Trickle-Charger Recommendations, please - Mar 2006

I've got a gel cell battery. Which I like because the overflow acid no lo=
nger falls on the water radiator=20
underneath.
I'm told -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that keeping a gel cell topped=
 over with a trickle-charger is a=20
good idea.

===============================

Date:         Thu, 6 Mar 2008 21:29:39 -0500
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Bruce Schimmel <bruce@SCHIMMEL.COM>
Subject:      trickle-charger recommendations, please
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Type: text/plain

I've got a gel cell battery. Which I like because the overflow acid no lo=
nger falls on the water radiator=20
underneath.

I'm told -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that keeping a gel cell topped=
 over with a trickle-charger is a=20
good idea.

Do you use and/or can suggest a trickle-charger? What brand?

I'm especially interested in a trickle-charger I can leave and forget. So=
mething that's smart enough to=20
stop by itself.

Thanks in advance,

Bruce
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 6 Mar 2008 20:51:53 -0600
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Horst Stratmann <Horst.Stratmann@UPCGROUP.COM>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Hi Bruce,

I have the Gill 35S battery, which is an AGM not gel. I am using as =
charger the "BattreryMinder" from VDC Electonics. Inc. =
(www.vdcelectonics.co  and I think that is the best. Get the Model =
12248-AA which is specifically made for aviation type 12-V batteries. =
Gill is recommending it. You should leave it on forever and it maintains =
the battery.

Best regards
=A0
Horst Stratmann
UPC Interpipe, Inc.
Tel:=A0 512 266 0132
Fax: 512 266 0133

-----Original Message-----
From: Ximango Owners Group (XOG) [mailto:XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On =
Behalf Of Bruce Schimmel
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 8:30 PM
To: XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: trickle-charger recommendations, please

I've got a gel cell battery. Which I like because the overflow acid no =
longer falls on the water radiator=20
underneath.

I'm told -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that keeping a gel cell =
topped over with a trickle-charger is a=20
good idea.

Do you use and/or can suggest a trickle-charger? What brand?

I'm especially interested in a trickle-charger I can leave and forget. =
Something that's smart enough to=20
stop by itself.

Thanks in advance,

Bruce
=========================================================================
Date:         Thu, 6 Mar 2008 23:10:34 EST
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Chuck Cheeseman <XimangoUSA@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

XOG-ers
 
Horst is right on the mark, as usual.  He is very meticulous in  matters like
this and his advice is good.
 
I will add that there are a number of 2-amp proportional  chargers on the
market that will do the maintenance-charging job for your  Ximango.  Sears and
Walmart, for example, both have 12V models in the $20  range.
 
The key is always to plug in the maintenance charger when you  depart the
Ximango in the hangar at the end of the flight.   That way, you start with a
topped-off battery on  the next flight.
 
And, be advised, these little units 2-amp units will NOT recharge a dead 
battery!  These small units require a minimum voltage on the battery  to operate,
because of their power supply design.  They are maintenance  chargers,
period.  If things get out of hand and you have a dead  battery, you need a
more-robust system to recharge it, which is built for the  job.
 
Or a new battery, if the current one won't hold a charge.
 
Chuck
Ximango USA
 
 



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=========================================================================
Date:         Fri, 7 Mar 2008 14:34:48 +1000
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         paul harrington <energy@WHITSUNDAY.NET.AU>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
In-Reply-To:  <LISTSERV%200803062129391320.49F0@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
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Bruce,
       I have a small maintenance charger from Sweden.  It not only keeps
the battery charged but conditions it as well by periodic cycling. Not cheap
but well worthwhile. I will send details tomorrow.  By the way, the charge
voltage of gel is lower than lead acid.  A 14.2 volt charge on gel will
result in the gel cooking off, and there is no way to replace the gel.
Ensure that whichever charger you are using can cope with gel requirements.
Regards to all, Paul H.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ximango Owners Group (XOG) [mailto:XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On
Behalf Of Bruce Schimmel
Sent: Friday, 7 March 2008 12:30 PM
To: XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: trickle-charger recommendations, please

I've got a gel cell battery. Which I like because the overflow acid no
longer falls on the water radiator underneath.

I'm told -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that keeping a gel cell topped
over with a trickle-charger is a good idea.

Do you use and/or can suggest a trickle-charger? What brand?

I'm especially interested in a trickle-charger I can leave and forget.
Something that's smart enough to stop by itself.

