HELP! How can I check voltage on a charger?

monkeyboy · 08-13-2009, 05:01 PM

I just got a a Ferroline used charger in today. The seller said it was a 36-volt charger for his old golfcart. I got it off ebay... but I opened it up and looked at the tag on the front and it reads like it's a 12volt charger

.
Maybe I'm just freaking out? Here's how the tag reads...
Model No. FL6 240P
Serial No. 209717
CAPACITY
6 Cells 24 A.H.
Lead Acid Battery In 8 Hrs
A.C. INPUT
Volts 115 Amp 9
D.C. OUTPUT
Volts 12 amp 50

How can I test with a voltmeter to see if it really is a 36volt charger? I tried on my new 12volt car charger and if I put it at 12-volt trickle it reads less than 12volt... and if I put it on jump start I get 13.88 volts. So if this is a 36volt trickle charger how would I test to see if it actually puts out 36-volts? I'm not hardly getting a reading at all at the plug.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

monkeyboy · 08-13-2009, 05:13 PM

Okay.. I did a quick search and I came up with... I have to have it under a load(plugged in to the pack) I guess. I'll try it and see. This charger is really old... I mean really old. It has no board or anything. Looks like a timer, capacitor, heat sink and some wires. Very low-tech. But I figured being that old it would show voltage at the plug when the timer is turned on.

pggroves · 08-13-2009, 05:18 PM

Ferroline Inc
20714 Crickett Ln
Lenexa, KS 66220-3316
Phone: (913) 422-7610

monkeyboy · 08-13-2009, 05:30 PM

So they're still in buisnes? I hope so

. But I think I just found out it's got an enternal short somewhere. I'm getting continuity between the postive and negative terminals on the plug. Also from both terminals on the plug to the ground ont the house plug side. Ugghhh!!! I hate EBAY anymore

I'm still open to ideas on it though... I'm going to start searching the net for answers....

Okay I'm printing out a troubleshooting packet for the old lester chargers. Same basic design. The way it's reading (without testing) is it's got a bad diode. It's lookin like I got taken to the cleaners on this one so far...

monkeyboy · 08-13-2009, 08:13 PM

Yep... Looks like a bad diode. It doesn't matter anyways. It's clearly a 12volt car charger

. I know everyone likes the lester and powerwise chargers... But what do you have to say about the textrons? My neighbor has one (I'm currently borrowing now. LOL!) and it seems to work pretty good.

08-13-2009, 05:01 PM	#1
monkeyboy Getting Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: southern, Indiana Posts: 93	HELP! How can I check voltage on a charger? I just got a a Ferroline used charger in today. The seller said it was a 36-volt charger for his old golfcart. I got it off ebay... but I opened it up and looked at the tag on the front and it reads like it's a 12volt charger. Maybe I'm just freaking out? Here's how the tag reads... Model No. FL6 240P Serial No. 209717 CAPACITY 6 Cells 24 A.H. Lead Acid Battery In 8 Hrs A.C. INPUT Volts 115 Amp 9 D.C. OUTPUT Volts 12 amp 50 How can I test with a voltmeter to see if it really is a 36volt charger? I tried on my new 12volt car charger and if I put it at 12-volt trickle it reads less than 12volt... and if I put it on jump start I get 13.88 volts. So if this is a 36volt trickle charger how would I test to see if it actually puts out 36-volts? I'm not hardly getting a reading at all at the plug. PLEASE HELP!!!!

08-13-2009, 05:13 PM	#2
monkeyboy Getting Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: southern, Indiana Posts: 93	Re: HELP! How can I check voltage on a charger? Okay.. I did a quick search and I came up with... I have to have it under a load(plugged in to the pack) I guess. I'll try it and see. This charger is really old... I mean really old. It has no board or anything. Looks like a timer, capacitor, heat sink and some wires. Very low-tech. But I figured being that old it would show voltage at the plug when the timer is turned on.

08-13-2009, 05:18 PM	#3
pggroves steeplejack x Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 3,382	Re: HELP! How can I check voltage on a charger? Ferroline Inc 20714 Crickett Ln Lenexa, KS 66220-3316 Phone: (913) 422-7610

08-13-2009, 05:30 PM	#4
monkeyboy Getting Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: southern, Indiana Posts: 93	Re: HELP! How can I check voltage on a charger? So they're still in buisnes? I hope so. But I think I just found out it's got an enternal short somewhere. I'm getting continuity between the postive and negative terminals on the plug. Also from both terminals on the plug to the ground ont the house plug side. Ugghhh!!! I hate EBAY anymore I'm still open to ideas on it though... I'm going to start searching the net for answers.... Okay I'm printing out a troubleshooting packet for the old lester chargers. Same basic design. The way it's reading (without testing) is it's got a bad diode. It's lookin like I got taken to the cleaners on this one so far...

08-13-2009, 08:13 PM	#5
monkeyboy Getting Wild Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: southern, Indiana Posts: 93	Re: HELP! How can I check voltage on a charger? Yep... Looks like a bad diode. It doesn't matter anyways. It's clearly a 12volt car charger. I know everyone likes the lester and powerwise chargers... But what do you have to say about the textrons? My neighbor has one (I'm currently borrowing now. LOL!) and it seems to work pretty good.

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