Message-ID: <000b01c1ac78$daccea80$6d30b43f@f3g6s4>
Reply-To: "Dan Schaefer" <dfs155@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
From: "Dan Schaefer" <dfs155@earthlink.net>
To: "Lancair list" <lancair.list@olsusa.com>
Subject: Re: Impulse Couplings
Date: Sat, 2 Feb 2002 22:05:58 -0800
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What Bill Harrelson says about RG vs wet-cell batteries is quite true with
one big caveat. To get the life expectancy and performance the RG battery is
capable of you really need a voltage regulator that can be adjusted to the
optimum charging voltage required for these batteries. If you just replace a
wet-cell battery with the RG unit without setting the charging voltage
(alternator output) to the required value, it'll work - but you will not get
full charge and good battery life. (RG's usually require a slightly higher
charging voltage than wet-cells).

We worked this subject over thoroughly a couple of years ago here so I won't
go over it all again.

The last project I worked on the B-1 before retiring was the replacement of
the NiCAd main batteries with Sealed lead-acid RG units. We had to replace
the charger as well since NiCad and lead acid batteries require totally
different charging methods. Of course, we had to get proposals from more
than one battery manufacturer (government program) and I was surprised to
learn that the two finalists in the competition said their batteries
required a different charging voltage. Wasn't much, a few tenths of a volt,
but that difference spelled the difference between getting the specified
battery life and capacity - and not. Point being, the new charger design had
to be matched to the chosen battery's characteristics since an adjustable
charger just wasn't in the cards.

RG batteries are great devices but cantact the manufacturer for the required
charging voltage and then set your alternator with a very accurate (0.1% or
better) voltmeter. You'll be glad you did.

Dan Schaefer

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