Topic: M148 Charging Question

[stevetoney]

Simple question for the electrical engineers...

I recently acquired another m148 for the preamp collection.  It won't re-charge.  I've determined the charger to the be problem.

I've also got an m248.  The connector is the same for both preamps. 

The m248 charger transformer is 12v, but the m148 transformer is 16v. 

1) Can I use the m248 charger to re-charge the m148?

2) In anticipation that the answer to 1) is no, can I buy any old 16v wall-wart from rat-shack (or perhaps find one in the stack of wall-warts I have laying around downstairs) and swap the connector?

Thanks!

[OOK]

not sure but doug is a phone call away...

[skaggs]

i second otheronek.  i had a bad charger and it ended up killing the batteries in my 118.  good luck!  glad to know some people still appreciate the bricks. 

[M]

My first instinct said match the voltage and the battery will pull whatever it needs. 

Next I thought that certain batteries charge at different rates (the quick charge come to mind).  The rate of charge here is not only determined by the voltage.

For optimal usage you should probably play it safe and contact the Mfg.

Is the charger that broke generic?

[stevetoney]

Thanks for the reply.  Individual responses provided after each...

My first instinct said match the voltage and the battery will pull whatever it needs. 

That's was my thinking too.

Next I thought that certain batteries charge at different rates (the quick charge come to mind).  The rate of charge here is not only determined by the voltage.

Right...found a site that explains a little about this.  Seems charge rate varies based on voltage, current, and battery type (ni-mh, sla, etc)

For optimal usage you should probably play it safe and contact the Mfg.

True that.  Always the safest option, but just trying to save a few bucks addressing what is probably a simple solution.

Is the charger that broke generic?

Yes and no.  It's generic in the sense that it was made by Ault, Inc. and from what I can tell uses a fairly generic connector.  Not in another sense in that I've searched the web and cannot find a replacement of the same manufacturer and model number as this one.  I think probably the reason is that m148's could be pretty old and it's possible/probable that a specific charger with a specific model number are no longer available.  I've looked for chargers with the same specs and they're available on the web...16v and 40 volt-amps.

Thanks alot for the response!

[sygdwm]

did you ask doug?