Topic: Electrical battery charging question

[TwoTired]

I guess you should tell us the brand and model of your multimeter.  There are thousands of models each with their own quirks.

But, if what I interpret from your post is correct, the transformer primary has opened/failed.

FYI, test leads unconnected reading IS an infinity indication, as in "no conduction capability between the probes".
The transformer primary should provide a connection, and read something less than infinity.

A "1." indication may also be an "out of range" indication, meaning the resistance is outside of the range selected.  Which should instruct the operator to find a range where it will take a reading. (If the meter isn't the auto ranging type.)  The owners manual should explain what that indication means for your specific multimeter.

"Multimeter" has the same specific meaning parallel to "motorcycle".  FYI

[MötleyRöx]

Yes, 1 is the infinity symbol.
The decimal moves throughout the ranges, but the 1 remains with the leads un-connected.
My tongue, for example, is -60 on the 2000k ohm scale.

Its a cheap Harbor Freight Cen-tech digital multimeter. 
But, it seems to read measurements just fine.
No different than my previous fluke meter, other than price.   

[1080]

Set meter to ohm X1 scale, short the leads of the meter together and you should get close to a zero reading. With the charger NOT plugged in, measure across the two terminals of the fuse device.
Close to zero reading the fuse device is okay, infinity reading is a bad fuse device.

You could use a alligator clip to jump the fuse devise, then quickly plug the charger in. But be ready to unplug quickly cause you may let the smoke out.

[MötleyRöx]

Across the breaker and the fuse device is fine... exactly as you describe.  Zero ohms.

Transformer no good.

[TwoTired]

You might wish to have it repaired.  Call them.

http://www.astroflight.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=33&products_id=178

[MötleyRöx]

Thank you for that link TwoTired. 

[1080]

Just to be sure that the transformer is open. You should of measured across the AC plug and got a low resistance. Check with the X1 , X10 & maybe X100 scales. I have had some transformers with higher resistance readings that were okay ( not the norm ).

Next you should set your meter to measure AC voltage. Scale over 100volt AC.
Plug in the units AC cord, then measure the secondary transformer windings voltage. Zero volts reading is an open main transformer. Then sent it to manufacture like TwoTired suggested.

[MötleyRöx]

OK... maybe the transformer is ok?
By testing on the orange dots, where power goes into the coil and then after the "points type fuse thermo doohickey", the voltage is 120.
By testing on either the right side yellow dots or the diagonal yellow dots the voltage is 11-12v. 
I haven't hooked a battery up to test if that goes up when its supposed to be charging.  Would it?  Or is that why its called a transformer? 
What do you mean, 1080, by "secondary transformer windings"?  By the way, the coil wires look anodized or coated somehow so that the only readings I can get from those wires are the solder connections.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Motley,

Have you ever given any thought to MMI (Motorcycle Mechanics)?

[MötleyRöx]

Every time I see the commercials on the Speed Channel!
Its pretty expensive though, and I like motorcycles as a hobby.  That's a lot of money for a hobby.

[1080]

Primary is the input windings (120 Volts AC ) & the secondary windings are the transformed output volts AC.

When you have measured at the yellow dots in your photo ( just follow the two small wires that come from the transformer and goes to the recitifer those are your secondary output and yes they are coated) that tells me you have a good transformer, because you measured 11-12VAC.

Now you need to measure the DC volts.

Tell me what voltage you get ( DC scale 20-100volt ). see photo.
 

[MötleyRöx]

9.7 dc volts

[1080]

Okay. Now is that voltage there at the terminals that connect to the battery?

Would like another photo showing all the leads that come out of that charger.

If the DC voltage is at the battery terminals, maybe connect a battery then re-measure the DC voltage( at the green points if you can not measure at the battery).

Get a measurement of the battery voltage to be charged first.

Is it not fun troubleshooting?

[MötleyRöx]

Taking pix and testing.
BRB.

edit: will add more test results here as I get them...

7.08 dcv battery (using the not-so-great one during this process, just in case)
7.1 dcv measured at the green dot locations.

[MötleyRöx]

Okay. Now is that voltage there at the terminals that connect to the battery?

No, duh!   

[MötleyRöx]

Is it not fun troubleshooting?

I'll let you know, when it's fixed. 

In the meantime... I have a brand new batt charging on a 5 hour charger I just got from Radio Shack.
5 hours doesn't cut it.  But, it was only 19.99 for the batt and charger.

[MötleyRöx]

New pictures

[1080]

 Hey it's fixed . You are getting a 2.6 volt drop which means that the battery should be charging.

I got more questions. First, what does the knob circle in blue do?

                             Second,what do the leads (red arrow ) go to?

The other blue arrows are there just point out that these should be in the correct positions for charging.
The control could have a dead spot & switch could be defective also?

Do you have the operators instructions for the charger?

[MötleyRöx]

The knob circled in blue is the charger timer.  Its a pretty common thing for older RC battery chargers.
The meter does nothing until you crank that timer, either for charge or discharge.
The instructions talk about trickle charging, but I don't think that happens with this charger, due to the meter not registering anything w/ the timer not on.

It does seem like it should be working, but the meter does not register anything in charge mode (only discharge), nor does the charger get hot or the batteries.

I just charged the 2 batteries, plus the new battery that came w/ the 5 hour charger, with the new charger.
So, no battery problems.

The red arrow points to the battery connection.

And, yes... you have the blue arrows pointing to the charge/discharge switch and the amperage adjustment knob.  Normally, cranking the amp knob higher (in charge mode) would make the charge rate go up.  It no longer produces this result.  

Yes, I do have the instructions.

[1080]

That clears a few things, but do use both sets of leads at the same time?
Back to troubleshooting.

With the unit plugged in measure the DC voltage at the photos new red dot locations.
The negative lead is at the black dot on both measurements.

[MötleyRöx]

The alligator clips are input for hooking up to 12v car battery for charging out in the field.

[1080]

Now I starting to understand this charger. I had a wrong photo please measure at the edited photo.

[MötleyRöx]

I'm at work... I'll have to get back to you this evening.
I don't think the wife would be too anxious to help me out with the measurements.  
I was wondering where your red and black dots were.   

[MötleyRöx]

9.6 volts at both of those red points.
Narrowing it down almost to the point, this friggin' thing should work!

What next?  

And, again, thank you.

[1080]

 Need you to remeasure the DC voltage at the yellow & black points of the photo.

Can you give me the numbers off of the regulator or transistor (?) circled in blue.