Accumate issue?

[jimed]

I've been using the above on the Griff via the cigar lighter for 2-3 years with no problems. Recently however it doesn't seem to be the same - initially it seemed to be more of a problem connecting via the cigar lighter, moving the plug in the socket sometimes sorted this - so decided to fit the supplied other lead direct to the battery. Result was that the battery then seemed to be on charge nearly all the time so took it off the direct lead and back to the cigar lighter socket and the green light came on once plugged in. Hmm - doesn't sound logical as the lighter socket would in theory have more resistance and a lower voltage. However if I leave the device connected via the cigar socket and showing green once it goes to orange it then takes ages to go green again - BUT - if I leave it for 2-3 hours then lift the plug in the cigar socket and immediately put it in again it goes green.
So - not sure exactly what is happening - its almost like a relay or something inside the accumate isn't working properly and plugging in again jolts it into action - so has anyone any experience of this issue?

I'll borrow another one from a friend and see if it is the same with that - if not I'll pop the screws off and see if some fettling with a soldering iron sorts a dry joint out after which it may be a new one.
Jim
(PS. I did contact the Accumate people and asked them about this but no real advice and with carriage, etc. repair isn't really worth doing so when out of the 2 year warranty just get a new one)

[Cerberus90]

We had a similar issue with the one we got.

If you jiggled the connection the light would change. The light was never very consistent, you could put it on a fully charged battery, and it would still show orange for ages, sometimes I think, never changing to green.

Sent it back after contacting the seller, who said there had been a dodgy batch (whether that's true or not, ).

This was just recently, probably only a month or two ago.

[jimed]

My unit has P0909 stamped on the bottom which to me says it was made in Sept 2009 - that would fit as I bought it in 2010. I suspect your unit would be newer than that but interested to know if it might have been a similar age. Strangely it is currently connected and seems to be working fine. ie. it was green and then went orange and back to green a while later - it may know I'm writing about it ...
The battery is probably 5 years old or so but all seems ok with it - plenty of umph to start the car even when left for a while so doubt if that is an issue - but then ....
Jim

[Cerberus90]

We just had no faith in it after it got put on a battery which had just been charged by another charger, and stayed yellow for hours.

It had the strong electrical smell (think scalextric) too, but that was probably just because it was new.

[Torquemada]

Mine has failed after ten years. A car storage place that I frequent buys them by the dozen and they tell me that they rarely last longer than 3 years, and are uneconomical to repair.

[Roy C]

I bought the Airflow version.

Nearly fifteen years, several cars, me dropping it on the concrete floor and breaking the case, and it's still going strong.

[FlipFlopGriff]

http://www.thegreenreaper.co.uk/Battery_Chargers/B...
Mine does this but I have it in a timer so its only on for an hour a day and it seem to keep it fully charged. I occassionally leave it on all day.
£40 all in delivered from the above.
FFG

[NCE 61]

The only time I have had an issue with am Accumate is when the battery was on it's way out, the green and amber LED's would have a mind of their own. Although if you cars still starting that should not be the problem, although five years on a battery in a TVR is very good.

[7 TVR]

I managed to drive off with mine still plugged in
Fine until it got caught under the wheel and ripped out then i managed to run it over along with the plug for good measure!!
New connector and plug and its as good as new!

[Sardonicus]

Never had any trouble with my Optimate in 12+ years a left over from my biker days and a major contributor to the fact my battery is over 7 years old http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&...

Edited by Sardonicus on Wednesday 12th June 22:43

[jimed]

Just to kill this thread off - discovered that the charge/maintain light only changes when there is some electrical change - eg pluggin/unplugging so the switch/sensor bit must be duff - another one has been ordered from the Green reaper (£39.94 with incl next day dely - can't be bad) so thanks for the link to that FFG!
Jim