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Date:         Thu, 13 Nov 2003 12:00:58 -0800
Reply-To:     gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Solar charger NOT to buy
Comments: cc: grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Andrew, I have to say that the three vw chargers I got off ebay have all been good(about 20 dollars with shipping). The first thing you want to do when you get one is to measure the voltage output in the sun. Without a load it should be over 17 volts. After plugging it into you vanagon the one thing you do not want to do is to start the van with the solar charger plugged in as this can fry the elctronics and cause the charger to short out your battery. A single charger will keep your battery topped off but not overcharge. gary --- Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 23:56:16 +1300 From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> Subject: Re: Solar charger NOT to buy

>I have one of the VW units that plug into the cigarette lighter....tried it >out and it killed my battery also. > >Warren C.

Any charger, including the alternator, can fry a battery if it overcharges. Sounds like a diode failure or something, so failing to regulate properly. -- Andrew Grebneff Dunedin, New Zealand 64 (3) 473-8863 <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz> Fossil preparator Seashell, Macintosh & VW/Toyota van nut

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Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 23:56:16 +1300 From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> Subject: Fwd: RE: "Green" solar battery charger

Below are my message to the Australian distributor, their reply... and at the bottom, my response.

The charge LED flashes fine even in pretty low light, but it's only indicating that there's voltage present... however there's nearly no current, and it's current, not voltage, which will charge a battery... or an electrocution! (a 100mA current of 1,000,000V will not even be felt).

Images sent to those who requested them; the list will strip them from its copy. Any of the recipients seen these for sale?

>X-Sieve: CMU Sieve 2.2 >From: "Projecta Australia" <info@projecta.com.au> >To: "Andrew Grebneff" <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz> >Cc: "Don Tennet" <dont@narva.co.nz>, > "Peter Griffiths" <peterg@griffiths.co.nz> >Subject: RE: "Green" solar battery charger >Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003 09:29:01 +1100 >X-Priority: 3 (Normal) >Importance: Normal >X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 2.60 (1.212-2003-09-23-exp) on > mailhub4.otago.ac.nz >X-Spam-Status: No, hits=-4.9 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_00 autolearn=ham > version=2.60 >X-Spam-Level: >X-scanner: scanned by Inflex 1.0.12.7 > >Dear Andrew, > >A solar panel like a battery chargers output is dependent upon the battery >voltage. This means that when the battery is flat the charger's output is >high and as the battery becomes more charged the output decreases. You may >find that the reason your output is low is because the battery voltage is >high (i.e already fully charged so the charger cant put in any more power?). >The units usually generate approx. 15-17 Volts under flourescent lights with >no load. > >Your units may still be faulty and if so I would like to investigate for my >own satisfaction. If you wish to return the unit, could you please send me >the details of the place of purchase so I can arrange for our NZ agent to >arrange for the goods to be returned to Australia for testing. > >If I can be of any more assistance in helping fix this matter with you >please let me know. > >Best Regards, > > >George Davies >Projecta Sales & Marketing Manager

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