charging campert trailer battery from 240v
Submitted: Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 11:33
ThreadID:
35246
Views:
3643
Replies:
5
FollowUps:
7
This Thread has been Archived
ozidave
I have 2 questions about charging my CT battery from 240v (either from
home via mains or via Honda generator).
1. Could I use generator 12v DC outlet simultaneously with an 8amp charger running off 240v generator outlet?
2. If I instal solar & incorporate a 20 amp plasmatronics regulator, could I run a 20 amp bulk charger through that regulator and avoid the need to buy a 3 stage 240v charger?
Any thoughts would be helpful.
cheers,
Dave
Reply By: RosscoH - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 14:24
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 14:24
Hi Ozidave,
All I have is 2 x 80watt Solar Panels through a basic 20 amp regulator and never have to go near a 240 volt charger except when the camper is parked in the shed at
home, and soon I won't even need that as I am going to through one panel on the roof of the shed and run a cable inside and then it will charge on the solar even when in the shed.
Cheers RosscoH
AnswerID:
180265
Follow Up By: Raydueler - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 19:43
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 19:43
How many batteries do you charge? and what do they run?
FollowupID:
436552
Reply By: Alloy c/t - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 15:00
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 15:00
1 = NO/YES depends on genny make , but y would u want to.
2 = NO u will make the solar panel regulator "blow" ,, and why would u want to .
AnswerID:
180266
Reply By: Member -Dodger - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 15:19
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 15:19
1. no just charge the batt from the genny via your 8amp charger.
I suggest that you get an auto batt charger for the CT and install permanently so that whenever you are connected to the 240 it gets charged automatically.
Have a look at
www.projecta.com.au
and go to their auto chargers.
I have had one in my vanfor 5yrs and although it is only of small charging capacity it does the job on a 100amp/hr batt ok but takes a long period of time if the batt is real low.
I also use a solar panel when staying in one place for more than a day.
Plus have an arid twin charge system that runs from the nissan aux batt.
see www.12voltshop.com.au
You will get some Ideas from these
places.
AnswerID:
180268
Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 16:47
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 16:47
Hi Ozidave
The DC outlet of the generator is unregulated and must be monitored to prevent overcharging. You can use it for a short while and then finish the job off with a good 3 stage charger.
Don't use a solar regulator. Most solar regs short out the panel to control charge and this would damage the regulator and possibly also the charger.
We fit our 3 stage 'Smart Charger' to all our customers campers and they will run off a generator generator. 15 amp unit is the most popular but I recommend the 25 amp unit.
Regards Derek.
AnswerID:
180274
Follow Up By: Member - Ray - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 17:57
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 17:57
Derek
What do you mean "dont use a solar regulator?
Every solar setup requires a regulator to control the power generated by the panel as far as I know.
FollowupID:
436533
Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 18:21
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 18:21
Hi Ray
You misread my explanation.
You can't use a solar regulator on a generator or charger !
Regards Derek.
FollowupID:
436538
Follow Up By: Member - andrew B (Kununurra) - Monday, Jun 26, 2006 at 22:52
Monday, Jun 26, 2006 at 22:52
sorry....quick post hijack...question for Derek. In a boat with twin engines/alternators, if the two batteries are hooked together for a short or long time, do the alternators get a bit confused (for want of a better word), as they would both be charging the same "big" battery at the same time?
Thanks Andrew
FollowupID:
436773
Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Monday, Jun 26, 2006 at 23:32
Monday, Jun 26, 2006 at 23:32
Alternators are not that clever, they won't know how big the battery is just how much current it is pulling and then cycle back.
FollowupID:
436781
Follow Up By: Member - andrew B (Kununurra) - Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006 at 10:05
Tuesday, Jun 27, 2006 at 10:05
Thanks Derek, but I was more concerned with 2 alternators charging the same battery
Cheers Andrew
FollowupID:
436816
Reply By: Member - Ray - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 18:03
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 18:03
Dave
I have just installed a 130w Kyocera panel and a Plasmatronics20 regulator on my CT. We have had 2 weeks at
Shark Bay and it kept my 130 amphour battery on full charge the whole time. We are running a 50lt Cole fridge and a 12v
versalite for a while at night.At
home I have a Projecta 3500 charge and maintain charger which I use to keep the battery topped up.
AnswerID:
180285
Follow Up By: Alloy c/t - Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 18:16
Sunday, Jun 25, 2006 at 18:16
HE means do Not use a Solar panel regulator INLINE with a gen set or 240v ,
FollowupID:
436536