Glider Batteries and Chargers

VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? I think this subject should have it's
own thread. Unlike transponders, we almost all need them.

On Aug 24, 10:03*am, Grider Pirate wrote:
VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? *I think this subject should have it's
own thread. *Unlike transponders, we almost all need them.

Powersonic batteries. Battery Tender Plus charger. Bullet proof,
inexpensive. Excellent technical info available at both
manufacturers' websites.

I like the Battery Tender Plus because it is a reasonable size
capacity three mode charger that also includes a 6 hour limit on
absorption mode. If you read the tech info on those two sites, you'll
understand why that might be a good thing. That charger will safely
and correctly charge almost any 12V AGM battery from about 5 AH up.
The Powersonic chargers also work great, but need to be matched to
battery capacity, making them less universal.

More exotic and expensive solutions work also, but unless you need
more than 14 AH capacity or have weight or space constraints I don't
see it as worth the bother. Of course, some people just like
exotica... nothing wrong with that.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

On Aug 24, 9:03*am, Grider Pirate wrote:
VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? *I think this subject should have it's
own thread. *Unlike transponders, we almost all need them.

I went to the local Interstate Battery store. Picked up a 12V Sealed
Lead Acid battery, 7 amp hour I think but maybe 10. Either way plenty
of juice to run my Microair radio and Cambridge FR. I also bought a
charger from them with a float mode. Usually I plug it in before I go
to bed the night before a flight and take it off in the morning and
its charged up real good.

One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery
and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the
battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned
on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). I
recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some place
to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and
Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are
*far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. This
is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely
confident in your ability.

That's my public service announcement for the day :-).

-T8

On Aug 24, 7:59*am, T8 wrote:
On Aug 24, 10:03*am, Grider Pirate wrote:

VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? *I think this subject should have it's
own thread. *Unlike transponders, we almost all need them.

Powersonic batteries. *Battery Tender Plus charger. *Bullet proof,
inexpensive. *Excellent technical info available at both
manufacturers' websites.

I like the Battery Tender Plus because it is a reasonable size
capacity three mode charger that also includes a 6 hour limit on
absorption mode. If you read the tech info on those two sites, you'll
understand why that might be a good thing. *That charger will safely
and correctly charge almost any 12V AGM battery from about 5 AH up.
The Powersonic chargers also work great, but need to be matched to
battery capacity, making them less universal.

More exotic and expensive solutions work also, but unless you need
more than 14 AH capacity or have weight or space constraints I don't
see it as worth the bother. *Of course, some people just like
exotica... nothing wrong with that.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

Hmm, that's EXACTLY what I use in my motorcycle! I'll have to see if
the Battery tender will deal with my 14v (10ah) glider battery.

For what it's worth, I've used a Battery Tender Plus ($60), a Battery
Minder Plus($60), and a Xenotronic HPX-10 charger ($40) on my 9AH and
14AH SLA glider batteries. All are multi-stage chargers, and frankly,
I never saw a bit of difference between these chargers in my useage.
That useage is simple - I put the battery on charge about 9pm when I
get home from the airport, and I take it off the following morning.

My experience also agrees with Andy (GY) in a previous thread - SLA
batteries work fine, losing a little capacity every time you charge
them, until suddenly they go bad. I keep an eye on the end of flight
voltage to get a feel for capacity problems, and buy new batteries
every two years.

-John

On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote:
One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery
and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the
battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned
on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I
recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some place
to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and
Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are
*far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This
is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely
confident in your ability.

That's my public service announcement for the day :-).

-T8

And Evan, why do we put fuses on the batteries and why do we use
aircraft wire? I wonder if the aircraft in the following report had
a fused battery and aircraft wire?

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...01X51612&key=1

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

On Aug 24, 11:17*am, Grider Pirate wrote:
On Aug 24, 7:59*am, T8 wrote:



On Aug 24, 10:03*am, Grider Pirate wrote:

VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? *I think this subject should have it's
own thread. *Unlike transponders, we almost all need them.

Powersonic batteries. *Battery Tender Plus charger. *Bullet proof,
inexpensive. *Excellent technical info available at both
manufacturers' websites.

I like the Battery Tender Plus because it is a reasonable size
capacity three mode charger that also includes a 6 hour limit on
absorption mode. If you read the tech info on those two sites, you'll
understand why that might be a good thing. *That charger will safely
and correctly charge almost any 12V AGM battery from about 5 AH up.
The Powersonic chargers also work great, but need to be matched to
battery capacity, making them less universal.

More exotic and expensive solutions work also, but unless you need
more than 14 AH capacity or have weight or space constraints I don't
see it as worth the bother. *Of course, some people just like
exotica... nothing wrong with that.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

Hmm, that's EXACTLY what I use in my motorcycle! I'll have to see if
the Battery tender will deal with my 14v (10ah) glider battery.

No, it's completely unsuitable for 14V.

As it happens, I have a 14V "Super Charger" from the 1980s I'm no
longer using -- I converted to 12V earlier this season. It's not
quite as good as the modern three mode guys, but it's close. Email me
if you want it.

Evan Ludeman / T8

On Aug 24, 11:39*am, rlovinggood wrote:
On Aug 24, 11:14*am, T8 wrote:

One other thing... DO include a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery
and do make certain that the connections between the CB and the
battery are absolutely as reliable as you can make them (as mentioned
on another thread, problems here aren't covered by your CB). *I
recommend a 5 amp push to reset CB, provided that you have some place
to mount it correctly, teflon insulated aircraft wire of 18ga and
Molex or equivalent industrial quality crimp on connectors which are
*far* better than consumer grade stuff at your hardware store. *This
is a great area to solicit some help if you aren't completely
confident in your ability.

That's my public service announcement for the day :-).

-T8

And Evan, why do we put fuses on the batteries and why do we use
aircraft wire? * I wonder if the aircraft in the following report had
a fused battery and aircraft wire?

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...01X51612&key=1

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

Yeah, there's one convert, for sure!

Btw, if anyone wonders where to get them, McMaster Carr is a good
source of Molex connectors and crimp on terminals. Get a good quality
crimper and a wire stripper while you are at it. They also sell
teflon insulated wire. Mouser Electronics is another source for good
quality electrical bits, including circuit breakers (but not teflon
wire IIRC). Some of the glider supply guys have a pretty good
selection of stuff too.

-Evan Ludeman / T8

VSLA? A123? Cycling chargers?? *I think this subject should have it's
own thread. *Unlike transponders, we almost all need them.

Powersonic 12Ah batt with a Battery Tender Junior charger, the 750mA
'wallwort' mini version version but still an auto 3-mode like bigger
ones. $40, very compact and works like a champ. I just put it on the
charger when it's thirsty.

-Paul