Accumate charger problem
Discussion
I thought I'd hook up my Accumate charger to the car today, but it's not charging. I'm using the cigar lighter, which I have tested with a multimeter and it is live with the ignition off. However the voltage I get using the multimeter is around 5V with the ignition off, but nearer 9-10V with the engine running.
The only light I get on the accumate charger is the red light indicating power; according to the instruction leaflet this means the battery is too heavily discharged or sulfated. However elsewhere in the leaflet it says that < 1V is too heavily discharged, and besides - the battery seems to have no problem starting the engine so it clearly isn't knackered.
Anyone else had this? Is it just a dodgy charger?
I'm sure when I first hooked it up I did see the amber charging light come on for a split second, but since then it's never come on again.....
The only light I get on the accumate charger is the red light indicating power; according to the instruction leaflet this means the battery is too heavily discharged or sulfated. However elsewhere in the leaflet it says that < 1V is too heavily discharged, and besides - the battery seems to have no problem starting the engine so it clearly isn't knackered.
Anyone else had this? Is it just a dodgy charger?
I'm sure when I first hooked it up I did see the amber charging light come on for a split second, but since then it's never come on again.....
A second opinion on a wiring/connector fault. Check the multi-plugs behhind the speaker. You should have battery voltage at the socket all the time, although I've heard of cars where the socket is only live with the ignition on.
It's worth checking the contact in the base of the socket is clean, especially if it's been used for its intended purpose.
It's worth checking the contact in the base of the socket is clean, especially if it's been used for its intended purpose.
Try eliminating all the variables one by one.
If you measure across the battery on another car, does the meter then show around 12v ? a fully charged battery will actually measure 13.8v and a discharged one around 11v. This tells you if the meter is working. Now measure directly across the TVR battery and check that is OK. If it is and you measure again at the lighter socket and get a significantly lower reading then plainly something is arry between the battery and the socket.
Does the Cigarette lighter work, ie if you push it down does it get hot ? If it does that that probably indicates that the wiring to the socket is OK. The lighter will draw quite a lot of current so if there are any bad connections on the way they will drop voltage and it will struggle to get hot.
As suggested try the charger in a different car.
When inserting the plug try twisting it to aid the connection, however only twist it in a clockwise direction or the socket becomes unscrewed which is a tad inconvenient.
If you measure across the battery on another car, does the meter then show around 12v ? a fully charged battery will actually measure 13.8v and a discharged one around 11v. This tells you if the meter is working. Now measure directly across the TVR battery and check that is OK. If it is and you measure again at the lighter socket and get a significantly lower reading then plainly something is arry between the battery and the socket.
Does the Cigarette lighter work, ie if you push it down does it get hot ? If it does that that probably indicates that the wiring to the socket is OK. The lighter will draw quite a lot of current so if there are any bad connections on the way they will drop voltage and it will struggle to get hot.
As suggested try the charger in a different car.
When inserting the plug try twisting it to aid the connection, however only twist it in a clockwise direction or the socket becomes unscrewed which is a tad inconvenient.
Dont joke about it, some crude battery chargers dont smooth the output at all, so you get dc, but pulsed in phase with the mains. This does not bother a lead acid battery at all, as this acts to smooth the output anyway. You certainly wont get a realistic value of "DC" voltage from a digital volt meter set to DC if you take the reading of the charger with it disconnected.
Mark
Mark
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