could anyone tell me how long a GENERAC APS-6.0 DC generator would take to charge ban

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  • mark dix
    Member
    • Jun 2012
    • 34

    could anyone tell me how long a GENERAC APS-6.0 DC generator would take to charge ban

    could anyone tell me how long a GENERAC APS-6.0 DC generator would have too run to charge up battery bank
    48 volts 8 - 6 volt deep cycle 225 AH batteries if the batteries were down to low battery cut out level of 44 volts and i wanted to bring them up too bulk volts of 58.4,the generator is a DC 6000 WATTS 27.2 VOLT MAX DC LEAD 4 AMPS if this is possible to config runs on propane gas.
  • Naptown
    Solar Fanatic
    • Feb 2011
    • 6880

    #2
    Originally posted by mark dix
    could anyone tell me how long a GENERAC APS-6.0 DC generator would have too run to charge up battery bank
    48 volts 8 - 6 volt deep cycle 225 AH batteries if the batteries were down to low battery cut out level of 44 volts and i wanted to bring them up too bulk volts of 58.4,the generator is a DC 6000 WATTS 27.2 VOLT MAX DC LEAD 4 AMPS if this is possible to config runs on propane gas.
    Never in your lifetime according to the text in red
    NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

    [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

    [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

    [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

    Comment

    • inetdog
      Super Moderator
      • May 2012
      • 9909

      #3
      Originally posted by mark dix
      could anyone tell me how long a GENERAC APS-6.0 DC generator would have too run to charge up battery bank
      48 volts 8 - 6 volt deep cycle 225 AH batteries if the batteries were down to low battery cut out level of 44 volts and i wanted to bring them up too bulk volts of 58.4,the generator is a DC 6000 WATTS 27.2 VOLT MAX DC LEAD 4 AMPS if this is possible to config runs on propane gas.
      That looks like it is rated 6kw at 110 volts DC. You would need some electronics to get it to work into a 48 volt battery string. The output current maximum would be about 54 Amp at 110 volts. If you can get everything to play properly together, you could get through the bulk phase in less than five hours of operation, but that would probably be too high a charge rate for the batteries you have. Figure on at least 8 hours of operation for fully discharged batteries to get up to the point where the charging would have to slow down. You can't always charge a battery faster if you have more power available!
      (The 27.2 volts at 4 Amps seems to be a charger for the system control or starting battery or other auxiliary use and is not relevant.)
      SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.

      Comment

      • inetdog
        Super Moderator
        • May 2012
        • 9909

        #4
        Originally posted by inetdog
        That looks like it is rated 6kw at 110 volts DC. You would need some electronics to get it to work into a 48 volt battery string. The output current maximum would be about 54 Amp at 110 volts. If you can get everything to play properly together, you could get through the bulk phase in less than five hours of operation, but that would probably be too high a charge rate for the batteries you have. Figure on at least 8 hours of operation for fully discharged batteries to get up to the point where the charging would have to slow down. You can't always charge a battery faster if you have more power available!
        (The 27.2 volts at 4 Amps seems to be a charger for the system control or starting battery or other auxiliary use and is not relevant.)
        You would almost certainly be better of with an AC generator and a 120volt or 240 volt battery charger. The DC is not making it easier.

        Manual for a similar 3.5 kW DC unit can be viewed here: http://www.scribd.com/anne_carpenter...-Owners-Manual
        SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.

        Comment

        • billvon
          Solar Fanatic
          • Mar 2012
          • 803

          #5
          Originally posted by inetdog
          You would almost certainly be better of with an AC generator and a 120volt or 240 volt battery charger. The DC is not making it easier.
          Note that many switchmode chargers will work with AC or DC; they don't really care which they get. Transformer based chargers will be destroyed instantly, but they are rather rare nowadays. A simple rule of thumb - if you can pick it up it's a switchmode charger.

          Comment

          • inetdog
            Super Moderator
            • May 2012
            • 9909

            #6
            Originally posted by billvon
            Note that many switchmode chargers will work with AC or DC; they don't really care which they get. Transformer based chargers will be destroyed instantly, but they are rather rare nowadays. A simple rule of thumb - if you can pick it up it's a switchmode charger.

