check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar rearview170 Beam Communications SatPhone Shop Topargee products Enginesaver Low Water Alarms
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> The Grey Nomads - General -> running an onboard charger
Post Info TOPIC: running an onboard charger
dave06


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2601
Date:
running an onboard charger
Permalink  

I have an "onboard battery charger" so when I hook up to power it automatically charges first my starting battery and then my house battery through a solenoid setup, I was told by a wandering expert, whom shall remain nameless, that I am better off running my 300 watt inverter whilst driving and feeding the power through my on board battery charger to recharge my batterys. my question is (1) does this make sense at all (2) wouldnt the current draw of the inverter and charger overule the benefits it creates (3) is there a chance of the battery charger "fighting" with the alternator of my vehicle. I know the people in the know recommend leaving the solar panels hooked up to do the charging but is this the same principle or not, your views please hmm

__________________
 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

 http://daventhedragon.blogspot.com
Crazy Dog


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 59
Date:
Permalink  

1st we need to know how many batteries and what type. What are they used for and the size of the alternator in ya vehicle to be able to give a qualified answer.

Grrr!!!ashamed

__________________
I love poor little defenceless animals, especially in gravy.
Crazy Dog
dave06


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2601
Date:
Permalink  

the house battery is a 100 amp hour, alternator standard toyota whatever they are??? it just doesnt sound right to me, running all that gear, but what do I know

__________________
 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

 http://daventhedragon.blogspot.com
Basil Faulty


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2333
Date:
Permalink  

I'd reckon that runing an inverter to power a chager would be self defeating in as much as inverters are no where near as efficient as we are led to believe. In my Jack there are 2 humugous batteries one is deep cycle the the other is for starting. They are set up in parrallel with an isolating diode that can be switched to allow the second battery to start the car if necessary. The vehicle charging system "sees" one 500 Ah battery (the 300ah starter battery and the 200Ah accessories) and charges both together. It does take a while to charge them both, Like 10 hours on the road if they are both flat as you can only charge them at around 10% of the total capacity, if that makes sense. If I stop near power I just put a 10 amp DSE charger across them for top ups that is ok.
I think from memory the alternator in the Jack is around 75 amps capacity but the charging regulator limits the current to a safe level, if you were to allow 75 amps to charge the batteries they would boil and sulphate up, a sign of overcharging...And would cost you heaps to replace....
Yes I've replaced them both, quoted $1200 for them but got the two from NRMA batteries for $380.....
Hope all this makes sense I know what I'm trying to say but get lost in context...

__________________
Don't take life too seriously.... No one gets out alive

KIA Sorento CRDi EX  ( Ebony black) with 5 hex chrome plated tire air valve covers, Coramal Sunsheild, Elcheapo GPS, First Aid Kit, full KIA toolkit & Yellow lenses on the Foglights......
dave06


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2601
Date:
Permalink  

ah hah!!! Basil's out of his corner, yep fully agree with that doesnt make any sense to me, far too complex too many plates in the air

__________________
 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

 http://daventhedragon.blogspot.com
signwilson


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 243
Date:
Permalink  

blankstare it would cause a back feed if it was putting out more than the alternator and be a waste of time and eventually burn out one of them



__________________
Crazy Dog


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 59
Date:
Permalink  

I have asked to owners of this site for the ability to upload files and diagrams for which I have many to do with this subject but there appears to be a lack of willingness to allow for that to happen so I am affraid I cannot get the info and drawings for you. It is sad as I can do this on every other site bar this one...

Oh well ... such is life - sorry people...crycrycrycrycrycrycrycrycrycrycry

Grrr!!!

__________________
I love poor little defenceless animals, especially in gravy.
Crazy Dog
Crazy Dog


Veteran Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 59
Date:
Permalink  

This might help...

http://www.exploroz.com/Vehicle/Electrics/BatteryCharging.aspx


Grrr!!!

__________________
I love poor little defenceless animals, especially in gravy.
Crazy Dog
dave06


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2601
Date:
Permalink  

thanks Doug and Ian, I looked at that website and I am doing pretty much that already, I have a 100amp in house battery and it is a 60 amp alternator, the charger is an onboard "smart charger" variable charge rate of course. now because my alternator is 60 amp and the battery to charge is 100 amp does that mean that it will be charged in 2 hours?. it doesnt really matter because as I stated previously I have an 80 watt solar panel which keeps up to my needs anyway, but I am just curious as to this charger thing, it didnt (and still doesnt) sound right to me

__________________
 me, the dragon, & little blue,  never stop playing, live long,  laugh lots, travel far, give a stranger a smile, might just be your next best freind.  try to commit a random act of kindness everyday

 http://daventhedragon.blogspot.com
Basil Faulty


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 2333
Date:
Permalink  

dave06 wrote:

thanks Doug and Ian, I looked at that website and I am doing pretty much that already, I have a 100amp in house battery and it is a 60 amp alternator, the charger is an onboard "smart charger" variable charge rate of course. now because my alternator is 60 amp and the battery to charge is 100 amp does that mean that it will be charged in 2 hours?. it doesnt really matter because as I stated previously I have an 80 watt solar panel which keeps up to my needs anyway, but I am just curious as to this charger thing, it didnt (and still doesnt) sound right to me


I think you would destroy your battery if you chaged it in 2 hours.... Usually a 10% charge rate is optimal ie a 100Ah battery should be charged at around 14 Volts at 10 amps....



__________________
Don't take life too seriously.... No one gets out alive

KIA Sorento CRDi EX  ( Ebony black) with 5 hex chrome plated tire air valve covers, Coramal Sunsheild, Elcheapo GPS, First Aid Kit, full KIA toolkit & Yellow lenses on the Foglights......
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Click here for the Grey Nomads website -> The Grey Nomads Forum -> The Grey Nomads - General -> running an onboard charger
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook