tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701428736862216823.post2416747898479702548..comments2024-03-25T08:30:53.598+00:00Comments on Percy: Generator charging ?Nev Wellshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07047359519459723079noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701428736862216823.post-57153513745821786432019-01-25T01:41:29.882+00:002019-01-25T01:41:29.882+00:00Nev
My suggestion would be to start with the size ...Nev<br />My suggestion would be to start with the size (or intended size) of your battery bank. Then establish how many amps (on average) you need to put back into your batteries. Remember to allow approximately 50% on top of that (you have to put more in than you took out!) <br /> <br />Let's assume you have a battery bank of 200ah and your average use is 100ah. You will need to put 150ah back into the batteries. Your recharging rate should be approximately not more than 30% of your total capacity. So the maximum recharging rate would be 60amps. The batteries will take up to 60amps until they are 80% charged (Bulk Stage) 80% of 150 is 120amps. The maximum charge rate is 60amps, so it will take 2 hours to Bulk charge the batteries. The remaining 20% charge is the Absorption Stage where you are attempting to squeeze the last of the charge into the batteries. This will take quite a long time and the batteries will only accept a low number of amps. Solar panels are very useful for the Absorption stage.<br /><br />In the above example we needed to put 60amps back into the batteries for 2 hours.<br />Roughly convert that to Watts (V x A) 14.4V charging rate and 60 amps = 864 Watts. so a 1000W generator would probably Bulk recharge the batteries in two hours. After that you're burning petrol for not much recharge and would probably be better to use solar panels for the Absorption Stage.<br /><br />We had a 450ah battery bank on Waiouru and when we weren't cruising sometimes used a 2000kva inverter generator to recharge the batteries. The generator would run for 2-3 hours on full power (Bulk Stage) and then you would hear the generator RPMs drop as the batteries went into the Absorption stage. The generator supplied 240V to a Victron 3KVA Inverter Charger.Tom and Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11277996736846008000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701428736862216823.post-49591270658430439642019-01-24T23:31:50.005+00:002019-01-24T23:31:50.005+00:00Hi Brian,
Thanks for the comment and your help on...Hi Brian,<br /><br />Thanks for the comment and your help on the 12v boating group. I’m going to wait till the engine is back operational and the BM712 is fitted, I’ll then have a good watch at what is going in to give an idea of what size I may need. I gather gennies are not your favourite thing ? <br /><br />NevNev Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07047359519459723079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701428736862216823.post-88493134960490581662019-01-24T20:39:32.490+00:002019-01-24T20:39:32.490+00:00If you are using a genny you don't need a mult...If you are using a genny you don't need a multi stage charger as once your batteries are charged you will turn the dam thing off, so it wont ever go into float. You just need a big basic one to get your batteries up to full charge so you can turn it off, unlike a shore supply where the volts are going to keep coming after the batteries are full.Brian and Diana on NB Harnserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08569360123827850984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701428736862216823.post-63181337534307112572019-01-24T15:00:18.630+00:002019-01-24T15:00:18.630+00:00Hi Andy,
Thanks for the comment. I think you have...Hi Andy,<br /><br />Thanks for the comment. I think you have just cemented my thinking on combined units. Certainly if space is ok and budgets limited just the charger is the way to go IMHO. Nev Wellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07047359519459723079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701428736862216823.post-27166712250488576622019-01-24T14:04:26.088+00:002019-01-24T14:04:26.088+00:00We have the mastervolt 2500 inverter charger. (it ...We have the mastervolt 2500 inverter charger. (it was already aboard when we bought FL). After having a problem with the charging side and the whole unit having to go back to Holland for repair (which took six weeks) I am now of the opinion that separate units maybe the way to go if you have the room for them. <br /><br />Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14740795287872354520noreply@blogger.com