Trickle chargers and car batteries

[Norbie]

I highly rate these chargers. Equivalent in features and performance to the C-Tek chargers, but a METRIC SHITLOAD cheaper.

I was just about to buy a C-Tek charger for my Century (which regularly destroys batteries), so you've just saved me a metric shitload of money! I guess I owe you a beer or something.

[kaido]

do the Jaycar ones have a Desulphation cycle? you got the full specs on it?

[The Witzl]

I was just about to buy a C-Tek charger for my Century (which regularly destroys batteries), so you've just saved me a metric shitload of money! I guess I owe you a beer or something.

Sounds like a plan buddy

I should probably mention something about MB3603 and MB3604.... these two models dont have a memory function, in that if they lose AC power, they do not automatically restart charging when they get AC power back - you have to press the mode button to kick it off again.

I've just updated the MB3604 so that it has this "auto re-start" memory feature, but new stock wont arrive in our warehouse until late october, and then will take a few more months to filter out into the jaycar stores.

Our MB3606 and MB3608 do have this memory feature, but they are a fair bit more expensive.

do the Jaycar ones have a Desulphation cycle? you got the full specs on it?

Depends on what you consider a desulphation cycle. In reality, desulphation is only required when a battery has been left discharged for a while, and so it should not be a part of the regular charging cycle.

The MB3606 has a "boost" recovery feature, which is for severly discharged 12V batteries. This provides a high voltage (~17V, 1.5A max) for a period of up to 3 hours, and then automatically goes into normal charging.

Also, as a part of the normal charging cycles (a part of normal operation mode), the MB3606 starts off with a diagnosis and recovery stage.
This will recover a discharged battery of 4.5V or higher, by pulse charging it with 3A high and 1.5A low, until the battery comes up to 10.5V.... at which time it starts delivering full bulk charge.


The MB3603 and current MB3604 will recover a 12V battery from 7.5V or higher as part of their "diagnosis and recovery" stage, but dont have a "boost" recovery mode.

The new updated version of MB3604 will be able to recover a 12V battery from 3.0V... but like i said, it wont be available in stores for a few months yet.


I hope that answers your questions.
I'll also upload user manuals onto the Jaycar website today for you guys

[The Witzl]

Just picked up myself a MB3604

Witzl : Do you know if you can buy the detachable lead as an extra ?

.... sorry i missed your post before.
Unfortunately, no, we dont have them as a spare.

[bluec2]

Hi Witzl,

I just bought an MB3604 from Jaycar on the weekend after looking around for such a product for a while. And I am stoked to find someone that is knowledgeable on the MB3604 product.

And while it's a great product I'm a little peaved to find out a new one will be out soon that will recover a 12V SLA Battery from 3.0V as that was one of the the main features I wanted.

Anyway using my new MB3604 I have tried to recover a 12V / 2.6 Ah (YUASA) VR SLA Battery that was dischaged to 8 Volts. And after that attempt I have a couple of questions which I was hopping you could answer.

QUESTION 01:
Firstly I put the above mentioned battery on charge on the Mode One setting for a <14Ah Battery. And what happened was the "Full Charge" Led Flashed On and Off and a Relay sounded like it was clicking on and off at the same time. What does that mean. What was the unit doing as this behavior is not described in the instruction sheet. Is it a normal operating mode for the charger.

QUESTION 02:
For the above case although I left the batttery charging in Mode One with the "Full Charge" Led Flashing On and Off and a relay clicking On and Off for approx 10 hours it did not improve the state of the battery. Do you know why this would be.

QUESTION 03:
Also on another battery of the same type that was at approx 12 Volts the "Full Charge" Led Flashed On and Off but there was no relay sound this time. What does this mean. What was the unit doing his time.


Thanks in advance for any advice you can give on the above.

[The Witzl]

yeah that's weird.
Normally you just connect the charger to the battery, then press MODE until the charger is in the mode you want, and then let it go.

from memory, the flashing battery full LED means the battery is full - but have a read of the instruction manual and see what it says. The user manual is really good with that charger!!

[allencr]

I have a couple of questions which I was hopping you could answer.

Not hard, 'It is broken' is the answer for your questions.

[The Witzl]

if it is - bring it back into your local Jaycar store and get it checked under warranty. I've just recently extended the warranty on these to 3 years, so you're covered

Get the guys in store to test it on an 18amp.hour SLA from the shelf, and see if it does what you are saying. They might also be able to see if you are doing it wrong (unlikely, its a simple charger to use).

If they agree that it's busted, I'll permit them to do an over the counter replacement. Just get them to call Karl (me) at head office (would have to be a weekday of course!)