Does anyone know about ARK Portable battery boxes and where to buy them

[Corey]

Hey Brett, one more question.
The manual states that my AGM style battery should be pumping out around 14.1V or so, but the LED panel only shows 12.6V at full charge.
I hope there is nothing wrong with my battery, but I will drag out my meter later to also test the voltage.

 

[Ed B]

When I installed my battery the read out indicated 12.8 V and 100%. I plugged it in to 110 and it showed 68%. In 3 hours it showed 13.4V and 100%. It has been in float mode since.

 

[Corey]

I will check mine again when I get home from work as it has been plugged in and the LCD left on since yesterday.

 

[wallrats]

Hey Brett, one more question.
The manual states that my AGM style battery should be pumping out around 14.1V or so, but the LED panel only shows 12.6V at full charge.
I hope there is nothing wrong with my battery, but I will drag out my meter later to also test the voltage.

I think it go up to 14.1v during boost charging then when charged it goes to about 12.6v once charged. Have to check mine and let you know. I think the manual also say this.

 

[mhiscox]

I think it go up to 14.1v during boost charging then when charged it goes to about 12.6v once charged. Have to check mine and let you know. I think the manual also say this.

I agree. The fully charged battery will be between 12.6 and 12.8 volts. You can get a good reading on this only after the battery has lost its "surface charge," which is an unevenness in the concentration of the electrolyte. To remove the surface charge, let it sit for at least four hours to allow for the surface charge to dissipate. (Or, if you have a battery load tester, apply half the CCA rating for fifteen seconds and then wait 5-10 minutes.)

You'll routinely find voltages all over the place when the battery is charging: in the low to mid 14s during the bulk charge phase, in the mid 13s for the float phase, and the 12s when sitting. You'll also get all kinds of different voltages when you have a load on the battery . . . hook a big inverter to it and turn on a microwave or resistance heater and you can see voltages in the high 10s. (As an aside, big fast discharges will reduce the amount of capacity available. Discharge a 100 AH battery for an hour at 50 amps and you'll have considerably less than half the capacity left. You can find the science on the internet.)

The point being that if the ArkPak battery is, say, hooked up to the car or mains charger and has some loads attached, don't pay too much attention to the panel voltage reading if it's not something in the 12s. Try to get a charge back on it before it hits the 11s; 12.0 volts is about 75% discharged.

 

[Corey]

Thanks guy's, have not noticed mine in boost cycle yet.
Only testing and discharge.

 

[Brett From Ark]

Hey Brett, one more question.
The manual states that my AGM style battery should be pumping out around 14.1V or so, but the LED panel only shows 12.6V at full charge.
I hope there is nothing wrong with my battery, but I will drag out my meter later to also test the voltage.

Hi Corey

you should refer to page 4 of your instruction manual and it should say the below listed comments
14.5v (wet)
14.1v (gel)
14.5v (AGM)
14.9v (Calcium)

these are max voltage the above battery types will reach during a boost cycle not what the resting voltage is resting voltage at 100% charge should be anywhere from 12.5v to 12.8v depending on the battery type.
there is nothing wrong with your battery at all.

if you want more info please ask.

Best Regards

Brett From Ark

 

[Brett From Ark]

When I installed my battery the read out indicated 12.8 V and 100%. I plugged it in to 110 and it showed 68%. In 3 hours it showed 13.4V and 100%. It has been in float mode since.

Hi Ed B

that means your battery is at fully charge and is in float cycle designed to provide costant power at 13.2v this prolongs the battery life please refer to page 3 of your user instruction booklet stage 6 is the one your battery is at

any more questions please ask.

best Regards

Brett From Ark

 

[Brett From Ark]

I think it go up to 14.1v during boost charging then when charged it goes to about 12.6v once charged. Have to check mine and let you know. I think the manual also say this.

