I just got a new excalibur, but the charger only puts out 8.xx volts. I have a couple questions to pester everyone with, so here goes. This thing is nothing more than a transformer, right? Or is it really a charger as it is labeled? I know it says 14.3 volts, but how many volts does it really put out when it is functioning properly? Every adapter I have w/ the same plug puts out 18v even though it is labeled as around 12. My Gt's adapter is labeled 15, but puts out 19. I don't want to use one of the other adapters if it will damage the battery pod. Thanks!
Find's Treasure Forums
Welcome to Find's Treasure Forums, Guests!
You are viewing this forums as a guest which limits you to read only status.
Only registered members may post stories, questions, classifieds, reply to other posts, contact other members using built in messaging and use many other features found on these forums.
Why not register and join us today? It's free! (We don't share your email addresses with anyone.) We keep email addresses of our users to protect them and others from bad people posting things they shouldn't.
Click here to register!
Need Support Help?
Cannot log in?, click here to have new password emailed to you
charger (adapter/transformer) voltage output
- Thread starter OBX Franz
- Start date
But who knows.Is it charging the battery properly? I have switching power supplies that dont register much if anything unless properly loaded.
Digital meters don't put a load on a circuit. Analog meters do. Sometimes it makes a difference which one you use.
Or your power supply could be bad...hope that is helpful.
Digital meters don't put a load on a circuit. Analog meters do. Sometimes it makes a difference which one you use.
Or your power supply could be bad...hope that is helpful.
Critterhunter
New member
Ism is right, some transformers won't show a high voltage until a load is put on them. Yes, that wall "charger" in reality is only a transformer. On the GT the "real" charging circuit is inside the battery case behind where the plug plugs in. Note: You can't use a normal charger to charge the GT's pack through that plug. Instead hook up your charger leads to the battery terminals that make contact with the GT when you put it in. If you don't have a volt meter that shows reverse polatiry to determine which is positive and negative then make sure your charger has the ability to tell you the polarity is reversed so you know which way to hook it up.
Hardtack1862
New member
Yes its is only a transformer, but it inside it has a bridge rectifier to change AC to /DC along with a regulating circuit. When using another charger you must match the output volts and output amps electrically so you won't do damage to the battery. Too many amps will create more than normal heat to the battery which will ruin the battery as will too much voltage which causes more volts than what the battery is designed to hold. Chargers have those values printed on them input/output.
The charger is definitely a dud. Thanks for all the info everyone. I was concerned because the minelab charger (broken one) is 14.3 v 60mA out and my oddball transformer is 12v 500mA out. I knew the milli amps were important, but couldn't remember why. Am I correct in that it will charge the battery too fast and unevenly between cells (like the old pitcher of water and air bubbles analogy)? Thanks again!
Hardtack1862
New member
It won't charge the battery unevenly, but will have more amps(flow) have more amps than the battery is designed to take during the charging process. The 12 volts is ok but a little low for the battery will take 14 volts. Keep in mind the when fully charged the battery will show 13 volts or there abouts (surface charge), a slight overcharge but it is a 12 volt D/C battery. As an example, your car battery is 12 volts but the cars charging system will charge the battery at 14.5 volts on average and a fully charged car battery will have a 13.5 volt surface charge as the battery ages the surface charge will lessen. The car battery example is a gross oversize compared to the Excal's battery but they are rated at 12 volts and the principles are the same. I am not saying that you could charge the Excal battery with the car's charging system because the amps are greater and would explode the Excal battery. I hope this answers your question.
Battery chargers are designed for charging. Power supplies are designed to provide power.
A 50 ma charger will only supply 50ma no matter how much the battery asks for. A 500ma pwr supply will supply 500ma no matter how much the battery asks for.
A 12v 500ma pwr supply adds up to a fast under-charge, overheat, and ruined battery. Maybe not the first or second time, but eventually it will.
In addition, the battery will not say...I've had enough. Its a gluttonous pig and will drink and drink until its ruined. Thats why a battery charger is important.
The engineers know what they are doing, Don't mix the two.
A 50 ma charger will only supply 50ma no matter how much the battery asks for. A 500ma pwr supply will supply 500ma no matter how much the battery asks for.
A 12v 500ma pwr supply adds up to a fast under-charge, overheat, and ruined battery. Maybe not the first or second time, but eventually it will.
In addition, the battery will not say...I've had enough. Its a gluttonous pig and will drink and drink until its ruined. Thats why a battery charger is important.
The engineers know what they are doing, Don't mix the two.
Critterhunter
New member
500ma isn't that high at all for charging current on those batteries. I charge my GT rechargeable pack via my own charger at even as high as 1 or 2 amps, depending on how fast I want it. But yea, it's better to slow charge a pack when you can because the battery life will be longer. We are talking about charging your Excal batteries here, right? Many guys are using a cheap fast charger for those packs that they sell on Ebay and have had no issues with it. Can't remember but I think that charger charges them in under an hour. Not the best thing for super long battery life but you'll still get years out of it.
Hardtack1862
New member
To interject, AMPS is flow and too much flow adds up to heat, too much heat ruins a battery and is one of causes for the battery to explode. In the Excal, the battery is housed in the pod. If the pod is warm to the touch during charging the battery inside is hotter, fyi. Be careful.
I decided to charge one of them w/ the 12v 500ma adapter. Left in on for a few hours. Read 13.4 volts, was warm. I haven't messed around w/ batteries since I was a kid w/ rc cars, but I'm starting to remember a bit of stuff I forgot; and mainly the information you all have given. I've got the correct charger coming in the mail, so I don't plan on using the shortcut anymore. Less expensive to do it right and extend the batteries lives than shell out cash repeatedly to rebuild them.