Playing with my new Manoi
Playing with my new Manoi
by Orac
Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:13 pm
Hi, a quick question about the Manoi charger, I have it in front of me and everything says 100V, anyone have any idea what happens on UK 240V. Does it auto compnsate or does it fry 
I'll hold off a while before I plug it in.
Thanks
I'll hold off a while before I plug it in.
Thanks
by Orac
Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:38 pm
Hi, the charger is 100v, the 250v on the back is the FUSE rating.
I opened it up and the transformer is stamped 100v so I guess if the rectifier and regulator aren't autoranging, it would start smoking quite nicely.
No way to tell for sure. Unless someone else in the Uk has one and has plugged it in
I opened it up and the transformer is stamped 100v so I guess if the rectifier and regulator aren't autoranging, it would start smoking quite nicely.
No way to tell for sure. Unless someone else in the Uk has one and has plugged it in
by Orac
Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Aha another option, there is a 12V input at the rear.
Until I find a better charger, I will need to use a large 12V battery or I have a few 12V PSU's I may try.
The best one I have is a 13.8 v 5 amp CB radio type PSU so should be well smoothed output, 13.8v might be a little high though and i'm not sure of the characteristics of connecting two PSU's in series !!
Until I find a better charger, I will need to use a large 12V battery or I have a few 12V PSU's I may try.
The best one I have is a 13.8 v 5 amp CB radio type PSU so should be well smoothed output, 13.8v might be a little high though and i'm not sure of the characteristics of connecting two PSU's in series !!
by PaulP
Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:54 pm
Its a 100V transformer, thats designed to output a DC voltage just above your robots voltage. In your case that should be about 13V to charge the 10.8V battery
If it survives being plugged in then it will output about 2.2 times the required voltage, about 28V and blow your battery to bits in about 5 mins.
If it survives being plugged in then it will output about 2.2 times the required voltage, about 28V and blow your battery to bits in about 5 mins.
by Orac
Wed Feb 28, 2007 12:18 am
If its a proper regulator inside the charging circuitry then the input voltage shouldn't matter as the regulator IC's are usually built around zener diodes which maintain a constant voltage drop.
The issue would normally be with the bridge rectifier whose diodes may have a max voltage.
This is not a "wall wart" adapter and looks quite well made so I may take it into the garden on an extension tomorrow and check it with a meter. If it all goes wrong then i'll break out the sausages and ribs.
The issue would normally be with the bridge rectifier whose diodes may have a max voltage.
This is not a "wall wart" adapter and looks quite well made so I may take it into the garden on an extension tomorrow and check it with a meter. If it all goes wrong then i'll break out the sausages and ribs.
by PaulP
Wed Feb 28, 2007 1:03 am
Its obviously not the same as the 'chargers' that come with the KHR's etc. My apologies, I seem to remember slashsplat commenting on the charger in one of his building tutorials.
The one that came with mine scared me. If I lived in a country where I could plug it in, I really dont think I would have. It reminded me of something assembled from spares. I think the word is Brobdignagian or something like that. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on a 'Final Destination' sequel.
The one that came with mine scared me. If I lived in a country where I could plug it in, I really dont think I would have. It reminded me of something assembled from spares. I think the word is Brobdignagian or something like that. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on a 'Final Destination' sequel.