Hi Wallrats

great reply and just to expand on it if your unit peaks at 14.1 volts in the boost cycle which is stage 4, this means you have a gel battery in it and when fully charged at 100% should read approx 12.5v to 12.8v

if you have any more questions please ask

Best Regards

Brett From Ark

 

[Brett From Ark]

I agree. The fully charged battery will be between 12.6 and 12.8 volts. You can get a good reading on this only after the battery has lost its "surface charge," which is an unevenness in the concentration of the electrolyte. To remove the surface charge, let it sit for at least four hours to allow for the surface charge to dissipate. (Or, if you have a battery load tester, apply half the CCA rating for fifteen seconds and then wait 5-10 minutes.)

You'll routinely find voltages all over the place when the battery is charging: in the low to mid 14s during the bulk charge phase, in the mid 13s for the float phase, and the 12s when sitting. You'll also get all kinds of different voltages when you have a load on the battery . . . hook a big inverter to it and turn on a microwave or resistance heater and you can see voltages in the high 10s. (As an aside, big fast discharges will reduce the amount of capacity available. Discharge a 100 AH battery for an hour at 50 amps and you'll have considerably less than half the capacity left. You can find the science on the internet.)

The point being that if the ArkPak battery is, say, hooked up to the car or mains charger and has some loads attached, don't pay too much attention to the panel voltage reading if it's not something in the 12s. Try to get a charge back on it before it hits the 11s; 12.0 volts is about 75% discharged.

Hi Mike

thanks for your insight great reply, these are all great questions please keep them coming, it is also good to see others giving there 1st hand experiences and sharing them with others

Best regards

Brett From Ark

 

[Brett From Ark]

Thanks guy's, have not noticed mine in boost cycle yet.
Only testing and discharge.

Hi Corey

boost cycle is stage 4 of the charging cycle, please refer to page 3 of the instruction manual for some more info, it does not come up straight away.
what you can do to make the charge cycle come up is listed below.

1st- have the Ark Pak disconnected from mains power, then turn the Ark Pak on like you normally would and go thru the start up process, once this is done and you are viewing the live voltage read and battery % on the LCD screen, also in the bottom left hand corner of the LCD screen it will say either discharge cycle or testing cycle.

2nd- press and hold the button on the extreme right hand side below the lcd screen it is the on/off button and is also and info screen hold this button down for no more the 1 to 1.5 seconds then let it go it should bring up some additional battery info, this will be displayed for about 30 seconds or so.

3rd- once the screen flicks back to the 1st screen you were viewing plug the mains power into the ark pak it should then take about 30 to 45 seconds and it will flick into a charge cycle depending on where the battery charge is at will depend on what stage the charge cycle will begin.

if you have anymore questions please ask

Best Regards

Brett From Ark

 

[Corey]

Thanks again Brett for the info.

 

[jeeps4fun]

This may be a long shot, but if I have a fairly depleted Optima blue top that's been sitting a while, can I use the ArkPak to put a good charge back on it and then just put it on a Maintainer? This won't be the battery I use in the ark, but instead was in my crawler and is like to have a good battery back in it.

 

[Brett From Ark]

This may be a long shot, but if I have a fairly depleted Optima blue top that's been sitting a while, can I use the ArkPak to put a good charge back on it and then just put it on a Maintainer? This won't be the battery I use in the ark, but instead was in my crawler and is like to have a good battery back in it.

Hi Jeeps4fun

yes you could do this the only thing you would need to do is change the settings when you start the Ark Pak up, you would need to tell the Ark Pak you have installed a new battery and confirm its battery type and AMP hour ratting once this is done the Ark Pak will go into a testing cycle to confirm the battery volts and the percentage of charge left in the battery once this is done it will then begin the charge process and advise how many hours left until the battery reaches full charge.

also if the battery fails to reach 12.8v with in 25 hours an alarm will sound saying alarm check battery this is telling you that your battery does not have the capacity to reach 12.8v and you may have faulty cell in the battery or it could be heavily sulphated.

Best Regards

Brett From Ark

 

[Corey]

Brett, saw my first error about 10 minutes ago milling around here before work.
The LCD screen was blank except for "Alarm, check battery."

Turned off the screen which only took one second instead of the normal 4 or 5 seconds, unplugged the charger, then turned the LCD back on again.
Selected the battery type, etc, then plugged in the charger again.

Says it is in discharge cycle, 12.5V (not 12.6 like normal) and 100% charged.

Battery toast?