Ring Smartcharger+12

JackFrobisher

JackFrobisher

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I'm having a serious sense of humour failure. It's been one of those "Why me? What else can go wrong days". Also, SWMBO was hoping for a sail today so I'm typing this in the doghouse.

I've just been down to the boat and the power had been left on so the house battery is completely dead; the voltage thingy was showing 0.0 volts.

I started the engine on the other (engine) battery and ran it for an hour. The voltage thingy now showing 0.1 volts. Gave that up.

Took the house battery home to put it on charge. I stopped off at Halfords and bought a Ring Smartcharger+12 on the way - I thought " ... my 35 year old battery charger mught not be up to reviving a completely dead battery and the Ring has had a good press on the forum so ..."

I connected the Ring charger. The display came on "000" for 4 seconds then click and the display went off and then came on again for 4 seconds and click etc (repeat that as many times as you like.) Sounds to me like something tripping inside the box.

I dug out the old charger - so basic that it consists of a transformer and 4 diodes in a plastic box. I fired it up and the battery voltage is currently showing 8.59 volts and climbing slowly.

This might be an elementary question but does the team think I have a duff Ring? Oer (sense of humour gradually coming back) - what I mean is, is the new charger likely to be faulty?

There's no response from the Ring Helpline (it is Sunday) and Halfords will be shut before I can get back there.
 
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You are not the first to report problems with a Ring Smartcharger but I have one and it works well. ( Older non + type)

I'd expect it to go straight into recondition mode with a deeply discharged battery,
or show an error code if it thinks the battery is completely knackered. I dont think your model shows the same error codes though

Try the Ring again when you have got something back into the battery. If it's a no goer take it back to Halfrauds. They will be open tomorrow no doubt.
 
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Thanks.

VicS said:
You are not the first to report problems with a Ring Smartcharger but I have one and it works well.

I'd expect it to go straight into recondition mode with a dead flat battery,
or show an error code if it thinks the battery is completely knackered

Try the Ring again when you have got something back into the battery. If it's a no goer take it back to Halfrauds. They will be open tomorrow no doubt.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

How much do you think "something" is - 10 volts, 12 volts...
 
I have a number of "auto" battery chargers and all require some power in the battery to get the auto to start.

I came home from my boat on Friday and found one of my car's battery dead and had to put a non auto charger on the battery to get some charge in to the auto charger would start up.
 
Thanks.

Rogershaw said:
I have a number of "auto" battery chargers and all require some power in the battery to get the auto to start.

I came home from my boat on Friday and found one of my car's battery dead and had to put a non auto charger on the battery to get some charge in to the auto charger would start up.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

It's beginning to sound like the Tortoise and the Hare. Stick some charge in with "old faithfull" and then use "the Sophisticate" to polish it.
 
Rogershaw said:
I have a number of "auto" battery chargers and all require some power in the battery to get the auto to start.

I came home from my boat on Friday and found one of my car's battery dead and had to put a non auto charger on the battery to get some charge in to the auto charger would start up.
Click to expand...

I had the same problem with my smart charger when my alternator died & reduced both batteries to <2v. A couple of hours on my 30 year old fick charger got them to where the smartarse could cope. The starting battery made a full recovery, the other was never the same again.

Your Ring may just be going into short circuit prevention, as it's designed to do.
 
Stemar said:
Your Ring may just be going into short circuit prevention, as it's designed to do.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I'm thinking that your analysis is correct. Don't you think it's a pretty sad endictment on a premium charger that costs £69, that it can't handle a discharged battery as well as a 35-years old charger that cost rather less when it was bought? (and that's been repaired more than once: including gluing the case back together after I dropped it).

On the other hand ... it might be broken.

:)
 
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VicS said:
Sorry no idea.
The instructions suggest that mine wont respond to a battery below 2 volts
Click to expand...

The charger is probably ok - they don't like totally dead batteries. Get a few volts into it with your old charger as mentioned and then let the clever one do its stuff. Personally I'd go for 10v as a starting point.

I own the 12+ and it's not a bad bit of kit.
 
Thanks.

G12 said:
The charger is probably ok - they don't like totally dead batteries. Get a few volts into it with your old charger as mentioned and then let the clever one do its stuff. Personally I'd go for 10v as a starting point.

I own the 12+ and it's not a bad bit of kit.
Click to expand...

... 9.98 volts so not long now. :)
 
They have a reverse polarity and short circuit prevention device that needs to see a very small number if volts to make sure everything is connected right. The 35 year old one is a pretty dumb charger that just reckons if you've connected it wrong you deserve the consequences :)

An alternative to the old charger is another battery connected for a second or two to fool the Ring charger. Ring are very good but not perfect, and they cost a quarter of the Sterling super dooper clever ones.
 
Harumph!

The Ring has just flashed up F05 - Replace Battery. It means it never achieved Float voltage.

I'll try discharging it a bit then charging it again but I strongly suspect that I'll be shelling out for a new House battery.

Can anyone lend me a collecting tin? I think I'll chuck it at the person who left it switched on.
 
Most batteries are ruined after a deep discharge like that. Put a load on it - nothing strenuous though and give it a gentle discharge for a while before attempting to recharge it. Exercising it may help a little. It may not though!
Not sure how powerful your old charger is but you could try and frighten some life into it with that if all else fails. You won't make it any worse.
 
G12 said:
Most batteries are ruined after a deep discharge like that. Put a load on it - nothing strenuous though and give it a gentle discharge for a while before attempting to recharge it. Exercising it may help a little. It may not though!
Not sure how powerful your old charger is but you could try and frighten some life into it with that if all else fails. You won't make it any worse.
Click to expand...

Very good advice indeed! The Ring now says "FUL". I'll exercise it a few times, load then charge until it floats, over the next few days and then re-install it and as they say ... suck it and see.

Thanks again for all the advice.
 
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