Thanks in advance,

Bruce


--
This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by
MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 9 Mar 2008 17:41:54 +1000
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         paul harrington <energy@WHITSUNDAY.NET.AU>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
In-Reply-To:  <C85C3D5CC9456F4694A4DF554672BD990FF8C3@upcserver.UPCInterpipe.local>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Bruce,=20
       Here is the information I promised.  The charger is a CTEK XS 800
manufactured by CTEK Sweden and for lead acid batteries only.  Try =
accessing
their website and look at the specification. It is a clever piece of
equipment and can safely be left on a battery, full time, without =
cooking
off the electrolyte.  They make larger units, but I find that the 800 =
does
the job admirably for our size batteries.  I agree that a unit this size =
is
not for charging a flat battery, but as a maintenance unit it cannot be
beaten, in my estimate.  Paul H.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ximango Owners Group (XOG) [mailto:XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On
Behalf Of Horst Stratmann
Sent: Friday, 7 March 2008 12:52 PM
To: XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please

Hi Bruce,

I have the Gill 35S battery, which is an AGM not gel. I am using as =
charger
the "BattreryMinder" from VDC Electonics. Inc. (www.vdcelectonics.co  =
and I
think that is the best. Get the Model 12248-AA which is specifically =
made
for aviation type 12-V batteries. Gill is recommending it. You should =
leave
it on forever and it maintains the battery.

Best regards
=A0
Horst Stratmann
UPC Interpipe, Inc.
Tel:=A0 512 266 0132
Fax: 512 266 0133

-----Original Message-----
From: Ximango Owners Group (XOG) [mailto:XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On
Behalf Of Bruce Schimmel
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 8:30 PM
To: XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: trickle-charger recommendations, please

I've got a gel cell battery. Which I like because the overflow acid no
longer falls on the water radiator=20
underneath.

I'm told -- and correct me if I'm wrong -- that keeping a gel cell =
topped
over with a trickle-charger is a=20
good idea.

Do you use and/or can suggest a trickle-charger? What brand?

I'm especially interested in a trickle-charger I can leave and forget.
Something that's smart enough to=20
stop by itself.

Thanks in advance,

Bruce


--=20
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
believed to be clean.

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.=20
Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.21.6/1316 - Release Date: =
6/03/2008
6:58 PM
=20

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG.=20
Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1319 - Release Date: =
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=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 9 Mar 2008 07:53:19 EDT
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         John Lawton <Thrmlseekr@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hey Bruce,

I've been using the "Battery Tender Plus" for about 8  years now. I have
several and use them on my Citabria and Ximango with a  Gill 35 Lead/Acid, and my
Europa, with an Odessy Gel Cell PWC battery. I've  used these chargers on Gil
AGM battery we used to have in the Pawnee  tow plane. I also use them on both
my tractors with very large capacity  lead/acid Ag batteries and on the start
battery of my golf cart if it's  going to be sitting for a while. Never had a
problem with them overcharging  or cooking off the electrolyte. They "top off"
the battery then go into a rest  mode until there is a drop in  the battery
voltage. At a predetermined  point they will return to charge mode if the
battery voltage drops below this  level. IIRC, they were about $60. I modified one
with a cigarette lighter plug  to fit the Ximango charge port.
 
They are available at _www.batterytender.com_ (http://www.batterytender.com) 
or the  Batteries Plus stores. I think some Wal-Marts even carry them
nowadays.
 
Hope it helps!
 
Regards,
 
John  Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135



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=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 9 Mar 2008 12:11:42 -0500
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Ted Gordon <tedjgordon@ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original
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Dear John:

Using the cigarette lighter plug for charging is an idea that occurred to me
too, but in my glider the cigarette lighter plug  is wired to go open when
the main switch is off. How did you get around this?

Best
Ted


--------------------------------------------------
From: "John Lawton" <Thrmlseekr@AOL.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 6:53 AM
To: <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Subject: Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please

