Charging multiple glider batteries

Hi Don,

How do other clubs, commercial ops keep multiple batteries charged up?

I built a 1Ux19" rack mount, 12-way charger for the Canterbury Gliding Club. Batteries remain connected to the charger whenever they are not in a glider. The charger uses Silvertel Ag102 multi-stage battery charger modules, one per battery.

Each channel has a green LED that is illuminated when the battery has returned to float charging. The idea is to help club members identify which batteries have just been connected and which have been recharged.

These photos are from my workshop during testing:
http://www.avon-tech-solutions.co.nz...arger_Rack.JPG
http://www.avon-tech-solutions.co.nz...12WCharger.JPG

On our flying camps at Omarama, we take a couple of 4-outlet versions that are powered by a laptop AC adapter:
http://www.avon-tech-solutions.co.nz/gliding.html

When I test batteries I do a semi-automatic, timed discharge to 10.5V using a 50W 12V halogen light bulb. If this duration is less than about 75% of the nominal Ah value I suggest the battery is replaced.

--
Neil Allison
Christchurch, NZ