12/240V battery charger?

Submitted: Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 17:21

ThreadID: 55672 Views:5858 Replies:4 FollowUps:7

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ben_gv3

Do combined 12/240V battery chargers exist? I know there are 240V chargers (CTEK etc) and 12V chargers (solar regulators), but is there a combined unit?

If there are no units that do this, what precautions must I take to have a 240V and 12V charger both connected to a battery permanently? Diodes etc?

Also, with 12VDC chargers, are there other options then solar regulators that provide 3 stage charging? The only other non-solar regulator chargers I know of are 1 stage. I won't be using a solar panel but need the option for 12V charging.

TIA

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Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 18:18

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 18:18

Ben,

Is an Arrid Twin Charge of use to you?

http://www.arrid.net.au/twin.html

AnswerID: 293389

Follow Up By: ben_gv3 - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 21:16

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 21:16

Sorry mate.

The Arrid twin charger chargers dissimilar batteries from 8-15V. It won't charge from 240V.

Thanks anyways.

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Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 21:56

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 21:56

Hi Ben

Use a solar grid charger / inverter. May be a bit big for your application and they are quite pricey.

Regards

Derek.

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Follow Up By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 22:08

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 22:08

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Follow Up By: ben_gv3 - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 09:50

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 09:50

Hi Derek,

Big, pricey and looks bloody complicated too ;-p

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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 23:37

Tuesday, Mar 18, 2008 at 23:37

Buy a 12 volt input Charger (plenty of good ones for $100) and a 240 volt Power Supply that puts out 12 volts.

Dick Smith has a 23amp 13 volt supply that costs $99. It can also power your DC loads while at a powered site.

AnswerID: 293505

Follow Up By: ben_gv3 - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 09:49

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 09:49

Thanks for that, this is sorta what I orginally had in mind. Can I have both chargers connected up permanently though?

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Follow Up By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 12:30

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 12:30

Gday Mike,
What other 12 volt input Chargers are available for lead acid batteries? I only know of the Arrid.

phil

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Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 14:20

Wednesday, Mar 19, 2008 at 14:20

You can have any number of chargers hooked up to your battery. I have a Twin Bharge, Durst 240 V charger and a MorningStar solar controller all connected to my battery. They do not fight each other and none of them drain the battery as they do not draw from the battery when they are switched off.

PeterD

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