Joe, Thanks for the comments. I have 2 Tropica chargers and my trusty Fair Radio box so my car won't be down. My plan was to do a small perf board just above the existing board. Instead of removing the bq2003 physically, I was going to disconnect it from driving the charger by removeing a couple of resistors. This would open the FET control and unload the sense lines. The perf board would contain the additional parts to set switching freq, status LEDs, and the new voltage dividers for current and voltage sense. The sense inputs are a bit different between the bq2003 and bq2031. I'd try and keep the connentions to the main board very short to keep the noise down. I think I have the test equipment I need although my DVM isn't true RMS.
Is the education worth it? Maybe you should ask that afterwards! I've love to be able to send Rich a check for one of the PFC units but right now, I can't afford it. thanks, Steve In a message dated 10/8/2002 1:04:04 AM Eastern Standard Time, "Joe Smalley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > >> > 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? > >No. The battery will be consistently undercharged. > >> 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? > >Much better charge profile. > >You need to figure out if the time and effort are worth it. > >If you don't have another charger to use, the car will be inoperable until >the charger is working again. > >Is the education worth the down time? > >Will you be happy with a customized charger or do you want something that >someone else is supporting? > >Do you have the test equipment and tools to finish the project? > >I would not attempt this upgrade project unless I had a charger to use in >the car while this one is being upgraded. > >Joe Smalley >Rural Kitsap County WA >Fiesta 48 volts >NEDRA 48 volt street conversion record holder >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >
