Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Mike #1 on February 20, 2015, 06:08:26 pm

Title: Dodgy Battery or Controller
Post by: Mike #1 on February 20, 2015, 06:08:26 pm

So battery is 75ah less than 6 months old normally lasts about 24 working hours , But today after about 18hrs of total use controller started flashing Bat and voltage was 11.7 , But i worked from 9.30am to 2.40pm .

Then when i shut flow off at truck then restarted checking voltage it went from 12.1 -11.9-11.6 , Now the streamline controller i have on my Pump Box is almost 4 years old .

So is it time for a new controller  :-\ :-\  , Just wanting some input and may well order a Gardiners controller tonight as may not be working till next Wednesday anyway  :P .

Title: Re: Dodgy Battery or Controller
Post by: Don Kee on February 20, 2015, 06:15:12 pm

Its a bit hard to say with the info you've given...


When was the battery last charged before you took your voltage readings?
Was your flow high?
What voltage did you get when your pump was pulsing?(tap shut)
Have you checked all your connectors to see if some have deteriorated slightly?


All battery voltage will drop once under load, but it depends on when you last charged it to determine what output it should be giving...


Table attached may help...

Title: Re: Dodgy Battery or Controller
Post by: Mike #1 on February 20, 2015, 06:31:38 pm

Hi Don battery was last charged Tuesday night then used 6 hrs Wednesday , 7hrs yesterday then first thing this morning battery light flashed but freezing cold water first thing it can sometimes happen .

Then got to 2.30pm today and thats when i got the jumpy readings underload , Flow rate this colder weather is 40-42 , All  connections are totally fine they never come in contact with any water and all connections are solid just like new in-fact .

Fully charged the battery reads 12.7 when not under load as in connected to 100mtrs of microbore hose , Underload for me is a true reading to a point as i dont want the controller to shut the pump down half way through a job .

Title: Re: Dodgy Battery or Controller
Post by: Twc services on February 20, 2015, 06:51:41 pm

I have had the same problem its the circuit board in the controller. Mine started playing up in the summer when it got to hot so may have burnt out the voltage reading part ? Chuck it in the bin  ;D ;D

Title: Re: Dodgy Battery or Controller
Post by: Mike #1 on February 20, 2015, 06:59:35 pm

My last controller which lasted just over 4yrs started going mental flow rate would be ok for a while then pump would be flat out no matter which setting it was on .

So looks like it is a Gardiners Liquid Logic volatge shut down for pump is a lot lower which would be better for that extra bit of work when battery is running low .

Title: Re: Dodgy Battery or Controller
Post by: Gerald Ash on February 20, 2015, 07:14:39 pm

The best way to maintain lead acid batteries is charge at every opportunity. Despite them being deep cycle it`s still best to charge frequently. Not my knowledge but the knowledge from Grove`s batteries in Cheltenham who I highly reccommend.