Hi lectricgenius I enjoyed that video a lot as I have a $200, 30 amp charger that charges for a few seconds and then shuts off. I'm not bright with electrons but I notice things are hot in there and no fuses have blown what should I replace? Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.
@bushengineer1 It is hard as hell for me to diagnose stuff without having it in front of me. As far as what you should replace its impossible for me to tell you and be right
good job man/ just wondering I have a similar charger with the dial selector broken which selects between trickle /medium and high as well as boost, what type of switch or dial should I replace it with? all help would be greatly appreciated.
I have a car battery charger rated for 15 amps, and I was only drawing about 2 amps form it and then BZZZZZ and my lights dim. I took it apart, and plugged it back in for a few seconds, unplugged, and felt the diodes, they were hot as hell. The meter doesn't move, but I know the diodes are shorting as they come before the meter. I was wondering, when your diodes died, did they just turn into a direct short? I need to fix this before my dad gets a little unhappy *to say the least*
@clark2002jc No they are not. They're diode, when put together like this, a half bridge to be precise. See I am an electrical engineer and did not misspeak, and you are correct, diodes work as a "one-way valve".
@clark2002jc That is exactly what they are doing. I understand that it doesnt look like a normal diode. It is just a diode that I got from a job I worked at, and they had a higher rating than any I culd find. I just wish that you would learn to believe me, I am an electrical engineer for christ sakes, why would I lie to you or not know what I am talking about. It is a diode because to make 24 vdc you need to have 2 of them hooked up as a half wave rectifier, like I have here.
@Sharklionjay There is nothing in this world that I have found that I could not fix actually. Of course it helps that I am an electrical engineer and have the mind to fix other things as well.
I should be out playing with my new toy, but, it is still pretty humid and hot out during the day here. I just got a lincoln MIG welder, 30 to 180 amp. Also got me a good dewault cut off saw, purchased some oxy-acetalene tanks when getting the inert gas cannister for MIG. Had torch set from years ago. And, I went and got a bunch of steel channel, angle iron and tubing yesterday from local metal supplier. I wish it was a tad cooler, I would be out there striking up an arc.
@kd5gua No doubt, it is definitely hot out there. We got a rain last night and this morning, which cooled things off for now-- at least until the sun comes out and warms it up again, then it will be miserable muggy!
I have designed and built quite a few linear regulated power supplies, using LM317 or 7812, 7805. etc., and always found that pretty basic easy stuff. When I worked on the first product that had a switching supply to convert 240 vdc to telephone ring signal of 90 vrms at 20 hz, I found that circuit very interesting. Quite a bit more complex, much more efficient. All the switchers I have worked with since then have actually been for regulated dc supplies, but same circuit theory/design.
I did work with one engineer like you once. He was good to work for because he could better relate to the technician job than most engineers. He was into building stuff using welding, could actually solder well and he was a motor head too, rebuilt muscle car engines, etc. It is a rare breed., lol. Sort of like Red on Black Sheep Squadron, calling the pilots college boys.
@kd5gua No doubt. I can do all of that stuff, and even more. See, my 1st job was working on a drill rig, taking core samples for a road in Tennessee. After that I worked in a body shop, painting and repairing cars. I then became an electrician. Then eventually, I destroyed my back, so I went to school and became an engineer. While studying engineering, I bought a huge bulldozer, and fixed it up. Oh, I forgot to say I worked for my grandfather in high school, running bulldozers,& dirt pans
I have always thought it sort of funny that chargers have the big plate like that as the positive plate of the filter cap. Obviously a very small capacitance cap. You are an interesting engineer lectricgenius, for most of the engineers I have ever worked with, as an electronics engineering tech, would never work on something like that. Most I worked with could barely solder. They could push a pencil real well though, lol.
From what I saw and you said I see that it was the standard circuit for most battery chargers, with center tapped secondary requiring only two diodes for full wave rectification. Popeyeus, diodes for high power rectification rarely short, much more common for a diode junction to become open. As long as the diodes in the full wave bridge that he used as replacement had same current and power handling capabilities, would work, but, just three of the bridge connections would be used, AC, AC and +.
@kd5gua You are absolutely correct. These diodes are much higher power than the factory ones and can last a lot longer. Bottom line, I no longer have to pay attention to the 10 sec requirement of the original diodes, and I can leave it on boost until ad infinitum. I have done this since the change out.
