Battery chargers

[Blacktank]

all to obvious i need every charging source i can get so i'm going to need an upgrade,the old schumer i have is fine for the napa battery but pretty sure it is over charging it and dont want to use it on actual $$$ batteries 

want to perma mount it,i like the looks of these https://www.amazon.com/CTEK-40-206-5-0-1...title_auto but 4.3 amp and the price for a little thing,probily try to craigslist something

any recommendations/advice?

[sternwake]

Dont waste your time.with any garage charger marketed to the.dimwitted ignorant individual with very occasional needs.

Get a converter
PD9245 45 amps automatic 3 voltage stage., with manual override option.

Pd9260 has 60 amps
Pd270...70
Pd9280.requires 20.amp.circuit

[Scott7022]

Totally agree.

Probably not for you Gary as you have many of these products or things that do what this device does but for others that might be looking for a one and done solution. My friend that builds Overland rigs in Red Deer Alberta swears by these units. Never had a failure. The green advantage is nice to. Charges from solar before putting a strain on the alternator. But incorporates all sources and is adaptable to any chemistry.



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[sternwake]

I've heard nothing but good about redarc products. no personal experience.

How much battery capacity you plan on having?

When you plug in to charge it, how long will you have?
How depleted do you expect the batteries to be?

Sticking with Flooded?

I've two PD9245s boxes in my workshop holding fiberglass cutoffs. The first went into a powerpack charging a Lifeline GPL-31XT 125Ah AGM battery, the second was in a 93 chevy van with a Crown group 31 AGM, that does not have nearly the charge acceptance of the Lifeline. I was thinking 45 amps might be a bit high for the Crown, but it
the crown limited it to about 38 amps. The Lifeline( same size AGM) could easily suck 100+ amps for several minutes and probably should have gotten the PD9260 instead in retrospect.

The PDs are not cheap, but neither are batteries, and few to no 'garage charger' sold is more than 25 amps these days, and you want no less than 40 available.

My single group 31 flooded US marine battery would accept 40 amps for 20 minutes when well depleted, before voltage rose to 14.7v.

Dont be an Amp Pansy and think one has to limit charge current to save the batteries. its more important to get them to a high state of charge as fast as possible when time to plug in and charge is limited. Its less damaging to them than starting the next discharge at a lower state of charge and then dragging them deeper.

Say you have no choice but to drag the batteries down to 20% state of charge, and the next day you have an hour to plug in and recharge. DO you want the 12 amp ' garage charger' with extra special marketing to impress dimwits, or the 45 amp or the 60 amp converter which is not going to get confused and shut off when your fridge cycles on and off or you change stereo volume?

The 10 to 13% charge rates often recommended for flooded/wet lead acid batteries, assume one has at least 12 hours to plug in to recharge, like a golf cart or floor scrubber battery.

My 18 and 22 Ah AGM batteries, which say 5.4 and 6.6 amps maximum, regularly feed on 5 times that amount. Don't be an amp pansy, and if anyone brings up the 'trickle charge it overnight' I will hunt such a person down, and remove the valves from their tires, smear dog poo under their door handles , and fill their windshield washer reservoir with urine.

The PD series of converters has a 14.8v models available( instead of 14.4v max) which will help flooded golf cart batteries charge a bit faster, and sulfate less quickly in vandweller typical usage.

Iota make a pretty good converter too, as Does powermax, but the Progressive dynamics allow one to choose one of three voltages, override the automatic, if they desire.

The adjustable voltage power supply is my personal choice, but it is fully manual. I have to be there to reduce voltage once full charge is attained. I have had it set at 13.59v for a few days now, the solar takes the battery to 14.7v quickly in the morning and then floats at 13.6, and the 40 amp Meanwell powersupply only feeds that which the solar cannot, It idles a lot in daylight then seamlessly holds 13.6v while powering all loads late afternoon, adn I can spin a dial for 14.7v any dang time I choose, when plugged into grid anyway or with engine idling

One of those dials on my dash too, for controlling my alternator, soon, two on the dash.



Bwahahhahhahhahhaahhaaaaaw.

If you get a 4.3 amp Ctek and start quoting their marketing crap, inspect your door handles carefully.

[rvpopeye]

I've owned neither.
I agree^ with that one you linked probably isn't much better than the one you already have .

The PDs have a solid reputation in RV land.
The Aussie unit looks good and the recc. from Scott's build friend is most likely far more reliable than the typical online adverts.

Maybe we could crowd source some help for breaking the financial nut on your upgrade ?
(I'm in)

[Matlock]

I've bought the PD 9245 back in 2015. Not sure but my guess would be by recommendation of SW. In any event I do know that I spent some time on the net checking other places for comparisons and concluded that it was going to be money well spent. Zero issues over 5 years and counting.
PS the override button is ez pz too.

[Blacktank]

can you wire it up so you run off the grid and it charges your battery at the same time? 45 amps should be more than enough for me

[worth]

I installed a ProNauticP marine charger for when I hook to mains power. I have a MorningStar solar charge controller for the panels on my top side. My lead acid bank was always happy. Now I changed to LiFePo4 and so far all seems well.

[sternwake]

With the pd92r5.one runs their own cables.from + ad - output to battery. Lugs in the wizard honenjack and plugs it into grid.
If you.get more.than two.golf.cart batteries get the pd9260

IF you get 12v marine batteries., just shoot foot instead

[rvpopeye]

worth
Welcome to the forums !

We're always interested in what other's experiences are .
It sounds like you are on a boat ?
Post some pics and show your system off !