Go Back   The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums > Technical Help Forum
Register FAQ Image Gallery Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read
Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 21st April 2015, 00:41   #1
Abott10
*
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 227
Thanks: 1,275
Thanked 1,917 Times in 1,328 Posts
Thumbs up My old Crypton Battery Charger ~ Risen like the Phoenix ...

I had popped out when MarinaBrian called last week. He spotted my old battery charger in pieces out in the sunshine to dry after I had painted it to freshen up that half a century of fading paint. He mentioned this on the "WIDWM R75/ZT Today" thread..

After fifty years of regular use, the slide switch from 6volts to 12volts had started to play up and the Charger would sometimes turn off before the charge was complete. Fiddling with the slide switch usually got it going again but not always reliably. When working well it is a superb battery charger and at least worth trying to restore to good health for that reason.

Removing the casing revealed the problem. The 12 volt wire to the slide switch had become detached and so contact was not always good. Old age simple as that. Imagine my delight when searching ebay that a near identical slide switch was available for a total of £1.47p posted ! Even all the dimensions were identical including the position of the mounting holes.

It arrived a couple of days ago and an hour with the soldering iron saw the various wires reconnected to the new switch. Before replacing the top cover, I decided to give a brief test to see if my work had been worth while. It had ~ see first image working perfectly.

I allowed the test to last for a while and it had not turned itself off. Now reassembled, ready for another half century of reliable use...

I like little jobs like this. Get lots of pleasure from it. Getting things going again and in good health in this throw away world of today. Be they an old Battery Charger or an old Rover or MG most folks would throw away at the first sign of something wrong needing a few quid spent...

The second image shows the "before" state of the Charger. The third all back together after reassembly. Just need a nice pair of curved crocodile clips to replace the old worn out ones and the job's a good 'n..
Abott10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st April 2015, 07:46   #2
Gino
Gets stuck in
 
Gino's Avatar
 
Rover 75 Tourer

Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Newmarket
Posts: 601
Thanks: 384
Thanked 130 Times in 99 Posts
Default

Well done, it looks really good. I often find old tools are superior to the new versions.
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

MODS DONE;

plenum spyhole, bonnet cable divider block (previous owner), chrome wing mirror covers, gold fan resistor (previous owner), s/s bumper bolts, uprated under tray fittings
silicone intercooler hose, Viton O rings, Crofts door finishers, boot badge, wood dash, Phil-t4's magic wand, wood wheel, mk2 repeaters, HK tweeters & Angel eye projectors.
Gino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st April 2015, 20:38   #3
boater
Avid contributor
 
Rover 75 Saloon

Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Rotherham
Posts: 232
Thanks: 107
Thanked 73 Times in 46 Posts
Default

I too have a Crypton charger identical to yours (5A 6 or 12 volt) which must be around 50 years old and still works perfectly well.

I did treat myself to a CTEC smart charger around 5 years ago so I can leave it on indefinitely when it suits me and that is a great little unit which will no doubt see me out!
boater is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st April 2015, 21:05   #4
Gemsathome
Loves to post
 
Gemsathome's Avatar
 
MG ZT-T

Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Staines
Posts: 433
Thanks: 138
Thanked 105 Times in 89 Posts
Default

A man after my own heart, I love fixing old stuff where possible, swmbo gets quite irritated by the amount of time I can spend tinkering
Gemsathome is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21st April 2015, 21:33   #5
HarryM1BYT
This is my second home
 
HarryM1BYT's Avatar
 
75 Contemporary SE Mk II 2004 Man. Sal. CDTi 135ps, FBH on red diesel, WinCE6 DD

Join Date: May 2010
Location: Leeds
Posts: 17,273
Thanks: 2,160
Thanked 2,061 Times in 1,586 Posts
Default

Well done on getting it sorted, its a very satisfying thing to do - irrespective of the effort put into it.

I disposed of all of my uncontrolled chargers long ago, or converted them to controlled ones if they were worthy of the effort.

You can convert many of them with just a voltage comparator and a relay which trips open at a pre set voltage.
__________________
Harry

How To's and items I offer for free, or just to cover the cost of my expenses...

http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...40#post1764540

Fix a poor handbrake; DIY ABS diagnostic unit; Loan of the spanner needed to change the CDT belts; free OBD diagnostics +MAF; Correct Bosch MAF cheap; DVB-T install in an ex-hi-line system; DD install with a HK amp; FBH servicing.

I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.
HarryM1BYT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2015, 09:06   #6
hogweed
I really should get out more.......
 
