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  • Battery charger and generator questions

    Hello!

    First off I'm looking for a battery charger for 4 T105's that are in storage right now. There are 2 batteries that are possibly damaged as they're lagging in specific gravity to two other batteries which are fine. I've seen the NOCO chargers which claim to have a repair mode, don't know if that will "repair" my batteries.

    Bought 8 SPRE 06 255's which are in use right now, daily cycling but that's not the norm. I usually have them floating most of the time as backup power to the grid.

    Can I use a generator such as this to charge both banks (separately)?

    https://www.amazon.com/Champion-Powe...p?ie=UTF8&th=1

    At 24V, the T105's ask for 30 amps bulk (13% of C/20) and the SPRE's 60 amps = 720W and 1.5kw, respectively. I understand if the T105's are in storage right now most of the time they don't need to have a fast charger. The SPRE's are connected to an Epever Tracer AN 100A solar controller, which claims to have a 5A/30VDC "dry contact parameter" (?) referring to a generator hookup.

    https://www.epsolarpv.com/upload/fil...al-EN-V3.1.pdf

    How would I go about hooking up a generator like the above to this? Isn't 5A more like a trickle charge for the SPRE's?


  • #2
    I don't have the model on me, but NOCO makes a 26 amp charger charger that also does 24 volts at 13 amps. Before installing my Spre 06 255s, I charged them two at a time and then moved them from that charger to a NOCO four terminal six volt 4 amp charger (1 amp per battery). The 6 volt 4 position 1 amp per battery charger never read 100% on the LEDs on the charger, but a specific gravity test showed them full.

    Not an ideal solution, but I could not find a good charger to do what you're asking, so that's the system I used. The 26 amp charger was recommended to me by trojan, but would only charge and float two batteries at a time, not four at a time, that's why I floated them on the 1 amp charger. I did this for about 2 months prior to installing them.

    I looked at things like PowerMax Chargers for RVs that go to like 60 amps, but was not convinced it was the best one,

    I am awaiting delivery of a Aims 12 volt / 24 volt 75 amp charger, which should do what you're asking, but I have not received it yet on and they are all backordered now. At 24 volts and 37.5 amps, that may do what you're asking. This charger will go into my RV for a 24 volt upgrade and is a 15 AMP 120 VAC input. I can't find another charger out there that puts more than 50 to 60 amps without first going to 20 amp 120 VAC and then 240 amp VAC.

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    • #3
      That generator will power a battery charger, but it is * not * a battery charger. It may have a small charger to recharge it's own 30Ah starting battery, but not really suitable for charging a larger battery

      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


      • #4
        Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
        That generator will power a battery charger, but it is * not * a battery charger. It may have a small charger to recharge it's own 30Ah starting battery, but not really suitable for charging a larger battery
        I was thinking more on the lines of using it's AC out to power one of these in AC to DC form:

        https://www.mygenerator.com.au/batte...-chargers.html

        Comment


        • #5
          Fro emergency charging in a storm or something, any +30A automotive charge should work, no need for super fancy charger. Automotive chargers will get you to 80 - 90% full quickly and save on burning generator fuel.
          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


          • #6
            I don’t recognize the converters in your link.

            The higher voltage does not let you get this, but I have on prefer this 120 VAC to 24 volt 47.5 amp AC to DC converter to charge my batteries when the solar is not working:

            https://www.aimscorp.net/ac-converte...l-458-csa.html

            Same thing, about the voltage, but this is a true 26 amp charger, not the boost mode, the one I used to charge and float my solar SPREs. This is the one that did not read 100%.

            https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

            I almost went with the AC to DC converter made from IOTA. They also have a 240VAC model. What I liked about this company is modules could be purchased for it to set different charge profiles.

            https://www.iotaengineering.com/prod...:@producttype=[Charger%2FPower%20Converter]

            Instead of the IOTA, the Powermax was recommended because of an adjustable voltage, which comes in a 220 VAC mode.

            https://powermaxconverters.com/product/pm3-12v-series/

            Comment

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