Lithium battery for a ball machine

[retrograde]

Originally Posted by IdrinkYourMilkshake

It's a standard 12v automotive relay, 2 of the them, something like this.

In this picture you can see them in the lower right. The way it's wired is, start at the big rocker power switch on the panel, it controls two circuits when switched and just run wires off those connections. I made a wiring harness of sorts with plugs so it could be removed and put back to factory specs. The relays just do exactly what that big rocker switch does and the switch on the panel still works too.

Looks like TT didn't like that relay link but I figured out it was pointing to the bay and fixed the link ... they were 12VDC 30A Tyco 5-pin automotive SPDT relays, part number V23234-A1001-X036.

Great photo. I can see the relays on the right and the remote board on the left plus your orange wires.

Can you tell me what happens when the big rocker is flipped on and what the silver toggle switch does when it's flipped on? I'm trying to figure out how you get your 4 functions:

Motors on/off, Ball Feed on/off, Oscillate on/off, One-shot ball feed

I'm guessing turning on the big rocker causes motors to go on and ball feed to go on (the two circuits you mentioned?). If yes, did you wire the remote relays in series or in parallel with the rocker? In other words, does the rocker need to be turned on for the remote to work (series connection) or can the remote and rocker work independent of each other (parallel connection).

Similar question for Oscillate ... did you wire the remote's relay in series or in parallel with the Sweep toggle switch? In other words, for the remote to control oscillate, does the Sweep toggle switch also need to be flipped on?

[IdrinkYourMilkshake]

Originally Posted by retrograde

Looks like TT didn't like that relay link but I figured out it was pointing to the bay and fixed the link ... they were 12VDC 30A Tyco 5-pin automotive SPDT relays, part number V23234-A1001-X036.

Great photo. I can see the relays on the right and the remote board on the left plus your orange wires.

Can you tell me what happens when the big rocker is flipped on and what the silver toggle switch does when it's flipped on? I'm trying to figure out how you get your 4 functions:

Motors on/off, Ball Feed on/off, Oscillate on/off, One-shot ball feed

I'm guessing turning on the big rocker causes motors to go on and ball feed to go on (the two circuits you mentioned?). If yes, did you wire the remote relays in series or in parallel with the rocker? In other words, does the rocker need to be turned on for the remote to work (series connection) or can the remote and rocker work independent of each other (parallel connection).

Similar question for Oscillate ... did you wire the remote's relay in series or in parallel with the Sweep toggle switch? In other words, for the remote to control oscillate, does the Sweep toggle switch also need to be flipped on?

On the big rocker, one of the circuits has large gauge wires, presumably for the motors. The other circuit is definitely lower amp draw, with small gauge to power the rest of the board. I'm sure it didn't need a large relay on the one circuit, but I went with it. You can follow the orange wire around to a relay from the remote board terminal, that controls the solenoid for the relays, the second black relay has 2 solenoid wires from that point, so they both turn on at the same time. That's why a couple wires appear to tie the two relays together. They both turn on simultaneously and connect the two circuits the same way the rocker is wired, but two separate isolated circuits. This leaves the rocker alone to work by itself if need be.
This picture was taken last summer and predates anything done today. I found out I had a bad optical sensor for my one shot ball feed, so I didn't get that put in, but it's very possible. The sensor is a kit from Velleman or you can google optical relay for some other 12v sensor. I was going to use an optical sensor because I don't have confidence in a switch holding up long term to getting whacked every time a ball drops into the ramp.
The 12v remote board relays just interrupt one of the wires running to the ball hopper motor and oscillate motor. This picture doesn't show that. Very straightforward. Series connections for everything.

[IdrinkYourMilkshake]

Forgot to answer, yes the oscillate switch must be kept on to allow the remote to turn it on. The other silver switch upside down in the picture on the right of the panel with orange wires is power to the remote box. Turn that off to store the machine, there is some power drawn for the remote receiver box.

[kopfan]

Newer LiFePO4 battery, those designed as a direct replacement can charge with SLA smart charger. Size of the battery should fall in the spec within a 12v 18/20ah. If they fall within the same capacity, they should have the same usage time. No? For long run, LiFePO4 seem to hold it max charge better which eventually will outperform SLA. Since LiFePO4 do not sulphate like SLA, these battery do not need to tinker charging all the time. Just top up once a week or before court time should be good enough to maintain the life span. Unless you want to reduce the battery weight, it seem like SLA is still more economical at this time. I wanted to reduce my machine weight and had been researching on LiFePO4 but the cost about $270 seem too much compared to SLA $65.

[retrograde]

Originally Posted by IdrinkYourMilkshake

Forgot to answer, yes the oscillate switch must be kept on to allow the remote to turn it on. The other silver switch upside down in the picture on the right of the panel with orange wires is power to the remote box. Turn that off to store the machine, there is some power drawn for the remote receiver box.

Just catching up. As far as silver toggle switches go ... I think there is an original one to control sweep (on the control panel) and one you added to cut power to the remote that is mounted on the bracket that the two relays are mounted to. Did I get that right?

[IdrinkYourMilkshake]

Originally Posted by retrograde

Just catching up. As far as silver toggle switches go ... I think there is an original one to control sweep (on the control panel) and one you added to cut power to the remote that is mounted on the bracket that the two relays are mounted to. Did I get that right?

Not on the bracket inside, but on the panel also. It can be partially seen on the right side of the plastic panel piece, but it's upside down with two orange wires coming out. It's effectively the on/off for the entire system.