Toggle switch switching time

Yes, i am thinking about using mercury switches for lock box door. When the user flip up the door to access the function switch, it should disconnect the power source first.

Also got couple of ex-soviet military surplus heavy duty 16P2T switches. But probably hard to find any more. It can switch 8 independent power sources upto 3A.

Ex-soviet is good for something.

I don't know why I expected an explanation, but, I'll try again.

What does that have to do with shorting the battery???

Switch 8 48V cells into 384V.

They are in different capacities and state of charge, and total voltage vary between 384V and 408V. Changing voltage allows them to discharge deeper. It's deeper cycle batteries.

I thought I did. They are in different capacities and can't just permanently be in series.

Why do you need switches? Just wire them in series.

So, what are you really trying to do?

Firstly, my cells are between 100 to 2000 Whr, 12V and 16V. Eventually, they should all be 2000, but I don't have enough yet. I only have 3 16V 2000Wh cells so far. Eventually, there will be 24 16V 2000Wh. Until then, I mix them with groups of 12V 100 and 200 Whr cells. So, I need to switch the lower capacities in and out of the chain. Right now, i am doing it manually and trip the circuit breaker often. No big deal, but toggle switches should minimize chance of mismatches.

Secondly, I switch a 12V cell between the 12V and 384V chains. During charging, the 12V cell is charged separately. After couple of miles of driving, the 12V cell is switch back into the 384V chain. This way, the expansion cells are cycled deeper than the main battery.

Thirdly, there are other prototype configurations. I guess I am driving my prototype lab around all the time.

Wow, 43 posts on the subject, mostly speculation.

Doesn't anybody have a switch and an oscilloscope?

I don't have a scope handy.

I can send you the switch and you can tell us with your scope.

We want to know switching time for 12V and 16V.

The little LCD scopes from ebay or amazon are pretty good, around $30. You could get one of those for about what it would cost to ship me a switch.

Then you would have a scope.

OK, i'll try it. I also sent a request to the manufacturer to do it. Let see if they will response.

..................SW1

----384Vchain----O-->O---+--chain continued .........................|Z .................O--12V--+

Ignore the periods - they are just placeholders to make the ASCII spacing right.

Ok - that prevents shorting. If you need to totally isolate the 12V from the chain, replace the connection next to Z with another switch or a second set of contacts.

Using ASCII, draw what ever issue that leaves unsolved. Trying to follow the concept you have in mind without a schematic has apparently caused confusion.

Ed

Yes, that's why I need a 4PDT or more switch. The 12V cell needs to be isolated from 384V and attached to another 12V source. The 12V gap of 384V also need to be shorted.

The drive powers are out, but the target 384V is still on all the time

When I test relays I arrange for the scope to show three levels: closed one side, floating mid-air, then closed on the other side.

Ok, so is this what you want?:

...............SW1 4PDT ..............0.....0< wire shorts these 2 terminals

-384Vchain---0.....0----384Vchain continued ..............0.....0 ..............|.....| ..............+-12V-+ ..............|.....| ..............0.....0 .............0.....0 <these 2 terminals connect to charger ..............0.....0< no connection

(again, ignore the periods)

Ed

Yes, that's the idea.

I posted an ASCII "schematic" to check what he wanted. Please modify it to show what you have in mind. That will eliminate speculation. As I see it he needs

4 poles.

Ed

Provided the OP's 12V charger can float (a fact that the OP has not indicated, given the low level of detail he has provided so far) then this number of poles accomplish the switch in and out:

-384Vchain----+-----0... ..............|......... ..............|......0-!--384Vchain.continued ..............|........! ..............|.....0..! ..............|.....|..! ..............+-12V-+..! ..............|.....|..!

12V.charger>..0.....0..! .......................! .....................0-!-<12.V.charger

One downside is it will interrupt the 384V chain briefly while toggling.