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		haribole
 
 
  Joined: 21 Feb 2014 Posts: 33 Location: United States
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				 Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 5:12 pm    Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries | 
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				I have two earthX batteries and use an external port to connect an optimate TM-291, 5 AMP charger to charge these two batteries. Current setup is to manually connect / disconnect the cable from the port to either battery.  The only problem with this approach is that when one battery is charged, I have to manually connect the second battery. Some kind of a voltage sensing relay to switch out the first battery and and connect the charger output to the second battery would be an ideal solution.
 Wonder if anyone has any tips? I looked at some dual battery chargers, but not sure how these would work with the optimate charger and earthX batteries.
 Thanks
 Hari
 
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		nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelect Guest
 
 
 
 
 
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				 Posted: Sun May 03, 2020 6:43 pm    Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries | 
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				At 08:09 PM 5/3/2020, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  I have two earthX batteries and use an external port to connect an optimate TM-291, 5 AMP charger to charge these two batteries. Current setup is to manually connect / disconnect the cable from the port to either battery.  The only problem with this approach is that when one battery is charged, I have to manually connect the second battery. Some kind of a voltage sensing relay to switch out the first battery and and connect the charger output to the second battery would be an ideal solution.
 
  Wonder if anyone has any tips? I looked at some dual battery chargers, but not sure how these would work with the optimate charger and earthX batteries.
 
  Thanks
  Hari | 	  
    Why do you need to 'charge' these batteries?
    How often do you fly. How long is your
    longest storage interval?
 
    There is 'tribal knowledge' that suggests
    a benefit for hooking 'shore power'
    to the battery(ies) in a parked airplane. But unlike
    the flooded battery in your grandpa's '54, 6v Pontiac,
    modern SVLA and LiFePo batteries have very low self-discharge
    rates.
 
    Unless you're storing the airplane for a long
    period of time, shore power connection
    isn't really useful . . . and if the charger
    is poorly designed for such service . . . it
    may be detrimental to the service life of the
    battery.
 
    What does EarthX recommend for battery maintenance
    during various intervals of inactivity?
 
    Here's a data-dump on the topic of self-discharge
    in batteries . . . along with a wealth of other
    battery info.
 
     https://tinyurl.com/yczco6vp 
 
    If you're going to store for a long time and especially
    if ambient temps are high, consider removing the battery(ies)
    for storage under your bed . . . or some other environmentally
    friendly space.
 
    Otherwise, your batteries should live and perform
    well with no external attention. You do need a charger
    in case of inadvertent depletion of the battery(ies) . . .
    in which case, I would charge them independently
    before flight.
 
  
    Bob . . .
 
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		haribole
 
 
  Joined: 21 Feb 2014 Posts: 33 Location: United States
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				 Posted: Mon May 04, 2020 5:25 am    Post subject: Charging two EarthX batteries | 
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				Bang on Bob! I was over thinking in the wrong direction and not enough in the right direction! 🙏🙂
 
 On Sun, May 3, 2020, 10:50 PM Robert L. Nuckolls, III <nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com (nuckolls.bob(at)aeroelectric.com)> wrote:
 
  	  | Quote: | 	 		    At 08:09 PM 5/3/2020, you wrote:
   	  | Quote: | 	 		  I have two earthX batteries and use an external port to connect an optimate TM-291, 5 AMP charger to charge these two batteries. Current setup is to manually connect / disconnect the cable from the port to either battery.  The only problem with this approach is that when one battery is charged, I have to manually connect the second battery. Some kind of a voltage sensing relay to switch out the first battery and and connect the charger output to the second battery would be an ideal solution.
 
  Wonder if anyone has any tips? I looked at some dual battery chargers, but not sure how these would work with the optimate charger and earthX batteries.
 
  Thanks
  Hari | 	  
    Why do you need to 'charge' these batteries?
    How often do you fly. How long is your
    longest storage interval?
 
    There is 'tribal knowledge' that suggests
    a benefit for hooking 'shore power'
    to the battery(ies) in a parked airplane. But unlike
    the flooded battery in your grandpa's '54, 6v Pontiac,
    modern SVLA and LiFePo batteries have very low self-discharge
    rates.
 
    Unless you're storing the airplane for a long
    period of time, shore power connection
    isn't really useful . . . and if the charger
    is poorly designed for such service . . . it
    may be detrimental to the service life of the
    battery.
 
    What does EarthX recommend for battery maintenance
    during various intervals of inactivity?
 
    Here's a data-dump on the topic of self-discharge
    in batteries . . . along with a wealth of other
    battery info.
 
     https://tinyurl.com/yczco6vp 
 
    If you're going to store for a long time and especially
    if ambient temps are high, consider removing the battery(ies)
    for storage under your bed . . . or some other environmentally
    friendly space.
 
    Otherwise, your batteries should live and perform
    well with no external attention. You do need a charger
    in case of inadvertent depletion of the battery(ies) . . .
    in which case, I would charge them independently
    before flight.
 
  
    Bob . . .  
  | 	 
 
 
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