charger with adjust. float voltage???

[Robert Morein]

Are there any chargers that have an adjustment for the float voltage?
The Samlex chargers allow one to select a boost voltage of either 14.3 or
14.9, but the float voltage is fixed at 13.8.

Is 13.8 optimal for both AGM and flooded batteries?

 

[Ken]

Are there any chargers that have an adjustment for the float voltage?
The Samlex chargers allow one to select a boost voltage of
either 14.3 or 14.9, but the float voltage is fixed at 13.8.

Is 13.8 optimal for both AGM and flooded batteries?

Depends on battery temperature.

 

[Robert Morein]

Depends on battery temperature.

Can you recommend a flexible, portable charger for a small bank -- say 220
ah at 12V ?

 

[Steve Spence]

I have a 50 amp charger I took out of a rv, to replace the smart charger I
got from Wal-Mart that took a lightning hit. The Wal-Mart smart chargers are
a 4 step charger that work fine. reasonably priced, will work great on your
pack. My pack is 600 ah at 12v.

--
Steve Spence
Renewable energy and sustainable living
http://www.green-trust.org
Discuss vegetable oil and biodiesel
powered diesels at
http://www.veggievan.org/discuss/

 

[Robert Morein]

Just searched the Walmart website but I couldn't find it.

 

[Steve Spence]

They don't seem to put their automotive section on the web, but in the
store, they are on the same rack as the deep cycle and auto batteries.


--
Steve Spence
Renewable energy and sustainable living
http://www.green-trust.org
Discuss vegetable oil and biodiesel
powered diesels at
http://www.veggievan.org/discuss/

 

[Bob Adkins]

Check with the battery manufacturer.

-- ron (off the grid in Downeast Maine)

I think AGM calls for a tad more, but 13.8 is fine for both. They do fine on
car charging systems.

Bob

 

[Robert Morein]

What objection do you have with checking with the manufacturer, as I
recommended.

Your response that "13.8 is fine" (2.30VPC) is higher than the recommended
float voltage for Surrette LA batteries (2.20-2.23VPC) and also higher than
the recommended float voltage for GNB Absolyte IIP batteries (2.25 VPC).

With the Surrette cells, a three-stage charging process is recommended.

There's probably little problem with using the higher float voltage on the
LA batteries, except water consumption will be higher than it needs to be.
So, especially with smaller cells, that'd have to be checked more often.
Also, having only a single voltage output charger will result in longer
times to recharge than is necessary. This may not be an issue in a backup
system that is used rarely. It may be an issue in an off-grid system that
is regularly cycled to, let us say, 50% DOD or more.

I'm not familiar enough with the GNB construction and chemistry to know
what using the higher float voltage will do, nor do I have data regarding
how they should be recharged.


-- ron (off the grid in Downeast Maine)

Looks like I'll be getting a set of Hawker VM's, and the charging
recommendation is strange indeed.
They seem to mandate a pure single step constant voltage charge without
modes.

 

[William P.N. Smith]

Looks like I'll be getting a set of Hawker VM's, and the charging
recommendation is strange indeed.
They seem to mandate a pure single step constant voltage charge without
modes.

That's not so strange, as their current acceptance rate is a lot
higher than other batteries. Of course, since your supply will have
some intrinsic current limit, you'll end up with what the charging
industry calls a 2-stage charger, constant current at the limit and
than constant voltage at the float voltage.

 

[Robert Morein]

That's not so strange, as their current acceptance rate is a lot
higher than other batteries. Of course, since your supply will have
some intrinsic current limit, you'll end up with what the charging
industry calls a 2-stage charger, constant current at the limit and
than constant voltage at the float voltage.

You're right!
They will charge at 100 amps up till the float voltage!

 

[Bob Adkins]

What objection do you have with checking with the manufacturer, as I
recommended.

You talking to me?

If you're talking to me, I do as I fucking well please. OK?

I just watched "Casino" for the 7th time, and you picked a bad time to get
testy with me.

Bob

 

[no useful info]

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Since I started this thread, I've learned a bit that indicates how critical
AGM batteries can be with respect to float voltage.

my sense of your abilities precludes the concept that you are capable of
learning anything

--
I would never use X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1409
although the anti-semite "Robert Morein" <[email protected]> who
regularly posts in rec.audio.opinion, rec.arts.movies.production.sound,
rec.audio.marketplace, misc.writing.screenplays and delights in forging
posts, does.

 

[Robert Morein]

Cheap chargers have fixed set points.

If you get a Trace inverter, it may have a built-in charger which has
adjustable set points.


-- ron (off the grid in Downeast Maine)

As indeed I have, a Xantrex SW4000.

The Outback MX-60 also has this.

 

[no useful info]

You should be all set then.
-- ron (off the grid in Downeast Maine)

nah, he'll have tons of questions: "how do I connect it to...?"