> Hey Bruce,
>
> I've been using the "Battery Tender Plus" for about 8  years now. I have
> several and use them on my Citabria and Ximango with a  Gill 35 Lead/Acid,
> and my
> Europa, with an Odessy Gel Cell PWC battery. I've  used these chargers on
> Gil
> AGM battery we used to have in the Pawnee  tow plane. I also use them on
> both
> my tractors with very large capacity  lead/acid Ag batteries and on the
> start
> battery of my golf cart if it's  going to be sitting for a while. Never
> had a
> problem with them overcharging  or cooking off the electrolyte. They "top
> off"
> the battery then go into a rest  mode until there is a drop in  the
> battery
> voltage. At a predetermined  point they will return to charge mode if the
> battery voltage drops below this  level. IIRC, they were about $60. I
> modified one
> with a cigarette lighter plug  to fit the Ximango charge port.
>
> They are available at _www.batterytender.com_
> (http://www.batterytender.com)
> or the  Batteries Plus stores. I think some Wal-Marts even carry them
> nowadays.
>
> Hope it helps!
>
> Regards,
>
> John  Lawton
> Whitwell, TN (TN89)
> Ximango #135
>
>
>
> **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
> Finance.      (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)
>
=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 9 Mar 2008 18:07:47 EDT
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         John Lawton <Thrmlseekr@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

 
In a message dated 3/9/2008 12:12:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
tedjgordon@ATT.NET writes:

Using the cigarette lighter plug for charging is an idea that  occurred to me
too, but in my glider the cigarette lighter plug  is  wired to go open when
the main switch is off. How did you get around  this?


 
 
Hey Ted,
 
My Ximango has a female lighter socket that is accessible from a door  built
into the lower cowl on the right side. It has a little cover  door that
fastens with a Camloc stud. The door is kept attached to the cowl by a  short
lanyard when it's not in place. The socket itself is mounted to  a bracket of
aluminum that is mounted to the lower firewall on that side  and with the cowl in
place the socket lines up with a  hole/door in the lower cowl. That's the
lighter plug that I'm talking  about, not the accessory sockets in the cockpit. I
would imagine they do go open  when the master is off. This socket on the cowl
was  specifically put there for battery charging.
 
This one in the cowl on my bird is a factory thing, not something I  came up
with. However, I liked the idea, so I'm planning to adapt a  similar
arrangement on the Europa I built. The only difference is I'm  planning to use a 3.2 mm
mono plug, instead of the cigarette lighter plug.  With a trickle charger,
the mono plug will easily handle the current and  the mono plug is smaller and
lighter than the cigarette lighter plug  Aeromot used. Otherwise, the
installation will be identical.
 
FWIW, I finished the AD today. It took me about 11 hours TT, but I wasn't  in
a hurry. My annual is due this month, so I was taking my time and  looking
things over while I did the AD chores. I can tell you that the hardest  part for
me was the bolts that needed changing on the top and bottom of  the toe brake
cylinders, along with the bolts at the forks where the  rudder cables attach
to the firewall. You can get to the bolts on the  cylinders fairly easily once
you get down there by pulling the rudder  pedal forward, but you have to be
very careful to not kink  the nylon brake lines in the process. The forks at
the firewall  were just plain hard to get at because my arms were too short.  If
my arms were any shorter I think I would have had to remove  the control
sticks to get at them. There's a bushing  sleeve that has to go inside the thimble
on the cable end, too. I had  one of those fall out in-between changing the
bolts and it was a royal pain  to get it back in and lined up for the bolt to
pass through. Use caution  here. A trained rat with thumbs or a midget
contortionist would have been a  great help on those four bolts. Those bolts took the
better part of a day to get  done. The rest of the AD is very straightforward
and didn't take very long  at all.
 
Hope it helps!
 
Regards,
 
John  Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135



**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
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=========================================================================
Date:         Sun, 9 Mar 2008 20:51:36 EDT
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Chuck Cheeseman <XimangoUSA@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

 
In a message dated 3/9/2008 6:09:05 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
Thrmlseekr@AOL.COM writes:

My  Ximango has a female lighter socket that is accessible from a door  built
 
into the lower cowl on the right side. It has a little cover  door  that
fastens with a Camloc stud. The door is kept attached to the cowl by  a 
short
lanyard when it's not in place. The socket itself is mounted  to  a bracket
of
aluminum that is mounted to the lower firewall on  that side  and with the
cowl in
place the socket lines up with  a  hole/door in the lower cowl. That's the
lighter plug that I'm  talking  about, not the accessory sockets in the
cockpit. I
would  imagine they do go open  when the master is off. This socket on the
cowl 
was specifically put there for battery  charging.



