3 Stage Chargers

cmilton54 I have not used them, sorry, but as long as they are a true 3 stage I can't see there being a problem at all. I was actually just about to post a question on 3 stage chargers myself, so I hope you don't mind if I hijack a little here!

I've actually got a standard 8amp charger and can get my hands on a 3 stage solar regulator for next to nothing, what do all the guru's think about me plugging the 8 amp charger into the 3 stage regulator then onto the batteries? Would this be as effective as a normal 3 stage unit?

Charlie

Which model of Projecta are you referring too?

We use them in the Cape York Trailers and I have found some better suited than others. The smaller charge & maintain units are OK for when you have the system lugged into 240v when not in use but our trailers are out on Hire most of the time to customers who don't have an anderson plug connection to maintain a decent level and so they often come back pretty flat.

I found that the larger 20Amp contin 30Amp max unit to bethe best and have changed all the Hire Fleet CT's tover to this model (I can give you the exact mod number later if you wish).

This larger unit seems to have the grunt to get the battery aroused and up to an acceptable level in a hurry.

Let me know if you need more info.

Charlie,

Found it - this is the unit we use and we have been happy with it.

MC121150
The MC121150 is a heavy duty battery charger that delivers a powerful 3 stage charge, for batteries between 60Ah-300Ah (465-2000CCA). In utilises c’Logix technology to deliver a 3 stage, automatic charge that is faster and more powerful than traditional chargers, while the Recovery Plus feature gives sulphated batteries a high voltage charge to return them back into service.

Charlie
The Projecta MCU series are good low-priced three-stage chargers.

I would personally have like to seen automatic temperature compensation, but even so thy are one huge advance over the chain store constant voltage chargers that so many people still unfortunately use.

When deciding size, bear in mind that a constant current device such as this will charge very much faster (once passed about 50% charge) than both conventional chargers and alternator charging. Again, above 50% charge a 10-amp three-stage charger will more than outperform most nominally 20-amp units.

Jeff
Sorry - that term slipped past without explanation.

In this case, 'Capacitive' output is where a capacitor (a very short term storage device) is connected across the output of a dc power supply - primarily to make that output closer to true dc.

In practice however, such capacitance MAY cause ongoing cyclic overloading of the input stage of the solar regulator - hence the reservation re this. Very few cchargers are likely to have this, but it is not uncommon for those who know a bit about elecdtronics to add them.

Some such regulators are switchable between 'series switching' and so-called 'pulse width modulation'. If so they can be used in series switched operation' even with capacitive input but at a minor loss of efficiency.

See if you can find a friendly radio amateur to assist - these people know a lot about this sort of stuff. Maybe one reading this thread?
Trust this may help
Collyn Rivers