I needed to get this going to get my car running. With the help of Eagle software and their freeware offer, PCB to Gcode I was able to mill the PBC on a CNC mill I got a year and a half ago on CL.



I tested this out, the addition of the trim pot is brilliant! I used a 20 turn 1-100Kohm pot, you can dial the cutoff point pretty much wherever you want it. On bench test it's set to drop at 14.35V and it drops to effectively 0.




This works great. I'm stoked!

 

looks like you used a 100K trim pot (which is correct), not a 100 ohm.
BTW, measure the set point in the car as well. I found that it doesn't always give the same results in the car.

 

Whoops, I dashed off that post last night in a big hurry. I just corrected the photo, if anyone looks this up in the future.

 

now I want to post mine! but I don't have the pictures handy at the moment.

 

Frank, what's the 'disable' pin and the diode all about?

 

to be able to deactivate the circuit below a certain rpm. typically 300 so it's not trying to chrage during cranking.

 

OK, where does it fit into the circuit, ie, what does the diode connect to? It's hard to tell from WestfieldMX5's post.

 

banded side = ground to disable
other side goes to pin 3 of the TL431 (cathode)

 

WestfieldMX5, did you manage to get the boards into production? i would probably be interested in one, seems like i'm not getting mine build on the proto-area to work.
DIYPNP and -99 10AE

 

Actually, I just sent the design out to have them produced. I have no clue how long it will take but I'll update here once they arrive.
I'm having 40 boards made

 

I want one!

 

@WestfieldMX5, Thank you for the circuit, there is a need of trimming and alignment for the circuit but this is certainly worth my time. One thing however, whenever you’re charging batteries, one should always make sure that the power source being utilized is constant current source and the voltage has to be carefully adjusted so that the battery being charged doesn’t draw more current than the ratings. I believe that was the issue which has been addressed but there is also a need to avoid such issues altogether by a bit of care. The circuit for the alternator is all good. Reverse protection between power and ground will be a plus in this circuit which I’ll try to edit and upload.

printed circuit board

 

Well, it's taken some time, but the boards have finally arrived. Will try to test one out tonight.

 

They look great. I'm in for two. I'll PM you.

Edit: well, looks like I don't have enough posts to PM you. PM me.

 

Great. Please PM me with your e-mail, i'll take one.

 

clever way to print, they cut easily?

 

haven't tried yet. They wouldn't let me use rows with lots of holes. If needed I'll use the table saw

 

Tested and working fine.

Price for a bare board is $12 each + $4 shipping up to 4 boards
In europe: 9 euro each and 2 euro shipping up to 4 boards.




Yes, there's a capacitor missing

 

I'll take one, Euro.

Please PM me your details, or e-mail me at Maksim@Petrov.fi

 

your video cuts out before we can see what voltage the output goes to ground at.