Troubleshooting a linear current booster

MostlyHarmless
Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭
Good day, all;
I have a Dankoff DL-8 linear current booster my brother removed from his solar water pumping system (removed because it was not working right). With my basic electronics knowledge, I am trying to troubleshoot and repair it, but am not sure exactly what behavior I should see from it regarding input and output voltage (and current).
From what I understand, the output voltage should remain roughly equal to the input voltage when the input is below the motor voltage. As the input increases, the output voltage should increase, as well, until the motor voltage is reached. After this point, the output voltage should remain relatively steady (12 volts in my case), with the available current increasing.
Is this a correct assumption?
However, I see a one-to-one match between input and output voltages -- when the input voltage is up to 17-18 volts, the output is exactly the same.
Inspecting the board, it appears as if some components (the MOSFET, power transistor, and power rectifier) have overheated at some point. Also, a 15 Amp fuse is used, when the specs call for a max of 10 A (came this way from the installer, according to my brother). Since it appears that an out-of-spec fuse could have cause these components to overheat and fail, I've ordered parts to replace them.
Once I have the components replaced, can anyone provide thoughts as to what testing I can do to check if I've fixed the problem?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers!
I have a Dankoff DL-8 linear current booster my brother removed from his solar water pumping system (removed because it was not working right). With my basic electronics knowledge, I am trying to troubleshoot and repair it, but am not sure exactly what behavior I should see from it regarding input and output voltage (and current).
From what I understand, the output voltage should remain roughly equal to the input voltage when the input is below the motor voltage. As the input increases, the output voltage should increase, as well, until the motor voltage is reached. After this point, the output voltage should remain relatively steady (12 volts in my case), with the available current increasing.
Is this a correct assumption?
However, I see a one-to-one match between input and output voltages -- when the input voltage is up to 17-18 volts, the output is exactly the same.
Inspecting the board, it appears as if some components (the MOSFET, power transistor, and power rectifier) have overheated at some point. Also, a 15 Amp fuse is used, when the specs call for a max of 10 A (came this way from the installer, according to my brother). Since it appears that an out-of-spec fuse could have cause these components to overheat and fail, I've ordered parts to replace them.
Once I have the components replaced, can anyone provide thoughts as to what testing I can do to check if I've fixed the problem?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers!
Comments
-
Mostly Harmless,
Did you flag your post to be deleted--Or was it an accident?
-Bill "moderator" B.Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset -
Generally, it is just a modified buck converter. It outputs as much voltage as it can until it draws as much current from the panel till the panel voltage drops to a fixed voltage. Some limit the upper voltage. A diode has to be across the motor and it has to be a high speed type. Look for a possible short. Check the FET for resistance between the two outside pins. This is gate to source and usually when the FET is bad it will be low ohms, less than 100. These sound impressive and expensive, but are pretty simple.
-
For testing, you could use a 12V power supply current limited to 1A as the input and a 2 ohm power resistor on the output. You should see the input voltage remain at 12V and output voltage drop to 4 point something.
I am available for custom hardware/firmware development
-
Nope, I didn't do any flagging... must have clicked on something wrong.
-
No problem... The discussion (thread) is up and running.-BillNear San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
-
Thanks for the inputs, folks! Good stuff, here.
Categories
- All Categories
- 224 Forum & Website
- 132 Solar Forum News and Announcements
- 1.3K Solar News, Reviews, & Product Announcements
- 196 Solar Information links & sources, event announcements
- 893 Solar Product Reviews & Opinions
- 255 Solar Skeptics, Hype, & Scams Corner
- 22.4K Solar Electric Power, Wind Power & Balance of System
- 3.5K General Solar Power Topics
- 6.7K Solar Beginners Corner
- 1K PV Installers Forum - NEC, Wiring, Installation
- 2.1K Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum
- 5.5K Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems
- 427 Caravan, Recreational Vehicle, and Marine Power Systems
- 1.1K Grid Tie and Grid Interactive Systems
- 652 Solar Water Pumping
- 815 Wind Power Generation
- 624 Energy Use & Conservation
- 616 Discussion Forums/Café
- 309 In the Weeds--Member's Choice
- 75 Construction
- 124 New Battery Technologies
- 108 Old Battery Tech Discussions
- 3.8K Solar News - Automatic Feed
- 3.8K Solar Energy News RSS Feed