Thanks Mike. Is it ok to have 240 to system as well as to Anderson via charger?
I understand you to mean, is it OK to have powered up and connected to the batteries the following:
Caravan OEM charger
Your generator powered charger
Solar panels
----
It's an unusual way to do things and suggests you either need a better caravan charger or more solar.
However the charging outputs of all three products should be designed such that they can tolerate connection to another 12V nominal power source - ie. they *must* tolerate the battery presence in the event of a power cut - so, yes, it should be fine to do the above.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
You can see that a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous, so I
Have booked a session with the local lecco for his advice.
In the meantime it looks like my batteries are sulphated rather badly -
I put the charger on them because they were down a bit even with a bit
Of solar and the charger has been desulphating now for 2 sessions of about 6 hours
Per battery. Wont know how it has gone till I hook the loads back up and set
up a few hours draw.
Cant afford $6 to 8 big ones to go to Lithium - thats the estimation from the caravan mob.
And anyway I reckon that major expenditure at my end of the wick is likely
to become a waste.
Unfortunately if the batteries have sulphated there is not much which can be done with them; certainly it is worth trying the "de-sulpaters" and they may make a little difference but we are talking an improvement of 10% or 15% not 75%.
Assuming you are not running a microwave or AC from your batteries then most caravans can get away with 100Ah or, at most, 200Ah or AGM perfectly well. A 100Ah AGM will cost about $250.
Good luck.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
I am a mechanical fitter but my knowledge of modern electrics is under construction.
I was told some time ago that if I were using my generator (Honda) to charge directly from the charger, the batteries should be disconnected because remaining connected might damage any sensitive equipment.
Something to do with sine waves charging but I can not say any more as to why until I do further study.
Apparently just plugging the van into the generator GPO is ok as the charge is regulated by the van charger.
-- Edited by Ivan 01 on Thursday 13th of October 2022 05:52:58 PM
__________________
Welcome to Biggs Country many may know it as Australia
Most small generators have a DC output intended for lead acid battery charging, in the half a dozen generators I have checked this output is simply unsmoothed full wave rectified DC peaking at about 18V and I strongly suggest it is never used for battery charging except in an emergency.
If you are using a conventional 240V battery charger powered by the generator then the process I have outlined will be OK.
__________________
"I beseech you in the bowels of Christ think it possible you may be mistaken"
Oliver Cromwell, 3rd August 1650 - in a letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland
It pays to use a proper battery charger . Most generators have 12v DC but hardly enough to charge a battery . Even my 5Kw Onan doesnt charge !! Best to get 20amp or so also so your not running generator all day . I leave the charger connected all the time . It has a built in diode . I would say your batteries are toast ? Plus do you really want the risk of unreliable batteries ? 5 years seems the limit ! Especially if theyve gone flat a few times . I bought two X 135 lithiums recently for $1500. All seems well !!!
