What would you like in a Battery Swapper?

[Bit's-n-Bytes]

@ All. I am in the development of a battery swapper and getting close to finalizing the design. I am requesting your input to help make this a real nice product. You may have seen the prototype version on my youtube channel, "MachineOfTime1", if not please take a look. I am solicting your ideas to make sure this product is very useful and fulfills most configurations. In my design so far, I have LCD readout, Terminal monitoring / logging, ability to swap 4 battery's in and out of the load without load interruption, switching a charger on, Auto charge and Manual Charge selections.

Please let me know your thought's

Thanks
Jeff

[theremart]

Battery Swapper.

@ All. I am in the development of a battery swapper and getting close to finalizing the design. I am requesting your input to help make this a real nice product. You may have seen the prototype version on my youtube channel, "MachineOfTime1", if not please take a look. I am solicting your ideas to make sure this product is very useful and fulfills most configurations. In my design so far, I have LCD readout, Terminal monitoring / logging, ability to swap 4 battery's in and out of the load without load interruption, switching a charger on, Auto charge and Manual Charge selections.

Please let me know your thought's

Thanks
Jeff

Hi Bits,

I have made 2 types of battery swappers, but if I was looking for a commercial version like what you are setting out to do I suggest the following->


1. Ability to select how many batteries.

I see in the version you have developed you have 4 batteries, I have programmed mine to use either 4 or 2 batteries as I need to swap to have the option to switch between these modes would be most helpful.


2. Color code the wires / number them.

I found when you have 8 wires they can get mixed up very quickly having them all clearly labeled would be a bonus.

3. Look at the orbit water sprinkler for an ideas.

It runs on 2 AA batteries and can turn the water control off and on, what I love about it is the simplicity of the design, you rotate a knob to change the different functions as start time and end time, the simpler the better.

I found in my experience, a set duration of time between the swaps was the way to go, but I noticed that you are sensing voltage as well, I guess giving the option of either sensing voltage or time may be a plus.


4. Determine your market.

Are you targeting Bedini fans with tesla switch chargers? Then I suggest you team up with Rick / Bedini or this board to sell a package of a working tesla switch with your package deal. Just a thought...

Another market would be those who recondition batteries, in a sense your device has the potential to do what the Renaissance charger does, with any charger setup. Perhaps not as big of setup but just a thought.


5. Standard on bigger solar chargers is a temp probe might work that in as a factor on swapping, just a thought.


6. Voltage cut off. Perhaps have an LED that would blink when a batter gets below a threshold. or a set of 3 leds that would indicate power of each battery attached in a given range.



From what I have seen in your videos, if you have a self sustaining system with the Tesla switch, then your battery swapper is the next logical progression that is needed. The selling point would be if your could run the setup for months at a time.


The next market would be conditioning of batteries, steadily improving them by continual cycling with radiant type charging. I have seen batteries improve as well with standard trickle charging so that also may be an option.


Sorry, I already have 3 of these devices, but I might of bought one had it been available before I started making mine :-)


The next improvements I was trying to make in my system was to use AA batteries ( rechargeable ) with solar to power it, ambient light should do it. Then use latching relays for the swapping part. Should not need any outside power.

Mart

[Bit's-n-Bytes]

Hi Bits,

I have made 2 types of battery swappers, but if I was looking for a commercial version like what you are setting out to do I suggest the following->


1. Ability to select how many batteries.

I see in the version you have developed you have 4 batteries, I have programmed mine to use either 4 or 2 batteries as I need to swap to have the option to switch between these modes would be most helpful.


2. Color code the wires / number them.

I found when you have 8 wires they can get mixed up very quickly having them all clearly labeled would be a bonus.

3. Look at the orbit water sprinkler for an ideas.

It runs on 2 AA batteries and can turn the water control off and on, what I love about it is the simplicity of the design, you rotate a knob to change the different functions as start time and end time, the simpler the better.

I found in my experience, a set duration of time between the swaps was the way to go, but I noticed that you are sensing voltage as well, I guess giving the option of either sensing voltage or time may be a plus.


4. Determine your market.

Are you targeting Bedini fans with tesla switch chargers? Then I suggest you team up with Rick / Bedini or this board to sell a package of a working tesla switch with your package deal. Just a thought...

Another market would be those who recondition batteries, in a sense your device has the potential to do what the Renaissance charger does, with any charger setup. Perhaps not as big of setup but just a thought.


5. Standard on bigger solar chargers is a temp probe might work that in as a factor on swapping, just a thought.


6. Voltage cut off. Perhaps have an LED that would blink when a batter gets below a threshold. or a set of 3 leds that would indicate power of each battery attached in a given range.



From what I have seen in your videos, if you have a self sustaining system with the Tesla switch, then your battery swapper is the next logical progression that is needed. The selling point would be if your could run the setup for months at a time.


The next market would be conditioning of batteries, steadily improving them by continual cycling with radiant type charging. I have seen batteries improve as well with standard trickle charging so that also may be an option.


Sorry, I already have 3 of these devices, but I might of bought one had it been available before I started making mine :-)


The next improvements I was trying to make in my system was to use AA batteries ( rechargeable ) with solar to power it, ambient light should do it. Then use latching relays for the swapping part. Should not need any outside power.

Mart

Mart thanks for the feedback, never thought about the time to swap vs potential swap. Will see if I can code this in. I am teaming up with Rick on this device, but want to make sure this device gives everyone what they want.

Thanks again

Jeff

[ewizard]

Sounds great so far and with a 48 volt inverter it would be real world useful for me if it can handle the current of deep cycle or car batteries and the like.

[theremart]

Another idea just hit me...

One of the problems I have with my solar charger is the size of my battery bank I do not often get all of the batteries up to the stage that they are getting the pulse charge / equalization charge they need to keep them in tip top shape as the bank is large.


What if you had 3 different connections to this same bank with your battery swapper that would break down the charge into smaller bytes or bits LOL :-)

One could cylce thru the battery bank and hit it at different points to get a more equal charge on the bank..

I have been moving the cables manually, but this might be an option...