Recommendations for power converter

[JPS350]

Chargers always start in bulk mode. Once they reach absorbtion voltage they switch to absorption and stay at that voltage through that phase until it's satisfied and they drop to float voltage. I suspect you may have confused the specs on yours. Absorption voltage is probably the 14.4 you mentioned. If you never get there, it's either because of a big voltage drop or a bad charger. FWIW, it's also not good for the long term health of the battery.

 

[coglesby]

Change of heart:

I ordered a recpro lifepo4 capable converter and will mount it in the front bay to use as an external charger. If I ever convert to lifepo4 (like when my batteries need replacing) I’ll already have my converter.

 

[coglesby]

Chargers always start in bulk mode. Once they reach absorbtion voltage they switch to absorption and stay at that voltage through that phase until it's satisfied and they drop to float voltage. I suspect you may have confused the specs on yours. Absorption voltage is probably the 14.4 you mentioned. If you never get there, it's either because of a big voltage drop or a bad charger. FWIW, it's also not good for the long term health of the battery.

That’s not what the manual says.

But I do have 0.6v drop because there’s 30’ of 6AWG from converter to batteries

 

[JPS350]

A very strange description. What they are calling bulk mode in that manual is what every other 3 or 4 stage charger would call bulk and absorption mode. The 4 stage charging diagram in the link below is what is commonly referred to. By your manual's description, it's no wonder 14.4 volts is never seen. They come right out and say that the charger will put out 14.4 volts but you will not measure it. ???

Battery charger basics | Chargetek.com

Our three and four stage chargers can satisfy your requirements. Click here or call us at (866) 482-7930.

chargetek.com

 

[coglesby]

A very strange description. What they are calling bulk mode in that manual is what every other 3 or 4 stage charger would call bulk and absorption mode. The 4 stage charging diagram in the link below is what is commonly referred to. By your manual's description, it's no wonder 14.4 volts is never seen. They come right out and say that the charger will put out 14.4 volts but you will not measure it. ???

Battery charger basics | Chargetek.com

Our three and four stage chargers can satisfy your requirements. Click here or call us at (866) 482-7930.

chargetek.com

The reason is that since the battery is fully discharged it will apply maximum amount of current available by the charger so it may not reach 14.4V (applying current, not voltage). It will be in the constant current mode which may or may not reach 14.4V.

Reading the link you sent for a 3 stage charger (which is what I have), the charger starts in constant current mode when battery is discharged which is bulk mode (stage 1) according to the graph. The graph even shows that current is constant but voltage is low and increases over time, and then goes to absorption mode (stage 2) so I'm confused as why you indicated converters start in absorption mode with battery discharged?

 

[huntindog]

I have to run my generator for hours to recharge my 3 lead acid batteries after a cold night of running the furnace with the residential fridge. Thinking maybe I need to upgrade from my 55 amp converter to a 100 amp one. Any recommendations?

LA Batteries will only accept a limited charge rate, no matter how big a charger you have. To make matters worse, the charge rate shrinks as the batteries charge up.
It takes a loooong time to get them to 100%
Like 40 hours!
For a boondocker, that is a serious math problem.
80% is the best you can do during a multi day outing. Before Lithiums were common, I solved this problem by using a small Honda EU2000 with an extended run tank. I ran it all night, when the 12V draw was the highest. I would put it behind a log 150' away,so the noise was not an issue.

In todays world, Lithium batteries changed the game. They will take max charge rate up to 99%!

So yes, improve your wiring, as that will be needed for the lithiums any way. But it will not be the solution.

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Your spot on.

After a little investigation, Only used 6 AWG wire and it runs to the power distribution panel then back to the batteries in the front storage.

And remember, it also goes to the disconnect switch before the batteries..so it's likely longer than you think

 

[coglesby]

Change of heart:

I ordered a recpro lifepo4 capable converter and will mount it in the front bay to use as an external charger. If I ever convert to lifepo4 (like when my batteries need replacing) I’ll already have my converter.

Check that. I want to investigate more what I want to do for LiFePO4. In the mean time, I found a 40A charger at walmart on sale for $88 to get me by.

 

[JPS350]

The reason is that since the battery is fully discharged it will apply maximum amount of current available by the charger so it may not reach 14.4V (applying current, not voltage). It will be in the constant current mode which may or may not reach 14.4V.

Reading the link you sent for a 3 stage charger (which is what I have), the charger starts in constant current mode when battery is discharged which is bulk mode (stage 1) according to the graph. The graph even shows that current is constant but voltage is low and increases over time, and then goes to absorption mode (stage 2) so I'm confused as why you indicated converters start in absorption mode with battery discharged?

That's my point. It may never get to the absorption voltage of 14.4 v, so it never fully charges the battery. Constant current in bulk mode should increase voltage until it reaches the absorption voltage, then switches to constant voltage, and variable current during that stage. At least this is the situation with any normal 3 or 4 stage smart battery charger.

I never said what you mentioned in #2. One of your previous posts mentioned that you thought the converter was never going into bulk mode, and I mentioned that all smart chargers should start in bulk mode.

FWIW, the graph in your owners manual still makes no sense to me, but that's neither here nor there. It's good that you've come up with a solution. I think it will probably work well for you. My point in saying I don't plan on chasing the wiring in my trailer is that these things are a rats nest of no wiring organization, and there are no wiring schematics for them. Not worth the hassle for me so long as there's a reasonable band aid solution like adding an additional charger.

 

[coglesby]

Just ordered 100A recpro converter and 600AH LiFePO4 battery off Amazon. I’m going to install the converter in the front bay next to the batteries so not going through 30’ of 6AWG.

Started a separate thread to get suggestions