Calcium - Calcium Batteries.

Wok, I know what my altenator output is, but what voltage would the ca-ca require to charge? We have been using them with our solar setups for running wirless security cameras and they work great, but obviously solar charges at 14.1v not 13.8 like most alternators.
But to be honest my deep cycle requires a higher output that the alternator is giving to fully charge anyway, so I'm more worried about the battery life/damage. I reguarly put the system on a 240v charger before and after trips to top it up anyway as it is.

Have a look @ this link
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Consensus is 14.8V for Ca-Ca, 14.2V Ca hybrid[depends on alloy]. Haven't been able to nut out AC Delco's specs...have seen it before!? I gathered that Ca-Ca are more finicky on charging & floating = prone to problems?

The solar reg should be adjustable for battery type; hence output voltages [ I think the better ones have 2/3 stage charging algorithm, if yours has fixed voltage I think that would be the float voltage?]

Ca-Ca is been superceded by AGM type?

We use BP Solar 3 stage regulators, not sure of the exact specs but I know they have a regulated output for running gear directly off the regulator which is fantastic for us, it then back feeds the battery through the regulator once the solar drops down and we get a constant 12.0v. out of the unit to our gear (which is a bit sensitive at times). We were using cheaper 3 stages before and trying to run the gear direct from the battery but as you say when it's being boosted by the pannels it was blowing ourbleepup.
14.8v seems a little excessive for a vehicle, they are the ACDelco's that we use.

The 14.8V appears to have been used by GM in USA[ bear in mind the colder the ambient, the higher the bulk voltage] it certainly wouldn't be this high in Oz. I have not been able to track down the float voltage for AC Delco ca-ca battery which would be more appropriate for alt charging.

Another bit of trivia came out - the full charge voltage of ca-ca is 12.4V.

I have the impression that the bulk voltage of your solar reg is set low to protect the load. If this is so it is unlikely the ca-ca bank is receiving full charge [ unless the regulator has a seperate reg output [12V] for the load which is activated when the solar reg is in bulk stage]

IMHO the ca-ca batt is not a good idea for vehicles....check the links
Traction charger
more guff
The Traction link speaks volumes

Yeah the regulator has three sets of terminals. Input (from pannel), battery and 12v regulated.

Impressive reg.

I agree with your comment about underbonnet temps. IMHO the biggest killer of batts[ just ignored because its so hard to resolve]

cheers

Yeah they are pretty kick ass reg's, we had heaps of problems as our digital recorders use Computer Hard Disks which run normally of a regulated switch mode PSU with +/-5v and +/-12v. The problem is most of our units are 240v with there own internal switch mode PSU's. The ones we use off solar had to be 12v, so the 12v rail is not regulated, only the 5v. Plug it onto a battery getting a "boost" charge from a solar regulator and bye bye hard disk drive! :-O
We played around with our own ULV Regulators but they too were causing their own problems with the varying voltages from the battery (overnight mainly when the voltage dropped below 12.5, then the reg would shut down). Ended up finding these BP regulators, works a treat! And it's all in one unit!

AC Delco 100/105 amp/hr 550CCA Calcium-Calcium battery.

Adrian,

Do you mean "Full River"?

Cheers,

Jim.