Converter question...

[Tod Osier]

I'm trying to get up on all aspects of the new Solaris before I use it in two weeks. I'm trying to figgure out battery charging when boondocking with the generator - should I charge direct with the 12v DC output on the generator or go through the converter? My interest is minimizing generator use while maintaing the batteries.

I've read all the supporting material I have and online and there is no place that describes current allocated to 12v DC charging (all the 12v DC battery charging information is in terms of volts). My basic question is would I be better off charging batteries directly with my inverter generator (Yamaha 2400) that produces max 8 amps of 12 VDC or just plugging the shore power and letting the converter charge.

My power center is a WFCO 8935. In reading other converter manufacturers, the full 12v DC production can be allocated to the batteries in the bulk mode (minus any other 12v DC allocations), so obviously if speed of charging is the primary concern than I should plug in to the 120v AC on the geneset, if the converter is capable of producing 35 amps of 12 volt DC (vs 8 amps). Right?

[264SRinPA]

Use the converter. If you want even faster charging, use a dedicated battery charger.

[Steve Collins]

As Mike says, the only way you will get more charging is to use a higher output battery charger. You could also upgrade the converter/charger. They are available up to 75 amps from WFCO. There are others that are even higher.

[Tod Osier]

Originally Posted by Steve Collins

As Mike says, the only way you will get more charging is to use a higher output battery charger. You could also upgrade the converter/charger. They are available up to 75 amps from WFCO. There are others that are even higher.

Thanks guys.

I don't have a meter to measure current. Am I to understand that if I'm not using any other 12v devices a 35 amp converter is allocating 35 amps to the batteries in bulk mode. If yes, that is a fair amount of charging.

I own several battery chargers, but have never owned one over 10 amps.

Thanks,

Tod

[264SRinPA]

It will only put out 14.4 volts max for battery charging.

[264SRinPA]

charging amps shouldn't be more than 10% of the batteries amp/hours

[JohnB]

Originally Posted by Tod Osier

Thanks guys.

I don't have a meter to measure current. Am I to understand that if I'm not using any other 12v devices a 35 amp converter is allocating 35 amps to the batteries in bulk mode. If yes, that is a fair amount of charging.

I own several battery chargers, but have never owned one over 10 amps.

Thanks,

Tod

Hi Tod

If your setup is still stock from Sunline the wire size and fuses for that matter will not allow 35 amps to charge the battery.

I had a stock 60 amp American Enterprises convertor and it is even fused at 30 amps up by the battery. That breaker never tripped as the no 6 awg wire has way too much resistance to allow that large of a charge.

Odds are high that the 35 amp convertor will be allow about 12 maybe 15 amps to go to the battery "if" the battery is drained enough to accept that kind of a charge and the remainder will be left over the run the inside of the TT.

I agree, you will get more charge out of the genny running the convertor then using the genny 12 vdc to charge with.

Hope this helps

John

[Tod Osier]

Originally Posted by JohnB

Hi Tod

If your setup is still stock from Sunline the wire size and fuses for that matter will not allow 35 amps to charge the battery.

I had a stock 60 amp American Enterprises convertor and it is even fused at 30 amps up by the battery. That breaker never tripped as the no 6 awg wire has way too much resistance to allow that large of a charge.

Odds are high that the 35 amp convertor will be allow about 12 maybe 15 amps to go to the battery "if" the battery is drained enough to accept that kind of a charge and the remainder will be left over the run the inside of the TT.

I agree, you will get more charge out of the genny running the convertor then using the genny 12 vdc to charge with.

Hope this helps

John

Thanks John (and everyone else),

That information was really useful. Doing some charging calculations and assuming that I'm keeping the batteries topped off daily (not drawn down to 50%) the amps we are talking should be fine to keep things going without running the generator for hours and hours.

I appreciate the information.

Tod