Misc: Charging Systems Which PODtronics for my Alton

timetraveller

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Yes, it asked me twice to identify pictures containing boats before it would show me the product. Perhaps the 'Trump' thought police do not want any of that European socialist influence creeping into the States. I could not tell from the photos as to whether this is a waterproof connector.
 

bmetcalf

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If you want one, I can help, PM me. NAPA probably doesn't want to deal with potential international lost shipping claims in these times. Also, it looks like on that page they are not available to NAPA for anyone. I'll inquire on Monday to see if they are available from the manufacturer.

I wouldn't say they are waterproof. After connecting the wires in the setscrew terminals, I pack the boot with silicon seal as I slide it over the connector half. At the joint between the halves, submersion could short it, but then you have bigger troubles than a short!
 

Comet Rider

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The connector Bruce refers to is commonly known as an SAE connector, widely used with solar panels etc.
You can get Chinese ones, but the quality is not good
 

LoneStar

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Not keen to sell to me in Switzerland it seems.

Very irritating to encounter this. We in the US get the same treatment from VMCC, which advertises its spares in MPH but refuses to ship to US or Canada. This may be from fear of product liability suits, yet the concern doesn't deter most other suppliers.
 

Martyn Goodwin

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Oddly I am told that:
The owner of this website (www.napaonline.com) has banned the country or region your IP address is in (CH) from accessing this website.
Not keen to sell to me in Switzerland it seems.
This is what is on the web page. Any decent auto parts store should have something like it.

Martyn
Screen Shot 01-02-21 at 09.41 AM.PNG
 

vibrac

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Very irritating to encounter this. We in the US get the same treatment from VMCC, which advertises its spares in MPH but refuses to ship to US or Canada. This may be from fear of product liability suits, yet the concern doesn't deter most other suppliers.
Blame the US lawyers and ambulance chasers, its getting as bad in the UK some say the worse thing Maggie Thatcher did was the pole tax, I say it was letting lawyers advertise, they were only allowed a brass plate at their office before, what a sensible idea.
 

TouringGodet

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Bill Easter's test rig panned out, my Alton is not producing output. I suspect the internal drive mechanism has failed.

Here is a picture of the test rig, but that is not my Alton in the test rig, it is actually one of the prototype Altons, that we put in to make sure the meter was working. I will purchase a new Alton, and with the included PODtronics, hopefully solve the leakage that drains the battery as well.

IMG_3024.JPG
 

TouringGodet

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Info from Paul Hamon, there have been 5 generations of Altons.

1st gen 1996-1998 prototypes and pre-production
2nd gen 1999-2004 big ferrite magnets, planetary gear, steel body, late ones alloy body
3rd gen 2004-2006 multiplication gears, three phase, neodymium magnets
4th gen 2006-2008 multiplication gears, single phase, new neodymium magnets
5th gen 2009- full redesign direct drive, no gears inside


In the first picture, the one on the left is a 3 phase 3rd gen. The one on the right is a 5th gen. In the second picture, the top one is 3rd gen, bottom is 5th gen. The 3rd gen is about 1.5" longer than the 5th gen.
IMG_3028.JPG
IMG_3029.JPG
 
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