Re: Battery for Glow Plug

PlaidHatter Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:02 pm

The thing about mag lights is that they seem to last forever, lol. But I see where you're going with that, and I dig it. Would be really sweet to retain the portion of the casing with the button and use that for my switch. Youve definitely got my gears turning now. Huh...

**RknRusty** Wed Jul 22, 2015 4:08 pm

PlaidHatter wrote:Ok I was just wondering if 1 D cell would be sufficient enough. Maybe I'll see if I can buy an aluminum tube with a 1.5" ID, that would give me enough room to insulate the inside of it and still look really nice.
One D cell does seem way easier to mount on this station than two D cells side by side.

I like the maglite idea. The glowplugs draw so much current, 2-3 amps, it would be nice to have at least a couple of A/hr capacity with a reserve ready to pop in. Since I've started using MiMH batteries for household uses, I've come to realize how superior they are to alkys. They'll keep a plug lit bright right up until it falls off ready to charge. Just trying not to let them die completely so as not to damage the cells. That 1100mA/hr in your earlier post would have been good for 26 minutes of glow time. About like the clip-on sub-C we use on the bigger stunt engines. The Alkys start losing their mojo from the first use. I used them for years, but have now have seen the light... so to speak.
Rusty

PlaidHatter Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:29 pm

Rusty, they have versions with adjustable voltage too, but with the lowest voltage being 3.3v would this pop the coil inside the glow plug? I would really like to find some way to get one of these batteries to work, since I have a few spare hanging around, one of which is very compact.

**RknRusty** Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:52 pm

PlaidHatter wrote:Rusty, they have versions with adjustable voltage too, but with the lowest voltage being 3.3v would this pop the coil inside the glow plug? I would really like to find some way to get one of these batteries to work, since I have a few spare hanging around, one of which is very compact.

Yeah, 3.3v would fry it in short order. Let me think it over for a while, we may be able to build a voltage divider for it. Don't hold your breath, it's been a long time since I drew up any electronics. I'll tinker on a notepad when I get a chance.
Rusty

gcb Thu Jul 23, 2015 7:49 pm

When using a COX type glow plug clip, the simplest way is to solder the other end of your glow plug clip wire directly to a "D" cell.

I tin (pre solder) the battery ends. When the battery is no longer usable unsolder the clip wire and solder it to another "D" cell.

For "normal" glow plugs I like a NiCd booster that fits directly on the glow plug.

George

**RknRusty** Thu Jul 23, 2015 11:25 pm

Okay Hatter, here's your circuit. Only a couple of bucks from Jameco Electronics. I was restricted by what resistors were available, so that's why I made two in parallel for each half of the divider.

So here is the diagram

Oops, I forgot to put a switch in it. You'll need one to open the circuit or a small current of .18ma will flow out of the battery even when the glow plug is disconnected. IT of .18mA is the unloaded current flow.

The URL for the 20K ohm, 1/4 watt resistors is
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&search_type=all&freeText=20K+ohm+resistor+1%2F4+watt

The URL for the 16K ohm resistors is
http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDrillDownView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&search_type=jamecoall&freeText=16k+ohm+resistor

You should be able to hide those tiny resistors pretty easily. If that's the same 1100 A/hr battery we spoke of earlier, you should get 25 or so minuits of glow time on a full charge. I could re-calculate if you chose a different voltage and/or higher A/hr battery.
Rusty

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