New Solar Set Up

[ButchDeal]

So as an update. Im following advice to the T. Any suggestions as far as a 48v battery charger that can be runned of 3500w generator

Use an inverter / charger instead of two different pieces

[Emorales]

Use an inverter / charger instead of two different pieces

I thought about it but an inverter charger goes around 800 and a charger alone around 250

[Emorales]

Unless i go with chinnese manufactured. Has anyone tried, tested this?

[Mike90250]

To get real charging amps at 48V, you need a hardwired charger @ 240VAC Otherwise, plug in golf cart chargers don't really put out very much. Combo inverter charger is the usual way to go, If I had enough generator, I could charge at 100A. but I have to limit to 30A

[Emorales]

To get real charging amps at 48V, you need a hardwired charger @ 240VAC Otherwise, plug in golf cart chargers don't really put out very much. Combo inverter charger is the usual way to go, If I had enough generator, I could charge at 100A. but I have to limit to 30A

So Im looking at a Aims 2000w 48v @240vac with 20a smart charger. But Im thinking its amp are low? I do have a Honda 3500w generator that I was going to use to power the battery charger but cant find one for 48v with decent amps

[Emorales]

Or is there another way of having a back up to charge batteries on cloudy or rainy days. Battery bank is going to be 48v @230a/h (based of 6v batteries). Maybe charging individually or use a 48v charger even if its low amp, and remove loads while charging with charger, Or can I use a 6v charger since batts are 6v?

[Mike90250]

What size is your battery bank ? You want to charge flooded lead acid batteries at about 10% of their rated capacity. If you are only charging off generator 1 or 2 x a week, low amps is not a big deal as long as the solar takes over and you get a full charge at least 2x a week

Does the inverter transfer the loads to the generator while it runs, AND charges the batteries at the same time ? And WHAT is the Power Factor of the internal charger ? That will limit what your generator can drive.

[Emorales]

What size is your battery bank ? You want to charge flooded lead acid batteries at about 10% of their rated capacity. If you are only charging off generator 1 or 2 x a week, low amps is not a big deal as long as the solar takes over and you get a full charge at least 2x a week

Does the inverter transfer the loads to the generator while it runs, AND charges the batteries at the same time ? And WHAT is the Power Factor of the internal charger ? That will limit what your generator can drive.

The battery bank is (8) Flooded Lead Acid 6V @230A wired for 48V. My idea was try to discharge only about 30% during night time. Here in Puerto Rico we get sun peak from 9am to 3pm but sun comes out around 6am goes out 6pm. We do get rainy and cloudy days often especially this time of year but still get around 4-5 days of sun.
This are the specs of the inverter I was thinking adding and external charger:
DC input: 48V
DC input range: 42V-60V
No Load Current Draw: 1A
Efficiency:85%-90%
AC output volt: 120V
AC Regulation:3%
Frequency: 60Hz
Socket:15a USA type
Low Voltage Alarm:43V-45V
Low Voltage Shut Down: 41V-43V
Over Load: shut off, recover manually
Over Voltage Shut Down: 61V

I'm still looking for an usable battery charger that can be useful for this bank. I found a inverter/charger that doesn't take me to bad out of budget but its Chinese.

[Emorales]

Or should I downgrade to 12v until I can buy a decent 48v Inverter/Charger the upgrade to 48v (maybe a year)

[Emorales]

Can I recharge batteries individually meaning buy a 6v battery charger and recharge them individually?

[Sunking]

Can I recharge batteries individually meaning buy a 6v battery charger and recharge them individually?

A big FAT NOT NO.
At least not in the context I think you mean. To charge a 48 volt battery from a genny, use a Golf Cart charger of 20 to 30 amps. Tons of them on the market. Or salvage 48 volt Rectifiers from the Telephone Office industry. Far supperior to anything else you can buy. Those require 240 VAC.

[Mike90250]

Or should I downgrade to 12v until I can buy a decent 48v Inverter/Charger the upgrade to 48v (maybe a year)

No
Do it right the first time.

The inverter 61V shutdown is a problem, you need to get to 64V sometimes to properly EQ the battery bank.

Do you have any 240V loads ?

Your actual usable sun hours are less than 9a - 3p. You can get some harvest then, but it won't be much.

More than 15A of charger @ 48V will require a 240V generator to run it from

[Emorales]

A big FAT NOT NO.
At least not in the context I think you mean. To charge a 48 volt battery from a genny, use a Golf Cart charger of 20 to 30 amps. Tons of them on the market. Or salvage 48 volt Rectifiers from the Telephone Office industry. Far supperior to anything else you can buy. Those require 240 VAC.

Well I was saying was charging each 6v battery that forms the 48v bank separetly (without loads). But Im guessing its still a BIG FAT NO . Found this on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DKIIJW?ref=emc_b_5_t

Its a 48v golf cart battery charger: The Stanley GBCPRO Vehicle and Golf Cart Battery Charger with Automatic Voltage Detection and 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 volt charging capability is ideal for golf carts, motorcycles, motor vehicles and boats. It has LCD digital display shows battery and charging status. 4 simple ways to Connect - Round Cart connector, Rectangular Cart Connector, Standard Battery Clamps (for 6-24Volt only), and Universal O-rings. It features reverse polarity protection that eliminates sparks. It is coated for moisture protection. ETL listed.
I have 240 available at my house but with grid power and I don't know when that will be reestablished

[Sunking]

Well I was saying was charging each 6v battery that forms the 48v bank separetly (without loads). But Im guessing its still a BIG FAT NO . Found this on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005DKIIJW?ref=emc_b_5_t

Its a 48v golf cart battery charger: The Stanley GBCPRO Vehicle and Golf Cart Battery Charger with Automatic Voltage Detection and 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 volt charging capability is ideal for golf carts, motorcycles, motor vehicles and boats. It has LCD digital display shows battery and charging status. 4 simple ways to Connect - Round Cart connector, Rectangular Cart Connector, Standard Battery Clamps (for 6-24Volt only), and Universal O-rings. It features reverse polarity protection that eliminates sparks. It is coated for moisture protection. ETL listed.
I have 240 available at my house but with grid power and I don't know when that will be reestablished

Keep this in mind:

Power = Voltage x Current

15 amps x 48 volts = 720 watts and would require at least a 1 Kw genny. Once you go higher than about 25 to 30 amps at 48 bolts means 240 volts AC.

Current = Power / Voltage

[Emorales]

Keep this in mind:

Power = Voltage x Current

15 amps x 48 volts = 720 watts and would require at least a 1 Kw genny. Once you go higher than about 25 to 30 amps at 48 bolts means 240 volts AC.

Current = Power / Voltage

I do have a honda 3.5kw generator that has 220v available