The actual server

[Metro Nomad]

Looks great, Darryl.

A lot of stuff looks better without covers.....

[Hennieb]

Yes MN, like that girl on the beach....

[F.Viljoen]

Darryl, if I can give you some advise regarding the batteries. Make up a tester using a ordinary car flicker or tail bulb (21w) that you solder a length of twinflex to. This two leads you connect to the two leads of a multimeter. Disconnect each battery that you want to test to see if it's still good. Switch the multimeter to DC Volts and connect to the terminals of the battery. Don't bother about polarity. If the battery voltage is below 12.5DcV, you must trickle-charge it first for say 2-3hrs. If the voltage is above 12.5DcV proceed by holding the testleads to the battery. You will notice that the voltage starts to decrease. If the voltage falls with say 0.3 to 0.7 volts within 30 seconds, but then stay constant for another 30 seconds without dropping anymore, the battery is in very good condition. If it keeps on dropping the whole time in 60 seconds, it is on it's way. The same goes if you battle to get the voltage higher than 12.4 when charging

[fugglefeet]

Frans,

Thanks for that tip. Access to the batteries can be done and I think I must do that at some stage to see the condition of the batteries. I am just a bit worried that I will have to travel to the end of the earth (like the bushman in The Gods must be Crazy) to get replacement batteries.

Darryl

[F.Viljoen]

Is it ordinary 12vDC 7.2Ah batteries?

[fugglefeet]

Hi Frans,

Straight out of the manual (fortunately I got all of the necessaries when I bought it at the pawn broker) on the disk that came with it:-

6 x 12V - 7 Ah,
sealed lead acid,
maintenance free

So my luck is in.

Darryl

[F.Viljoen]

Those batteries (7.2Ah) are the same they use in Burglar alarm systems and Electric fence energizers etc. The going rate is about R200.00 a piece at Battery Centre. Shout if I must do some shopping.

[fugglefeet]

Hmmmm.....

Pondering if I shouldn't replace them with 9Ah units when the old ones fail? Any suggestions?

Darryl

[F.Viljoen]

Dimensions to fit in the cabinet first, unless they can stand outside. Price will def be higher. Charging circuitry output will do, unless you start getting lots of blackouts. Then they can't get fully charge in the same time frame as the 7.2's

[fugglefeet]

Hmmmm......

Then it's probably best to stick to OEM spec.

Darryl