If your happy with 20 sec boosts, that is just fine. Welder diodes are continuous service was the point i wanted to make. If a car wont start in 20 secs, then there is a problem. Another point is that the original diodes are banked in groups of 4 button diodes in parallel If one shorts out , it takes them all out.
@popeyeus You obviously either didn't read that post or understand it either one. So, again, I will say my diodes will last longer than 20 seconds. Basically you can leave it on continuously. And by the way, I think I know a little bit about what I am talking about, because I am an electrical engineer. My diodes are continuous duty as well. From a rectifier they are.
Try pulling some diodes out of a old welder from a salvage yard. They can handle 300 or more amps. I fixed a charge like this one using them. The only thing holding back most the power is the circuit breaker they have in them . That is the big black round thing bolted to the back of the housing. The transformer in those chargers look big enough for a small welder. Just use the 25 volt output for the welder. The full wave center tap power supply makes about 13 volts dc.
@popeyeus Why on earth would I do that? The thing works flawlessly just the way it is. Plus, it's got plenty of power to boost more than the 20 seconds that it had originally. My diodes are plenty enough to do anything I want.
what are those components you used?
moi04ful 11 months ago
@moi04ful They were diodes out of an industrial power supply.
lectricgenius 11 months ago
Hi lectricgenius I enjoyed that video a lot as I have a $200, 30 amp charger that charges for a few seconds and then shuts off. I'm not bright with electrons but I notice things are hot in there and no fuses have blown what should I replace? Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.
bushengineer1 1 year ago
@bushengineer1 It is hard as hell for me to diagnose stuff without having it in front of me. As far as what you should replace its impossible for me to tell you and be right
lectricgenius 1 year ago
aww look at the dog dingaling
ProdigyTruth 1 year ago
good job man/ just wondering I have a similar charger with the dial selector broken which selects between trickle /medium and high as well as boost, what type of switch or dial should I replace it with? all help would be greatly appreciated.
quickoneeh 1 year ago
@quickoneeh I would need to see a picture of it (or a wiring diagram) to know exactly what you have.
lectricgenius 1 year ago
I have a car battery charger rated for 15 amps, and I was only drawing about 2 amps form it and then BZZZZZ and my lights dim. I took it apart, and plugged it back in for a few seconds, unplugged, and felt the diodes, they were hot as hell. The meter doesn't move, but I know the diodes are shorting as they come before the meter. I was wondering, when your diodes died, did they just turn into a direct short? I need to fix this before my dad gets a little unhappy *to say the least*
juniortore1 1 year ago
@juniortore1 They weren't so much of a dead short as it was an "open circuit".
lectricgenius 1 year ago
@lectricgenius Ahhh, thanks.
juniortore1 1 year ago
aren't they rectifiers?? diodes are for restricting flow to one direction if im not mistaken.
clark2002jc 1 year ago
@clark2002jc No they are not. They're diode, when put together like this, a half bridge to be precise. See I am an electrical engineer and did not misspeak, and you are correct, diodes work as a "one-way valve".
lectricgenius 1 year ago
@clark2002jc That is exactly what they are doing. I understand that it doesnt look like a normal diode. It is just a diode that I got from a job I worked at, and they had a higher rating than any I culd find. I just wish that you would learn to believe me, I am an electrical engineer for christ sakes, why would I lie to you or not know what I am talking about. It is a diode because to make 24 vdc you need to have 2 of them hooked up as a half wave rectifier, like I have here.
lectricgenius 1 year ago
@clark2002jc dude, a rectifier is made out of diodes :D
juniortore1 1 year ago
Question: Can you fix dead Netbook chargers? My netbook is near out of power and I don't want to buy a new charger.