Ladies and Gents,
 
John is describing a charging plug option which is a product-improvement, 
available on SN's 136 (I believe) and onward.  Those of you with earlier  SN's
can achieve the same functionality by buying a trailer light hitch harness 
from the local auto parts store (or using another voltage-safe connector), 
wiring half of it to the battery terminals and zip-tying the connector so that  it
is accessible near the oil-inspection door on the right cowl.  This part 
rides with the plane always, but IMHO, is not a 337-inducing installation, since 
it it only used on the ground as follows: hook up the opposite half of  the
hitch connector to your trickle charger and, when you are hangared, have the 
oil door open, the two connector halves mated and you are charging/maintaining 
the battery.  The key to this approach is to get a connector half that can  be
installed in the engine compartment that is TOTALLY voltage-safe. 
 
It was when we realized the goodness of this early "DIY" installation that 
we got the factory to certify the charging plug that John describes.
 
Chuck
Ximango USA



**************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money &
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=========================================================================
Date:         Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:08:27 -0500
Reply-To:     "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
Sender:       "Ximango Owners Group (XOG)" <XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM>
From:         Horst Stratmann <Horst.Stratmann@UPCGROUP.COM>
Subject:      Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

There is an easier way. If you buy the Batteryminder from =
www.vdcelectonics.co, it has a ring terminal cordset which connects to =
the battery and a qwik connect plug which I have run to the door in the =
cowling, which connects to the charger.=20

It also has a temperature sensor.

I paid $ 137.00 for the charger


Best regards
=A0
Horst Stratmann
UPC Interpipe, Inc.
Tel:=A0 512 266 0132
Fax: 512 266 0133

-----Original Message-----
From: Ximango Owners Group (XOG) [mailto:XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM] On =
Behalf Of John Lawton
Sent: Sunday, March 09, 2008 5:08 PM
To: XIMANGO@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: Re: trickle-charger recommendations, please

=20
In a message dated 3/9/2008 12:12:11 PM Eastern Daylight Time, =20
tedjgordon@ATT.NET writes:

Using the cigarette lighter plug for charging is an idea that  occurred =
to me=20
too, but in my glider the cigarette lighter plug  is  wired to go open =
when=20
the main switch is off. How did you get around  this?


=20
=20
Hey Ted,
=20
My Ximango has a female lighter socket that is accessible from a door  =
built=20
into the lower cowl on the right side. It has a little cover  door that=20
fastens with a Camloc stud. The door is kept attached to the cowl by a  =
short=20
lanyard when it's not in place. The socket itself is mounted to  a =
bracket of=20
aluminum that is mounted to the lower firewall on that side  and with =
the cowl in=20
place the socket lines up with a  hole/door in the lower cowl. That's =
the=20
lighter plug that I'm talking  about, not the accessory sockets in the =
cockpit. I=20
would imagine they do go open  when the master is off. This socket on =
the cowl=20
was  specifically put there for battery charging.
=20
This one in the cowl on my bird is a factory thing, not something I  =
came up=20
with. However, I liked the idea, so I'm planning to adapt a  similar=20
arrangement on the Europa I built. The only difference is I'm  planning =
to use a 3.2 mm=20
mono plug, instead of the cigarette lighter plug.  With a trickle =
charger,=20
the mono plug will easily handle the current and  the mono plug is =
smaller and=20
lighter than the cigarette lighter plug  Aeromot used. Otherwise, the=20
installation will be identical.
=20
FWIW, I finished the AD today. It took me about 11 hours TT, but I =
wasn't  in=20
a hurry. My annual is due this month, so I was taking my time and  =
looking=20
things over while I did the AD chores. I can tell you that the hardest  =
part for=20
me was the bolts that needed changing on the top and bottom of  the toe =
brake=20
cylinders, along with the bolts at the forks where the  rudder cables =
attach=20
to the firewall. You can get to the bolts on the  cylinders fairly =
easily once=20
you get down there by pulling the rudder  pedal forward, but you have to =
be=20
very careful to not kink  the nylon brake lines in the process. The =
forks at=20
the firewall  were just plain hard to get at because my arms were too =
short.  If=20
my arms were any shorter I think I would have had to remove  the control =

sticks to get at them. There's a bushing  sleeve that has to go inside =
the thimble=20
on the cable end, too. I had  one of those fall out in-between changing =
the=20
bolts and it was a royal pain  to get it back in and lined up for the =
bolt to=20
pass through. Use caution  here. A trained rat with thumbs or a midget=20
contortionist would have been a  great help on those four bolts. Those =
bolts took the=20
better part of a day to get  done. The rest of the AD is very =
straightforward=20
and didn't take very long  at all.=20
=20
Hope it helps!
=20
Regards,
=20
John  Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135