Brent
Recharge the
AGM batteries via a programmed regulator like a MC624.
Google MC624
and a list of stockists and info should pop up!
Regards
Steve Pearce
From:
owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org
[mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org]
On Behalf Of Brent Hartwig
Sent: Tuesday, 8 July 2008 5:10 PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST]
Optima Battery Data
Thanks for the
information Alec. I was in a battery store today that sells a lot of Optima
batteries, and they donated a used red top battery to me to do some destructive
testing on. They do have two small vents on the upper corners. But they
are very different of course then your standard lead acid batteries removable
caps. The guy said that if one of those vents pops out that the battery is
dead.
Also if the
charge gets to low then they will stay dead and they should have special
computer changing units that can charge them with a constant voltage. He also
said that I don't need to space or ventilate them for heat issues. The guy
didn't know all that I wanted to know about them, so I'll have to keep digging.
Is chlorine gas
produced from the poles on a regular lead acid battery, or from the interior if
saltwater gets inside?
There are three
power sizes of deep cycle Blue Top Optima's. But two of them are the same
physical size.
34M and D34M
model is 10" L x 6 7/8"
W x 7 13/16" H and they are 38.4 lbs and
43.5 lbs respectivly.
D31M model
is 12 13/16" L x
6.5" W x 9 3/8" H and the weight is
59.8 lbs.
Regards,
Brent Hartwig
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] 12
Volt DC Lawnmower Battery Test Update
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2008 23:26:45 -0400
From: Alec.Smyth@compuware.com
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
AGM batteries have a little pinhole opening on top of the
case and although I haven't taken one apart, I understand there is an
overpressure valve inside the pinhole. I once mounted one upside down. It did
not leak, until I charged it. It leaked only a small amount, but I would not
recommend upside down installation. I believe they are OK to use upside down,
such as in a hydrobatic sub, but should not be kept in that position
indefinitely.
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From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org on behalf of Brent
Hartwig
Sent: Sun 7/6/2008 10:01 PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] 12
Volt DC Lawnmower Battery Test Update
Jay,
I've been meaning
to compare notes with Alec and Kyle about what there conning tower height, from
the top of the main pressure hull is compared to mine. Also of note, it looks
like I have larger MBT's then are on there K-250's which would put me
a little higher out of the water when surfaced. This in no way means
that I think I have enough freeboard to be truly comfortable. For this reason,
I've been seriously considering installing a 6 or 7 inch acrylic tube addition to
the conning tower some what like the S101 sub.
That would of
course change the look of the sub and it's metacentric height. In that
configuration, I think it would be safer as well as easier to
see horizontally and down.
The other option to
make the current conning tower configuration safer, is the custom pontoon
system I'm working thru with a guy that knows Zodiac designs very well. If we
come up with some thing we think will work. I'll run the design thru you guys
to get your input.
I would like to
find out if the AGM batteries have a vent and if so what kind. Perhaps they
have a bladder of some type to deal with pressure differences. I've heard many
times that they can be mounted vertically as well as upside down.
I had expected that
I would likely need to remove the batteries if I used the sub for wet exit
training. But for a real emergency wet exit, I was hoping that the APM
batteries would be a safer option. Corrosion issues of course are always fun to
deal with. ;)'
Regards,
Brent H
From: bottomgun@mindspring.com
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] 12 Volt DC Lawnmower Battery
Test Update
Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 17:54:58 -0400
Brent,
The batteries would
have to be in a waterproof container if going into saltwater. I believe
even the APM batteries have a vent otherwise they would explode at altitude.
As noted in his book,
George moved to the K-350 design
for a number of reasons…the cramped interior, minimal reserve buoyancy, and
statics issues if I remember correctly. Adding gear to the K-250 design only compounds the
issue. Look how little freeboard Alec’s sub exhibits (not to pick on
him). You will find getting into and out of a flooded K-250 an issue due to the tight nature of
the interior and conning tower. The domed hatch will open explosively due
to the large bubble that will be trapped there. If you didn’t drain all
of the air out of the rest of the conning tower but compressed it, you will be
violently expelled from the sub. Corrosion will be a nightmare inside
your sub after flooding it down 1 or more times, lock-out chambers of large
subs experience this issue despite being easier to access and preserve.
I wanted to be able to
lock out of a K-250 also when I
first viewed the plans for the sub back in 1974. Experience has taught me
that this is not a good idea.
R/Jay
From: owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org [mailto:owner-personal_submersibles@psubs.org] On Behalf Of Brent Hartwig
Sent: Sunday, July 06, 2008 5:27
PM
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Subject: RE: [PSUBS-MAILIST] 12
Volt DC Lawnmower Battery Test Update
Hello Jay,
Will a sealed
Optima type APM battery produce chlorine gas when submerged in fresh or
saltwater? There was no real hydrostatic pressure applied to the battery,
and it was not in the water for all that long, so the battery didn't leak as
you noted. At least not enough to seriously damage the battery.
I'm interested in
configuring my sub to that I can do a wet exit safely if need be. Since the
K-250's have the batteries inside, that makes things more difficult.
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