battery chargers fried ...
 

Preamble:

************************************

While travelling and visiting friends in rural India recently, I was using
NiMH "AA" cells, and Rayovac rechargeable alkaline "AA" cells to power my
digital camera.

To recharge them I was using a "GP" brand (model GPKB34P) charger , and
a Rayovac Model PS1 charger. Both are 117v 60Hz devices, and I was running
them through a 220 110 volt transformer.

Power outages were common in the area and sometimes a farm tractor with a
jury-rigged generator running off the "power take off" shaft, was used to
supply electricity to the farm house. During one evening when I was away
visiting other relatives of theirs, it seems there was a "brown-out" sort of
situation due to the tractor running at an unusually slow speed for several
hours. I saw the flickering honey-color tungsten lamps in the house when I
returned and realized that my chargers were not getting proper voltage !

The chargers both appear to be dead. The transformer survived, according to
subsequent tests with a volt meter.

***********************************

Question: Are either of these 2 chargers likely to be easily repairable?

Thanks !

-RS-

If the transformers are indeed good (proper AC voltage at the secondary)
then there ain't much more to the charger than at most a secondary fuse, a
diode or two, resistors or possible a regulator semiconductor. Get your
multi-meter back out of the tool box and perform some simple testing of
components.
--
Best Regards,
Daniel Sofie
Electronics Supply & Repair
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


"RS" wrote in message
news:PNc5e.3481$yV3.1691@clgrps12...
Preamble:

************************************

While travelling and visiting friends in rural India recently, I was using
NiMH "AA" cells, and Rayovac rechargeable alkaline "AA" cells to power my
digital camera.

To recharge them I was using a "GP" brand (model GPKB34P) charger ,
and
a Rayovac Model PS1 charger. Both are 117v 60Hz devices, and I was
running
them through a 220 110 volt transformer.

Power outages were common in the area and sometimes a farm tractor with a
jury-rigged generator running off the "power take off" shaft, was used to
supply electricity to the farm house. During one evening when I was away
visiting other relatives of theirs, it seems there was a "brown-out" sort
of
situation due to the tractor running at an unusually slow speed for
several
hours. I saw the flickering honey-color tungsten lamps in the house when I
returned and realized that my chargers were not getting proper voltage !

The chargers both appear to be dead. The transformer survived, according
to
subsequent tests with a volt meter.

***********************************

Question: Are either of these 2 chargers likely to be easily repairable?

Thanks !

-RS-

sofie wrote:
If the transformers are indeed good (proper AC voltage at the
secondary) then there ain't much more to the charger than at most a
secondary fuse, a diode or two, resistors or possible a regulator
semiconductor. Get your multi-meter back out of the tool box and
perform some simple testing of components.

Huh uh, Dan. He was referring to the 220-110v stepdown transformers he had
in series with the chargers. Those survived. The chargers are Li-ion, so
there's gonna be some active electronics in there...perhaps as little as a
timer circuit; but AIRC, these things go for as cheap as $10, so there's
little hope or profit in trying to fix them anyway.

jak


"RS" wrote in message
news:PNc5e.3481$yV3.1691@clgrps12...
Preamble:

************************************

While travelling and visiting friends in rural India recently, I was
using NiMH "AA" cells, and Rayovac rechargeable alkaline "AA" cells
to power my digital camera.

To recharge them I was using a "GP" brand (model GPKB34P)
charger , and a Rayovac Model PS1 charger. Both are 117v 60Hz
devices, and I was running them through a 220 110 volt transformer.

Power outages were common in the area and sometimes a farm tractor
with a jury-rigged generator running off the "power take off" shaft,
was used to supply electricity to the farm house. During one evening
when I was away visiting other relatives of theirs, it seems there
was a "brown-out" sort of situation due to the tractor running at an
unusually slow speed for several hours. I saw the flickering
honey-color tungsten lamps in the house when I returned and realized
that my chargers were not getting proper voltage !

The chargers both appear to be dead. The transformer survived,
according to subsequent tests with a volt meter.

***********************************

Question: Are either of these 2 chargers likely to be easily
repairable?

Thanks !

-RS-

"RS" wrote in message
news:PNc5e.3481$yV3.1691@clgrps12...

The chargers both appear to be dead. The transformer survived, according
to
subsequent tests with a volt meter.

***********************************

Question: Are either of these 2 chargers likely to be easily repairable?

It wasn't low voltage that fried them. It was low frequency. 50 cycle would
have done it if the voltage wasn't reduced from 120 to 100. The internal 110
to (12?) transformers are probably dead.

Can you fix them? Yes, if you can get the parts.
--
N