Sharklionjay 1 year ago
@Sharklionjay There is nothing in this world that I have found that I could not fix actually. Of course it helps that I am an electrical engineer and have the mind to fix other things as well.
lectricgenius 1 year ago
I should be out playing with my new toy, but, it is still pretty humid and hot out during the day here. I just got a lincoln MIG welder, 30 to 180 amp. Also got me a good dewault cut off saw, purchased some oxy-acetalene tanks when getting the inert gas cannister for MIG. Had torch set from years ago. And, I went and got a bunch of steel channel, angle iron and tubing yesterday from local metal supplier. I wish it was a tad cooler, I would be out there striking up an arc.
kd5gua 1 year ago
@kd5gua No doubt, it is definitely hot out there. We got a rain last night and this morning, which cooled things off for now-- at least until the sun comes out and warms it up again, then it will be miserable muggy!
lectricgenius 1 year ago
I have designed and built quite a few linear regulated power supplies, using LM317 or 7812, 7805. etc., and always found that pretty basic easy stuff. When I worked on the first product that had a switching supply to convert 240 vdc to telephone ring signal of 90 vrms at 20 hz, I found that circuit very interesting. Quite a bit more complex, much more efficient. All the switchers I have worked with since then have actually been for regulated dc supplies, but same circuit theory/design.
kd5gua 1 year ago
@kd5gua
lectricgenius 1 year ago
I did work with one engineer like you once. He was good to work for because he could better relate to the technician job than most engineers. He was into building stuff using welding, could actually solder well and he was a motor head too, rebuilt muscle car engines, etc. It is a rare breed., lol. Sort of like Red on Black Sheep Squadron, calling the pilots college boys.
kd5gua 1 year ago
@kd5gua No doubt. I can do all of that stuff, and even more. See, my 1st job was working on a drill rig, taking core samples for a road in Tennessee. After that I worked in a body shop, painting and repairing cars. I then became an electrician. Then eventually, I destroyed my back, so I went to school and became an engineer. While studying engineering, I bought a huge bulldozer, and fixed it up. Oh, I forgot to say I worked for my grandfather in high school, running bulldozers,& dirt pans
lectricgenius 1 year ago
I have always thought it sort of funny that chargers have the big plate like that as the positive plate of the filter cap. Obviously a very small capacitance cap. You are an interesting engineer lectricgenius, for most of the engineers I have ever worked with, as an electronics engineering tech, would never work on something like that. Most I worked with could barely solder. They could push a pencil real well though, lol.
kd5gua 1 year ago
@kd5gua Well, I worked as an electrician for years before becoming an engineer.
lectricgenius 1 year ago
From what I saw and you said I see that it was the standard circuit for most battery chargers, with center tapped secondary requiring only two diodes for full wave rectification. Popeyeus, diodes for high power rectification rarely short, much more common for a diode junction to become open. As long as the diodes in the full wave bridge that he used as replacement had same current and power handling capabilities, would work, but, just three of the bridge connections would be used, AC, AC and +.
kd5gua 1 year ago
@kd5gua You are absolutely correct. These diodes are much higher power than the factory ones and can last a lot longer. Bottom line, I no longer have to pay attention to the 10 sec requirement of the original diodes, and I can leave it on boost until ad infinitum. I have done this since the change out.
lectricgenius 1 year ago
If your happy with 20 sec boosts, that is just fine. Welder diodes are continuous service was the point i wanted to make. If a car wont start in 20 secs, then there is a problem. Another point is that the original diodes are banked in groups of 4 button diodes in parallel If one shorts out , it takes them all out.
popeyeus 1 year ago
@popeyeus You obviously either didn't read that post or understand it either one. So, again, I will say my diodes will last longer than 20 seconds. Basically you can leave it on continuously. And by the way, I think I know a little bit about what I am talking about, because I am an electrical engineer. My diodes are continuous duty as well. From a rectifier they are.
lectricgenius 1 year ago
Try pulling some diodes out of a old welder from a salvage yard. They can handle 300 or more amps. I fixed a charge like this one using them. The only thing holding back most the power is the circuit breaker they have in them . That is the big black round thing bolted to the back of the housing. The transformer in those chargers look big enough for a small welder. Just use the 25 volt output for the welder. The full wave center tap power supply makes about 13 volts dc.
popeyeus 1 year ago
@popeyeus Why on earth would I do that? The thing works flawlessly just the way it is. Plus, it's got plenty of power to boost more than the 20 seconds that it had originally. My diodes are plenty enough to do anything I want.
lectricgenius 1 year ago
send me video to fix polariod charger.mine goes into computer
tylon19779 2 years ago
where i can find diodes because me charger is no working
mauriciochulo 2 years ago