulbs to charge the packs
quicker with more current, but they will easily destroy a battery pack if
you forget and leave them on too long. The packs will overheat on them.
The slower you charge, the better for the packs, of course. Sailboaters
got plenty of time...(c; Never let the battery packs get warmer than your
coffee cup and you'll be fine.

There. Now you don't need to waste power on an inverter. There are 3 bulb
charging stations like this on the house batteries to my work stepvan
glowing in the yard as I type this.

For you perfectionists, buy a little voltmeter or hook your boat VOM across
the charging stand wires so you can watch the voltage rise.

--
Larry