Battery charging
Submitted: Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 14:25
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Tony&Tina
Hi guys,I would like to know if it is possible to charge a 12 volt car battery with a 240 volt charger while running a waeco fridge off the battery. The charger is a fully automatic type, ie: it turns itself off when the battery is at full charge and on again when charge goes down. We will be staying in a powered
camp park for a week or so and am wondering if this method of running the fridge will work, or will I have to fork out for the 240v adaptor. Any thoughts appreciated.
Reply By: Member - Bob L - Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 14:52
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 14:52
Hi
No problem, the battery will act as a regulator and smooth out any nasties from the battery charger. Chargers capacity (ie amps) would need to be more than the waeco otherwise it will never catch up.
Caution, keep the 240v charger out of the weather
Cheers
Bob L
AnswerID:
52292
Follow Up By: Brad - Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 16:14
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 16:14
Agree with you Bob, but to clarify thd "daily" charge would have to be greater than the "daily" drain of the Waeco (so a 4 amp charger running 24 hours a day would keep up with the Waeco which might drain 5 - 10 amps for 8 - 10 hrs per day).
Regards,
Brad.
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314103
Reply By: Member Eric - Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 20:09
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 20:09
sorry , this may be a silly question . If you have access to 240 V power , why not just run the Fridge of a 240 adaptor ? If you are asking can you charge the battery in your "CAR" whist the battery terminals are connected . Then your answer is NO . You cannot do this . Unless its a Altinator type charger like the 2 stroke versions that are around . From what I understood as a apprentice M/M. There is a diffrence in the power a altinator produces and to the power converted from AC to DC . We were always made to disconnect battery terminals to stop damage to Altinators , Now that vehicles run computers , I wouldnt want to spike one, because your Charger was sending the wrong amps through your electrical system .
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Mick - Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 20:35
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 20:35
I think you need to read the original message again Eric!!!
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Follow Up By: Member Eric - Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 21:27
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 21:27
i got all that , I just never look at having a battery outside a car , never looked at it as a option , acid spils ect
FollowupID:
314122
Follow Up By: Tony&Tina - Monday, Mar 29, 2004 at 08:37
Monday, Mar 29, 2004 at 08:37
Hi Eric, I dont have a 240v adapter and dont want to buy one as I as I doubt I will stay at powered sites in the future. The battery I'll be using is not in the car, its just a spare I've got lying around.Thanks for your comments, Tony.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Tazz - Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 23:23
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004 at 23:23
G'day Tony & Tina,
Its pretty much like Bob L said...if your battery charger puts out 4 amps an hour and your fridge draws 3 amps an hour.......you can run your fridge.
Basic figures...
24 hours charging @ 4 amps pr hour = 96 amps
24 hours fridge running @ 3 amps pr hour = 72 amps
your battery will get a 24 amp charge per 24 hours while you run the fridge, if its a 75 amp battery for example,...after 3-4 days the battery is charged too.
This is theory though...there are diffrent variables...the ampage of your battery...the amps your fridge draws per hour and the amps your charger is putting out while it charges.
You just gotta work that stuff out.
cheers..
AnswerID:
52348
Reply By: ThePublican - Monday, Mar 29, 2004 at 17:17
Monday, Mar 29, 2004 at 17:17
In theory the proposal will work, as long as your charger puts out more amps than the waeco is drawing per hour,,, just do some maths to see if you charger is capable,,most of the cheaper "4 amp " only produce 2amp constant so if the fridge uses more than 2 the system is self defeating,,a flat battery eventually,,also remember that the waeco 240v adaptor pushes out 24v NOT 12v ,,,,I know that our 80lt runs better thru the adaptor [ less on time ] than when on
battery power, 12v, would say at least 1/3 less on time.
AnswerID:
52440