Crazy batteries Polar reversal? why

[david h]

Dear all,


I use Sealed Lead acid batteries. Two in series to run the RC (6 v) and then pump (12v) ( Sealed pump boat, Sheerline style) They are 6v 1.2 ah. I recently bought a new one and started charging it. I then hooked it up to my boat and nothing. I use a plug in 500mah 6v box type plug in charger.

I then reversed the connections and the RC gear came to life. An older battery has decided to do the same thing Why? Now my pump has decided not to work.

any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Solve one problem and another alwys feels obliged to take it's place.....

regards,

DAvid Hughes.

[Guest]

Hello
Its posible that your charger

Hello
Its posible that your charger has inverted its charge circuit,it has happened to me once ,it reverses and can even go AC if the rectifiers get damaged.The pump circuit control also could have been damaged if its electronics where damaged by a bad batery charged in reverse or incorectly.Try new baterries and charger and check your old one on a volt meter.

just a thaught Dave

[steveuk]

Sounds nasty.

So you have

Sounds nasty.

So you have hooked up two 6v batteries in series to give a total of 12v to work the pump, and are tapping off the mid point connection to provide 6v for the rc equipment.

My guess is that one or more of your batteries has died! I've not come across lead acid batteries reversing personally (only seen it happen to nicads so far).


My advice - get yourself an electronic test meter so you're not guessing, and see exactly what is coming out of your charger, should be around +7 DC volts (chargers have to output slightly higher volts than the battery they are charging).
Red lead to red lead, black lead to black lead, you should have positive DC volts coming out. Make sure it doesn't show -ve volts or A/C volts!! (If this is the case buy a new charger)


... then also (with the batteries out of circuit) test to see exactly what is coming out of each battery. Then you will know where you stand with each item.
If a lead acid battery falls below a certain amount it will never recover, no matter how long you leave it on charge (..just like your car battery).

Find out for certain what the situation is with each of these items, then you can make the right steps toward the remedy.

[david h]

frustrating batteries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi guys,

Thanks for the comments, unfortunately It does'nt seem to be doing any good. I've bought a multimetre and used it , it tells me that electrical things are doing electrical things, I'm getting all the readings but it's not really telling me how to fix the problem. maybe I don't know what i'm looking at.


I've been operating these batteries for 4 years and this is the first time they've decided to do this!!!

I've been surfing the net looking for answers and there seems to be next to nothing out there. Maybe I need to find the right definition of whats happening to hit a jackpot. I think it "Voltage reversal" or Polar reversal? Does that sound right? This is seriously DRIVING ME NUTS!!! Does anybody know of a good electronics website where I can find an expert to answer my questions. There MUST be someone who knows how to fix this problem and can explain to me what is GOING ON!!

I have three chargers I've tried them all and my batteries and not doing logical things. I really don't want to buy another one plus batteries if I can get to the bottom of this problem before hand and find a remedy with what I've got.

Suggestions PLEASE!!!!

FRUSTRATED,

David H

[steveuk]

Re: frustrating batteries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've bought a multimetre and used it , it tells me that electrical things are doing electrical things, I'm getting all the readings but it's not really telling me how to fix the problem. maybe I don't know what i'm looking at.
.
.
I have three chargers I've tried them all and my batteries and not doing logical things. .

Suggestions PLEASE!!!!

David, I don't know any electrical websites, sorry.

My suggestions are to ascertain the facts. Eliminate the possible causes one by one and you will eventually discover the problem (it may be something you have not looked at yet!).

Facts
1). Are the chargers all outputting the correct polarity? If yes then the chargers are not the problem.
2). Are the baterries definately outputing the wrong polarity (you need to take them out of circuit to be sure). If yes then something else must be causing them to reverse.
3). Are you certain you know how to use a test meter correctly to identify polarity? (sorry, but this is possible cause for error, so has to be asked)
4). It is possible to have wiring problems - it is easy for wires to get crossed between batteries, charge sockets, charger sockets, etc.


I think you need to break it down into small chunks and progress through bit by bit.

And, Never make assumtions,like .."a manufacturer would not send a battery charger out with the charging plug wired up the wrong way around!"

[greenman407]

i have actually purchased brand

i have actually purchased brand new eveready AA batteries that were made backwards,the positive nub placed on the wrong end as quite by accident i found the polarity wrong right out of the package