            Very true, and if the DC generator is at a good price since there is not much demand for a used one, then fine. But if you get AC instead, you can always use the same generator to power your AC loads in a crunch!
            SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.

            Comment

            • Mike90250
              Moderator
              • May 2009
              • 16020

              #7
              You need a genset with 240vac output - you CANNOT get 6kw via a single 120v outlet

              Additionally, you NEED a charger, with good PF (power factor). Otherwise, you will not see rated output from genset.

              Are you looking for bad weather backup, or to supplement daily charging?

              Do you already have 48v inverter? Some inverters have intrgal chargers and transfer switches too.. (XW_6048)
              Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
              || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
              || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

              solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
              gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

              Comment

              • mark dix
                Member
                • Jun 2012
                • 34

                #8
                its a generac 6.0 dc auxiliary power unit it was used for cell phone tower battery backup idk anything else about it,just figured out there are two leads coming off dc pos and two leads coming off dc neg so i can hook 4 batteries up to one and the other 4 batteries with the other.

                Comment

                • inetdog
                  Super Moderator
                  • May 2012
                  • 9909

                  #9
                  Originally posted by mark dix
                  its a generac 6.0 dc auxiliary power unit it was used for cell phone tower battery backup idk anything else about it,just figured out there are two leads coming off dc pos and two leads coming off dc neg so i can hook 4 batteries up to one and the other 4 batteries with the other.
                  Do that, without a charge controller and you will fry your batteries in no time at all. Or else pop the circuit breaker on the generator. The voltages do not match.
                  SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.

                  Comment

                  • Sunking
                    Solar Fanatic
                    • Feb 2010
                    • 23301

                    #10
                    Originally posted by mark dix
                    its a generac 6.0 dc auxiliary power unit it was used for cell phone tower battery backup idk anything else about it,just figured out there are two leads coming off dc pos and two leads coming off dc neg so i can hook 4 batteries up to one and the other 4 batteries with the other.
                    Completely inappropriate equipment for residential use. I tis a custom design specifically for outdoor cabinet Telecom use where battery capacity is measured in the Thousand's of amp hours. not 10's or 100's.

                    For Genera RE applications you want to use the EcoGen series as it is the only generators made for Solar Systems with low power factors and whisper quite operation using LPG or NG.
                    MSEE, PE

                    Comment

                    • mark dix
                      Member
                      • Jun 2012
                      • 34

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Mike90250
                      You need a genset with 240vac output - you CANNOT get 6kw via a single 120v outlet

                      Additionally, you NEED a charger, with good PF (power factor). Otherwise, you will not see rated output from genset.

                      Are you looking for bad weather backup, or to supplement daily charging?

                      Do you already have 48v inverter? Some inverters have intrgal chargers and transfer switches too.. (XW_6048)
                      yes i have a sine wave plus 5548 xantrax inverter

                      Comment

                      • mark dix
                        Member
                        • Jun 2012
                        • 34

                        #12
                        would it not charge the batteries hooking up 4 batteries to one output and another lead the other4 batteries in series?

                        Comment

                        • Mike90250
                          Moderator
                          • May 2009
                          • 16020

                          #13
                          Originally posted by mark dix
                          would it not charge the batteries hooking up 4 batteries to one output and another lead the other4 batteries in series?

                          The whole neighborhood would get a "charge" watching that. Sorry, no, you cannot directly connect batteries to a generator. Even cars and trucks have voltage regulators.
                          Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                          || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                          || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                          solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                          gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                          Comment

                          • mark dix
                            Member
                            • Jun 2012
                            • 34

                            #14
                            i dont understand on the genterator their is ahookup that says dc output?

                            Comment

                            • inetdog
                              Super Moderator
                              • May 2012
                              • 9909

                              #15
                              Originally posted by mark dix
                              i dont understand on the genterator their is ahookup that says dc output?
                              And your doorbell uses AC, but that does not mean you can connect 120 Volt AC to it. The voltages have to match and in the case of battery charging the current must be controlled.

                              The battery bank which the generator was meant to charge and the equipment running off that DC is not 24 or 48 volts!
                              SunnyBoy 3000 US, 18 BP Solar 175B panels.

                              Comment

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