Re: PFC-30 Reinstallation problem

> Hello Dave,
>
> To check to see if the charger is putting out any current, put a voltmeter
> in the 50 to 100 ma scale and attach the leads in parallel to the shunt, at
> the same place the Emeter sense leads come off.
>
> If it still reads 0 amperes, then the problem is in the charger or battery
> connections.  If you read any ampere, but not at the Emeter than it may be
> the wiring or Emeter.
>
> To do the following battery test, I use a insulated rubber blanket (or use
> 1/8 neoprene rubber sheets to drape over your working are.  Remove any
> metal
> you are wearing and stand on a insulated floor. Always have a second person
> in the area.
>
> To check the battery connections, you place the leads in parallel with any
> one of the battery links while the charger is on. Place on the same link
> connection only. Connect the leads on the battery post, not the battery
> clamp or connection.
>
> One lead on the positive end of that link, and one lead on the negative end
> of the same link.
>
> If the battery charger is charging normal and lets say the reading on may
> link connections read 0.001 amps and you found one that reads 0.005, then
> that connection may have to be clean and tighten.
>
> Next, you check the voltage of each battery while the charger is on.  If
> you
> find one that is lower than the rest of the cells, then its either a bad
> cell or high resistance connection.
>
> You say, you are connected to a GFCI C/B. This must be down line from the
> PFC C/B which is a standard built in C/B.  Sometimes the power cord
> connections, receptacles and circuit breaker wire connections may have a
> high resistance.  The first thing a electrical work does, it to tried to
> reset the GFCI C/B and try again.
>
> If this does not work, then turn off the breaker, pull the circuit breaker
> panel covers.  If this C/B is a push in type, then pull it out by inserting
> a plastic type putty knife in the center grove and roll out the circuit
> break and inspect the C/B connection to the panel buss bars.
>
> Sometimes these will get loose and cause a circuit breaker to open. There
> may be arc marks on these connections where the connections were loose.
> Spring the connections tighter together and reinstall the C/B.  Then
> tighten
> up all the wire connections from this GFCI C/B all the way to the charger.
>
> And try turning on the charger again.  If this trips the GFCI C/B again try
> this circuit on a standard breaker to see what happens.
>
> If the charger works, then it's a bad GFCI C/B, if not then I would contact
> Rich Rudman at Manzanita Micro
>
> Roland
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "dave cover" <davecover@...>
> To: "Electric Vehicle Discussion List" <ev@...>
> Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2008 11:11 AM
> Subject: [EVDL] PFC-30 Reinstallation problem
>
>
>  > To all you Manzanita Micro fans, I have a dilema. I have a pack of 142
> > BB600s in my car and I'm just finishing up reinstalling everything. Last
> > year, before I took it all apart I had 144 BB600s. I had to move some to
> > another location and fit all but two cells in the new location. Last year
> > the PFC-30 worked fine charging the pack. Now, when I try and charge it
> > runs
> > fine for a minute or two and then trips the breaker.
> >
> > Before firing up the charger the pack was at 170 volts. BB600's are
> > usually
> > flat at 1 volt per cell, charged at 1.2 volts per cell, and charging
> > voltage
> > can easily go to 1.55 volts per cell or higher. So the pack was not dead,
> > even though it sat a while.
> >
> > When I first fired up the PFC, the voltage rose like normal, up to around
> > 189 volts. One odd clue is that my eMeter shows the correct voltage, but
> > doesn't show any charge current. When I fired it up I had the charge knob
> > turned down, but when I turned it up it had no effect on the charge
> > current.
> > I have a twisted pair running directly from the shunt to the eMeter, no
> > breaks or connections. I think the eMeter is correct but have no other
> way
> > to measure current?
> >
> > On top of it all I have an appointment with Motor Vehicle tomorrow and
> I'd
> > really like to have a bit more of a charge on the pack before then.
> >
> > What kind of things could cause the PFC to trip my breaker? What might
> > prevent the charge current from ramping up? Are there any debug codes I
> > can
> > read from the charger?  (No, I don't have any RegBus.)
> >
> > It is a GFCI breaker, but never tripped before. It works fine with my
> > welder.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Dave Cover
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