Deltran battery tender plus question

[tonyj]

A couple months back, bought a Deltran BT Plus, and an Interstate Group 27 batttery. The battery and charger have been installed in my build for about a month, now the battery is almost dead! Didn't expect this since the charger has had power the whole time.

Hydrometer on the battery has an even, low reading. Plugged in my 20 yr old Sears 6 amp trickle charger and it goes to 8 amps then slowly down to six. When I left this afternoon, it was still at a high 5 amp reading (after 18 hrs on charge). I turned off the power when I left.

I think the battery is okay, although I know it had to be way less than 50% charged.

I pulled the quick disconnect on the charger and put a voltmeter on it--Nada. Shouldn't I be able to pick up a reading, or does the charger sense the open circuit and stop sending current? I checked accross the battery at the very beginning and it read 10.5, but that is subject to question as my voltmeter is a P.O.S. that will meet its overdue demise shortly!

If someone knows the answer, I'd sure appreciate it. Otherwise, I'll be calling Deltran this week.

EDIT EDIT EDIT--just found the manual online, and I will have to see if the inline fuse has blown. I'll bet that is the problem. Then I have to figure out what caused it and when it happened. Can't do that til next Friday night.

Hope my battery ain't kaput.

[madjack]

...a couple of questions...when you say hydrometeer do you mean one built into the battery or a handheld one for testing batteries...if it is an independent unit, check each individual cell and look for differences...this could indicate a bad cell...take the battery to an auto parts house and have them check it out on their machine...what amp output is the Deltrans, not that it should matter in this case...measure battery voltage with and without the Deltrans hooked up, if the Deltrans is not putting out 13+ volts call them about it....
madjack
p.s. I know those suggestions are not in order but heck...it's midnite

[tonyj]

Thanks MJ. I was editing my post while you were replying.

Bulb-type hydrometer, and all cells within 10%.

Check my edited post--I'm betting I blew the fuse. Wish I had remembered that sucker before I made the 60 mile trip home.

[emiller]

I had the same problem with my Deltran 5 amp water proof charger. I took my battery back to the battery store because I only had it a month. It checked out fine pluged it back in and haven't had a problem since. Maybe a glich in its getty-up or maybe just a bad contact.

[48Rob]

I had a similar problem after three camping trips.

The trailer was plugged in, but the battery was slowly discharging?

Turned out I had bumped the quick connect loose while installing the air conditioning duct...

Rob

[tonyj]

Thanks, all. I'll report back after next weekend's visit to the shop.

[Loader]

Looking forward to hear what you have to say Tony, as I am getting ready to go out and buy a Deltran. BTW - Which model to you have?

[tonyj]

Looking forward to hear what you have to say Tony, as I am getting ready to go out and buy a Deltran. BTW - Which model to you have?

It is the Battery Tender Plus Waterproof 12v 5a. Here's the BatteryMart link:http://www.batterymart.com/battery.mv?p=DEL-022-0157-1

[Loader]

Thanks Tony. Been trying to decide between that one and the 1.25 amp model.

[tonyj]

I decided on the higher amp for quicker charging, and the waterproof version for, well, you never know if you might have to use the thing for a boat! At least the charger will still work afterwards.

[WarPony]

Been trying to decide between that one and the 1.25 amp model.

Earl, I have the 1.25A model and I love it!! I guess it depends on how much power you use or how long you are out camping. Me, it's usually just a couple of nights on the weekend and then when I get home, the charger is plugged in and left to do it's job. I'm not concerned with how long or quick it recharges because I have 5 or more days for it to do so. Which ever way you go, the Deltran name is very good.

[Loader]

Earl, I have the 1.25A model and I love it!! I guess it depends on how much power you use or how long you are out camping. Me, it's usually just a couple of nights on the weekend and then when I get home, the charger is plugged in and left to do it's job. I'm not concerned with how long or quick it recharges because I have 5 or more days for it to do so. Which ever way you go, the Deltran name is very good.

Thanks, those were my thoughts as well. I just don't want to over-buy either, I have seemed to so that a few times on this build. I have to keep telling myself, I'm not going to live in it fulltime, it is a weekend thing, perharps 4 - 5 days max.

Anyway, most places I will go have shore power, and there, I can keep the lower amp Deltran unit plugged in fulltime, to make up for the few lights I will be using off of the 12VDC trailer light system.

Thanks again WarPony

[tonyj]

Just got back from the shop.

Okay, I was right. I blew the fuse.

FYI, you can measure voltage from the charger (given you don't have a blown fuse).

I know what I did to blow it, but I ain't tellin'.

Checked the battery with the bulb hydrometer--all cells are back up at full strength. I'm back in the battery charging business.

[madjack]

oh comon Tony...tell us how you bumped the leads together to see if you got a spark or put them on the wrong posts...comeon give...I promise we won't laugh(much or loud)...afterall, we have all doneit...........
madjack

[tonyj]

I'm not gonna tell, although it has something to do with putting switches on ground circuits instead of power circuits, finding that 1 switch operates two lights instead of one, trying to fix the problem by changing wires at the light bulb and completing a power circuit direct to ground.

Wasn't anything close to what you said, but pretty damn close.

Anyway, I'm not saying.

Lesson learned: don't try to redesign and reengineer at the end of a long 100 plus degree day!