Battery Discharger?

[Nimbuzz]

I have a number of 36V Nimh and Lipo packs that I sometimes want to discharge for various reasons -- to cycle, measure output with a Drain Brain etc. I am about to hook up banks of 12V auto tail light bulbs 10P, 3S and in series with the DB which I think should work. I know that each 10 bulb parallel string can take at least 7V 35A from RC discharging. I'm checking to see if I'm off base or if anyone knows any better ways. No, I don't want to run my bike with the wheel off the ground -- I don't think that is better than a bulb discharger.

I plan to use three of these in series. I don't want to blow them up
as they are $45 each!
http://www.wsdeans.com/products/discharger/index.html

I see the thread on discharging but it seems to refer to only 12V SLA -- Thus this inquiry.
Thanks for any idears guys,

PS -- Boy, that thread on discharging got into motor/battery/power/PM theory and got my brain spinning faster than a Hammond Organ Leslie speaker on a Doors keyboard. I got down right cornfused! ~^^ * ~` BuRp BlInK
-- Now back to my question please.
Thanks,

[fechter]

The bulbs are cool because they give you a visual indication of the power going through them.

If you're really cheap, you could find a humongous surplus resistor from someplace like http://www.allelectronics.com/matrix/Po ... stors.html
(or use several smaller ones in series/parallel).

At 36v, you might be able to just use an old toaster or hairdryer.

[Eric G]

Hi Nimbuzz
I seem to remember a post somewhere on this board of Ypedal load testing some batts with 200 watt incandesant light bulbs hooked up in parallel,I don't believe the batts were sla either.I'm not 100% sure.

I've used 12 volt 50watt RV light bulbs,they draw around 4.25 amps each,then again that's testing sla and your not looking for that.

Eric

[Eric G]

Ahhhh....it was 4 100watt bulbs in parallel batt discharger,with a NiCad pack.Here's a link to the thread....and a pic of the setup.

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewto ... 57&start=0

Eric

[Nimbuzz]

Cool -- I mean warm -- how long did it take to drain that pack?

Thanks,
Al

[Ypedal]

Yep.. that's the rig..

I currently have 4 x 200w bulbs in it, will discharge at 3 to 4 amps on 36v ! I've picked up 3 more dual-cup sockets to add even more load, bargain bin at Home-Depot for 1.99 $ each, piece of 2x4=free, and a few wires is all it takes.

[Nimbuzz]

Thank you very much Mr Y -- yer da guy! I gues we can add as many bulbs as we want.
Mr A