Last Thursday we went to DMV to start the "adventure" of getting our never registered 1995 vehicle registered. I had pretty low expectations for this first trip based on the experience of others. Well, I was wrong (again)and we came home with a red temp sticker good through year end after just an hour! Next it's off for a CHP inspection. Last Friday I was able to drive it to work, about 14 miles each way. I can charge at work so it got a drink before going home.
Speaking of charging, I've got the schematics for the Tropica charger. Thanks Matt! I was looking over it this weekend and it's "brains" are a BQ2003 which seems to be a NiCad charger. If I understand the options they have it wired for, it does a constant current charge of 12amps to a set voltage and then shuts down. That doesn't sound like a good plan for lead acid does it? I looked at another part from Benchmarq, the bq2031, which is designed for lead acid. It has a constant current bulk charge followed by a constant voltage charge and terminates on hitting a min current or a delta voltage. The parts look close in the support they need but certainly not pin compatible. Any comments on the wisdom of replacing the 2003 with the 2031? thanks, Steve
