Could I or should I?
Submitted: Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 12:45
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Shane H9
I have this powertech charger in my camper. Can I or should I keave it on 24/7?
It basicly stops when battery is charged. I can hear the fan spinning and charger wirking harder when battery is low on voktage and then it basicky shuts down when its charged.
So, how woukd you all go about it? Leave it on 24/7, turn it on for a day or 2 now and then? Any ither suggestions?
Its charging a 105ah full river battery.
Charger
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Reply By: HKB Electronics - Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 16:53
Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 16:53
Personnaly I wouldn't leave it turned on 24/7 with a sealed battery, reason being they have limited electrolyte and float voltages can become critical when charged 24/7.
I leave mine on a timer, charger operates for around 30 minutes a day.
Cheers
Leigh
AnswerID:
594702
Reply By: Bushranger1 - Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 17:05
Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 17:05
G'day Shane,
I have that exact charger connected to a 130AH deep cycle battery.
I switch it to the 6amp setting & switch it on once a month to top up the battery. Assuming that there are no loads connected to the battery this works fine for me.
Cheers
Stu
AnswerID:
594703
Reply By: Shane H9 - Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 19:18
Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 19:18
Thanks for the responses guys.
Guess I'll stick to what I've been doing and just flick it on for a few hrs roughly every week or so.
Thanks again...
AnswerID:
594711
Follow Up By: Gronk - Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 22:51
Sunday, Jan 10, 2016 at 22:51
I would flick it on for a full day every month or so.
Many different ways to do the same thing, but the charger doesn't turn off after charging the battery, it merely goes into float mode.
FollowupID:
863275
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Jan 11, 2016 at 07:10
Monday, Jan 11, 2016 at 07:10
If the battery is in good condition, a charge once a month should be all that you need.
A multi-stage charger should quickly determine the current stage of charge and change into whatever mode is required. If the battery is in good condition and that voltage has only dropped a little, just a brief boost charge before it changes to trickle or maintenance charge is what the charger should be doing.
AnswerID:
594724
Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Monday, Jan 11, 2016 at 07:14
Monday, Jan 11, 2016 at 07:14
PS
It looks like you have the battery permanently mounted, but only connect the 240v supply when required.
I would be replacing the clamps with lugs and having the charger output bolted to the battery posts.
FollowupID:
863286
Reply By: swampy - Monday, Jan 11, 2016 at 08:23
Monday, Jan 11, 2016 at 08:23
Hi,
first bolt down the leads instead of using clips [clips may give false reading to charger]
Have an isolater switch fitted in the negative cable . This completely prevents any parasitic loads from draining the battery . EG solar controller or any lights left on .
Leave the charger on for a day or so say 12hrs -enough to go thru all stages to bring upto a solid full charged voltage .
Why only a day ,if there is either any malfunction or any loads left on this can fool the charger into staying in the stages longer or not even moving along the charge stages.
This causes overcharge and potential fire .
All this info came from a chief at Ritar .
He also stated that this was evident by boat fires with batt/charger issues .
swamp
AnswerID:
594730