battery charger info plz
Submitted: Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 12:59
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67934
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6
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Member - Redbakk (WA)
I have a 120 amphour D/C battery which is totally roasted by my van charger....so can you guys recommend a suitable one to charge my new battery when I get it ....I plan to get 2 x 100 amphour glass deep cycle batteries.
don't need info on solar panels etc.....don't need info on batteries etc.......
Just a good quality, reliable battery charger that will take care of them and not roast them.
The charger that comes with the Jayco heritge van and I do not trust it anymore and so I will not replace it or use it to charge any more batteries( it will remain as a DC power supply only)....this is the second time it did it....it worked fine most of the time but now twice it has chucked a wobbly.....NO MORE!
Thanks in advance.
Reply By: Roughasguts - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:09
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:09
What brand is your charger?
I suspect
mine in the Windsor not to charge that
well either.
Thinking Maybe I Should put an inline AMP gauge in there to
check out how it's going, and not take the risk of it roasting me battery either.
AnswerID:
359971
Reply By: Tenpounder - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:17
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:17
Hi there. I am not trying to give you 'the answer', so much as to share my own experiences!
I bought a multi stage charger (MB3620) from Jaycar, and I think it is fine - others on this site seem to agree - and it lists a variety of battery types that it suits. My problem was that I ended up with this sexy charger, and a couple of calcium deep cycle batteries in the Prado for the fridge etc., and I am not sure to this day that the charger is ideally suited to these calcium batteries. I am pretty sure that the charger is not optimised for calcium batteries. Likewise, 'normal' wet lead batteries and gel seems to ahve different requirements.
So this comment is just a heads up to you, to say that if you are in the market for a serious charger, and new batteries, you have a real chicken and egg situation - wich is an ideal opportunity to match your choice of charger to your choice of battery.
My problem has been that is is hard to find 'experts' that can tell you what charger suits what battery.
Should be a simple question, but I am suspicious that you need to avoid buying a battery unless it is specifically suited to your charger.
Chris (SA).
AnswerID:
359974
Follow Up By: Tenpounder - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:27
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:27
PS I should have added that my current auto electrician tells me I should never have bought the two calcium batteries in the first place, but I can hardly ditch $300 worth of 'wrong' batteries until they collapse. Just an illustration of the perils of heeding the advice of experts!
Chris
FollowupID:
627903
Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:30
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:30
Hi Chris,
The problem you are facing is battery development is leading charger development.
You need a charger capable of putting out a shade over 15 volts which most on the market as you say aren't yet capable of.
There are chargers now slowly appearing that can fully charge the newer calcium batteries.
As you have so
well stated batteries aren't batteries and chargers aren't chargers.
For optimum results they really must operate as a matched team.
Geoff
FollowupID:
627904
Follow Up By: Sigmund - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 14:04
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 14:04
FWIW my sparky is a big fan of the calcium hybrids and fitted 2 x 97 amphour to my CT.
Consider an Ozcharge 16 amp charger; copes with a number of batt types, does desulphation, equalization etc.
FollowupID:
627908
Follow Up By: RV Powerstream P/L - Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 08:30
Saturday, Apr 18, 2009 at 08:30
If you need calcium charger and you use an Inverter Sterling Power has Combi Inverter Chargers with Calium charging at 15.1 V into the new Pro Q and Pro S Combis and they are low frequency high surge units.
A Pro Q 2500 combi is currently being trialed in a refrigerated delivery vehicle based on a Mercedes Sprinter as it gave a surge capacity of 5500Watts for a start up of over 10seconds where no other unit tested could achieve that capacity and that included Victron and Mastervolt.
The new 3500Pro Combi S will run 3300W at 40oC and beats both Victron Quatro and Mastervolt at that Temperature.
The Victron is rated at 5500VA but is only 3000W continuous at 40oC and basically double the price.
Ian
FollowupID:
627979
Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:27
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:27
Hi,
I assume by this statement, "I plan to get 2 x 100 amphour glass deep cycle batteries" the glass part means Absorbed Glass Mat or AGM batteries.
There are many chargers suited to your needs.
The entire Ctek range will charge them fully as will the battery chargers sold by Ian of RV Powerstream who advertises on this site. I'm sure the ones that Derek from ABR who also advertises here will do an equally fine job.
My suggestion is to go for a charger no smaller than 15 Amp and preferably 25 Amp.
The bigger chargers will optimise your time on 240 Volt power they will also fold back to the required trickle for battery maintenance.
Geoff
AnswerID:
359977
Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:39
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:39
Yes geoff....you are correct , I think i have old timers disease...: (
They will be AGM batteries....( I knew that....LOL )
And thanks for your reply.
FollowupID:
627905
Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:40
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 13:40
I.m sorry...I really meant Geoff with a capital G.
FollowupID:
627906
Reply By: Kim and Damn Dog - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 18:29
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 18:29
Gidday
Some fellas will get stuck into me about other brands that are half the price....
My preference is CTEK. The units are worth the money. They are a genuine trickle charger and very robust.
I have to buy another one, and this time it’ll be a XS 15000 to service a 110amp FullRiver battery.
Regards
Kim
AnswerID:
360040
Reply By: lunchbuckett - Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 20:40
Friday, Apr 17, 2009 at 20:40
Gidday i have had charger troubles in my winsor van so i tried a Sinergex pure charge 25 it does all i need runs van +2x120amp batts hope this helps
AnswerID:
360061
Reply By: kiwicol - Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 at 00:08
Sunday, Apr 19, 2009 at 00:08
Hi Ctek 8 stage smart charger leave it on 24/7 and will not hurt electronics. Exspensive but very much worth the money. 25amp charger of E Bay. $375. Col
AnswerID:
360261