New Battery Charger needed- specific capabilities - any ideas?

Sorry Norm, forget the wrong name in my previous post....

Best regards, Peter

Yes Peter, yours is the one I was referring to. I'd much rather have one charger with all the capabilities, rather than two. But your suggestion is worth considering. I'll keep it in mind for a back up.

A 30 Amp (even 35 Amp) charger is also another compromise ( but not a lot around with that capacity I think), without the half power capability. Fullriver recommends .15 to .35 of the 20 Amp rating of the battery. I think .25 is widely considered to be the best compromise on that.

I'm also in the market for a new 100 or 105 AH DC AGM for the boat (starter for 30 HP outboard and also runs the 55 lb elec motor). Transport costs are the issue for yours as I am in Tassie, then heading over to SA and up to NT for some serious fishing for the winter.

Norm C

You're spot on in terms of battery peak current recommendations.

I second Derek's advise on the paralleling of chargers. It's something which could lead to unpredictable results.
BTW, just the other day, someone from Launceston enquired about shipping. It works out to be $71 for a 35kg item from our location in Brisbane.

Hope you'll find a good solution by the time your trip starts :)

Best regards, Peter

There is a 45A unit available but I don't stock them, you can try Durst directly.



Durst-Australia

Regards

Derek

Thanks Derek. You might have missed that I already have a 40 Amp charger mounted and hard wired in the van. The one I'm after is to charge the 2 AGMs (210 AH) in the vehicle and (separately) the 100 AH one in the boat. 20 or 25 Amps is fine for the one in the boat. It is also fine for the 210 AH in the vehicle, but takes a lot longer than a 40 Amp and needs more gennie running time, hence my wish for a 40 Amp / 20 Amp in one charger - if such a beast exists.

The 25 Amp CTek did both jobs for a few years and was fine. I guess I'm just trying to push the envelope a bit and improve efficiency.

Norm C

Missed that yes, I will give it some thought.

Regards Derek

Norm,

you want the BCS-1245C which has 45/22.5A switchable.
Same as in Derek's Durst photo.

Would be curious what's written on their price tag...

Best regards, Peter

Thanks Derek and Peter. The Durst 45 Amp looks like it might fit the bill.
Surprisingly, from their web site, it seems that temp compensation is an optional extra.

I fear it might not meet my 'don't want to pay too much' requirement-we'll see. I've emailed Durst and will post the outcome.

Norm C

I should mention that the supply voltage problem does not exist with my generator.
good luck
gmd

gmd,

and in case of an insurance claim, the buck stops with?

Or did you follow Australian regulations and got your imports approved by an electrical safety body, and c-ticked, with your approval numbers screen printed on the case?

Some of these units of yours even go into shut down because they can't stand 240VAC overvoltage and 250VAC is right at the top end of their tolerated input voltage.
There is actually a reason why many Australia sourced electrical goods are more expensive - in many cases they're specially modified at their place of manufacture overseas, to accommodate our extraordinary high input voltages, plus additional requirements like creepage etc.

Look at your lower voltage Canadian imports. One day something will give in them, and if they cause a fire or personal injury or worse....thanks very much, and good luck indeed.

Best regards, Peter

save your breath .. you talk nonsense
Projecta and other cr@p sold here is specified at 220V not even 240
Xantrex is sold here as well and is the top of the range. The import is just cheaper but the same product.
Especially modified ?? roflmao ..
have fun
gmd

gmd,

hmm, you think if other's break the law, you've every right to do the same?

Your reaction of disbelief when it comes to safety standards, tells me that you can't be bothered investigating the issue further.
Let me give you a brief overview of the situation:

It doesn't matter if 'the same product' carries the approval numbers of other Australian importers.
If your own import doesn't carry your approval numbers, you're breaking the law.
And there is a reason for this, which I don't want to elaborate on right now.

Importers of electrical goods, like us, are obliged under Australian law to have their product certified by two Australian authorities, before it can be legally sold in Australia.
Let me give you an example:

I'm in possession of a 12V20A battery charger. It's a sample unit from an overseas manufacturer.
On close examination I found some missing components on its circuit board, turns out they're input/output EMI filtering components. Also, the minimum clearances between live copper tracks and the casing weren't met, and/or additional insulation was omitted. The ground wire wasn't connected to the case (most likely to prevent the earth leakage switch in the meter box from tripping, in case of dust/insect buildup inside the unit).
When asking the manufacturer about it, the reply went like this - oh we sell tens of thousands of these units to our African customers, and hardly ever receive a complaint....

Now I'm not saying that these particular Canadian units are of shoddy build quality, but you'd be surprised to find out how manufacturers are 'fine tuning' their production processes and component selection in order to cut costs to the bare minimum.

They are actually 'adjusting' the internal component makeup of their product according to the target markets legal requirements.

One last question: do you really want to see Australia go the same way as some poor African countries?
Or isn't it better to have regulations in place, putting a floor under these things, i.e. provide a certain level of safety for users of these products?

Best regards, Peter

" incase of an insurance claim the buck stops where" ? SO where does it stop with YOUR imported merchandise , exactly the same b/s , " adjusting the internal component makeup according to the target markets LEGAL requirements " Whats wrong with that ?
"tens of thousands to our African customers and recieve hardly any complaints " sounds like a VERY GOOD recomendation.

Dont make me laugh again : Australias high standards ....
like electric wires thrown over the roof which should be under render,
like minimum diameter water pipes which makes the pressure drop to nothing when one has a shower in the house, and and and ...
CE and other standards are my guide Australia has to follow a long way.
have fun
gmd

In Australian homes, building wires are actually tucked away in wall/floor cavities, or run in plastic conduits on their surface.
The practice of 'wires thrown over the roof' only exists in your dreams after watching too much Kangaroo Jack...

We use water saving shower roses, which won't make the pressure drop a great deal...

Australian electrical safety standards, and EMC standards are actually based on CE standards - with Australian amendments...

Which part of the world are you from?

Best regards, Peter

Ok Mr Battery value , when was the last time you climbed into a roof cavity ? Wires thrown over the roof / ceiling every where , Tucked away ? in your dreams , if tucked away there would be 4 roof insulation installers still alive today.

You've hit the nail on the head.

Due to accidents like these, Australian regulations and standards are being updated and amended all the time.

And you want to rely on some overseas standards in the hope that they cover Australian peculiarities?

Anyway, this discussion is leading nowhere and it's off topic most of the time, so that's it from me.

Best regards, Peter