Vauxhall Insignia CDTi; MG TF 135

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 2,942
Thanks: 942
Thanked 378 Times in 297 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MGJohn View Post
I had popped out when MarinaBrian called last week.
Marinabrian was in Gloucester??? D’Oh! I could have had a spare key…

Quote:
Originally Posted by MGJohn View Post
I like little jobs like this. Get lots of pleasure from it. Getting things going again and in good health in this throw away world of today.
Couldn't agree more. I’ll never forget when my Black & Decker jigsaw suddenly stopped working, just out of warranty. In fairness to B&D, I WAS using it to saw pallets up for my woodburner, which probably wasn’t its primary intended purpose.

Naturally, I took it to bits, and discovered that a pin on a cog wheel had sheared – all it needed was a new wheel/pin. I trotted off down to the B&D shop (they had their own, back then) in my shiny red Astra GSI 16V – how times, and I, have changed – and asked for one:

“Better to buy a refurbished unit, Sir. Year’s warranty and everything. Only £39.99”.

- Thank you SO much for your helpful suggestion, but I’d just like the cog please, as I really don’t believe in just chucking things away – do you supply them?

“Oh, yes Sir, we do”.

- Excellent! I’ll have one of those, please.

“Certainly Sir, That’ll be £39.99…”

Bit like the Monty Python Cheese Shop sketch…
__________________
Past cars: MGB GT; Escort 1300 Sport; Vauxhall VX4/90; Marina Coupe TC; Celica ST (1972); Montego Turbo; Astra GTE 16V; Astra GSI 16V; Golf GTI 16V (Mk II); Sierra XR4x4 Estate; BMW 325i (E30); BMW M3 3.0; BMW M3 3.2 Evo. Left some of the more embarrassing ones out. And about 30 motorbikes.
hogweed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2015, 11:11   #7
marinabrian
 
marinabrian's Avatar
 
MG ZT

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne
Posts: 20,151
Thanks: 3,565
Thanked 10,837 Times in 5,718 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hogweed View Post
Marinabrian was in Gloucester??? D’Oh! I could have had a spare key…


I was on holiday staying in a cottage in English Bicknor.....

Somehow I don't think Mrs Marinabrian would have been too happy if I was off gallivanting doing keys

Brian
marinabrian is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2015, 12:12   #8
hogweed
I really should get out more.......
 
Vauxhall Insignia CDTi; MG TF 135

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 2,942
Thanks: 942
Thanked 378 Times in 297 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by marinabrian View Post
Somehow I don't think Mrs Marinabrian would have been too happy if I was off gallivanting doing keys
Yes, completely unreasonable, these women
__________________
Past cars: MGB GT; Escort 1300 Sport; Vauxhall VX4/90; Marina Coupe TC; Celica ST (1972); Montego Turbo; Astra GTE 16V; Astra GSI 16V; Golf GTI 16V (Mk II); Sierra XR4x4 Estate; BMW 325i (E30); BMW M3 3.0; BMW M3 3.2 Evo. Left some of the more embarrassing ones out. And about 30 motorbikes.
hogweed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2015, 17:48   #9
COLVERT
This is my second home
 
R75 Saloon.

Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: France/or Devon.
Posts: 14,003
Thanks: 3,851
Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts
Default

And there I was thinking my battery charger was REALLY old at 35 years.---
COLVERT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 22nd April 2015, 17:55   #10
hogweed
I really should get out more.......
 
Vauxhall Insignia CDTi; MG TF 135

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 2,942
Thanks: 942
Thanked 378 Times in 297 Posts
Default

I'm still using the socket set I bought in 1972 - some sort of anonymous brand everybody told me not to waste my money on at the time, as it was "cheap ****". A bit like my £16.50 rear parking sensor setup... 4 years and counting...

Oh sorry, I'm not allowed to say ****. Funny, the word has nothing to do with poo... it's from late Middle English for chaff/Middle Dutch "krappe", anything cut off or separated... not the most offensive thing in the world. Hey ho.
__________________
Past cars: MGB GT; Escort 1300 Sport; Vauxhall VX4/90; Marina Coupe TC; Celica ST (1972); Montego Turbo; Astra GTE 16V; Astra GSI 16V; Golf GTI 16V (Mk II); Sierra XR4x4 Estate; BMW 325i (E30); BMW M3 3.0; BMW M3 3.2 Evo. Left some of the more embarrassing ones out. And about 30 motorbikes.

Last edited by hogweed; 22nd April 2015 at 17:58..
hogweed is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 11:55.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright © 2006-2023, The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd