Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG

4 T145's for 24v bank.
As I only use the solar/batteries on the weekends, the pv array should keep the batteries charged. Although, if there's an issue and I need to charge the batteries using one of my generators, what's a good cost effective charger? (getting tired of spending $$!) Generators are an eu2000 and eu3000. I have not purchased an inverter yet and was looking at the inverter/charger types but it seems I could do a little better cost wise by buying a standalone charger.

Ideas appreciated.

vtmaps

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG wrote: »

was looking at the inverter/charger types but it seems I could do a little better cost wise by buying a standalone charger.

When you see the prices of a standalone charger, the inverter/chargers will look much more reasonable. None of the standalone chargers have the features and programability of the inverter chargers. Have you looked at the samlex and xantrex truecharge2 chargers?

--vtMaps

Blackcherry04

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

The IOTA's are the cheapest and because you can adjust the output to be able to do a true Equalize when necessary. Buy the " Standard " and the plug in DLS module. If your not going to Float the batteries with it, you don't even need that.

Now if your going to buy a Premium Inverter / Charger that could be the way to go. There you get it all integrated into one package with lot's of control functions that a stripped down charger cannot offer.

http://www.solar-electric.com/batteries-meters-accessories/bach2/bach1/ioten25amp24.html

westbranch

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

Actually TBS from Holland is totally programmable but you need to buy their interface and , as VT said, the chargers are pricey...

K4KMG

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

My Rogue 3048 should handle the charging stages including equalize. I was planning on the Prosine 1800 for an inverter which is about 1k. Decent standalone chargers are about 200-500. Inverter/Chargers are close to 2k. Would like the Inv/Chrg but having a hard time justifying the cost.

Blackcherry04

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG wrote: »

My Rogue 3048 should handle the charging stages including equalize. I was planning on the Prosine 1800 for an inverter which is about 1k. Decent standalone chargers are about 200-500. Inverter/Chargers are close to 2k. Would like the Inv/Chrg but having a hard time justifying the cost.

There you go, thats why most buy a IOTA. Smart chargers won't always work on a system that has other charging sources on the bank, they also see a inverter draw as a fault and will stop or refuse to charge. A 25 amp IOTA is $182 + shipping and is a bargain.

You can buy a Outback GFX 1424 for around $1,000 + a Mate for $185 or so and have a 35 amp charger and a 1,400 watt Inverter with Generator support and have it all and the best off grid Inverter / Charger made, it'll do 2,000 watts for 30 minutes. A Xantrex SW 2024 would be my next choice.

K4KMG

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

Blackcherry04 wrote: »

There you go, thats why most buy a IOTA. Smart chargers won't always work on a system that has other charging sources on the bank, they also see a inverter draw as a fault and will stop or refuse to charge. A 25 amp IOTA is $182 + shipping and is a bargain.

Thanks. Sounds like a good plan to me!

K4KMG

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

Assuming a 50% SOC, how long would it take one of these to charge the bank? Would the 40a version at a little over 200 be a better choice?

vtmaps

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG wrote: »

Would the 40a version at a little over 200 be a better choice?

Beware of the 40 amp 24 volt version... it's probably more than your eu2000 can handle. The Iota chargers all have very large inrush currents that can bog down a small generator. They also have a very low power factor which means that even if your eu2000 can start the Iota, it will take the entire capacity of the generator to run the 40 amp Iota. The Iota is a cheap, rugged charger and works very well with grid power. A number of folks have had trouble running it from a small generator such as the eu2000.

Read:http://forum.solar-electric.com/showthread.php?10123 The OP in that thread (SteveK) ended up with a Meanwell charger, but other forum members have had some different issues with that charger.

--vtMaps

K4KMG

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

Thanks. Main generator is the eu3000.

Blackcherry04

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG wrote: »

Assuming a 50% SOC, how long would it take one of these to charge the bank? Would the 40a version at a little over 200 be a better choice?

VT gave some good advice, that said My EU2000 will pulls a 75 amp @ 12 Volts with out issue. Since you have EU's it's not much about time as it is fuel consumption. Your better off pulling the generator at 700 watts on the EU 2000 or so, on the EU 3000 you could do the 40 amp easily. The T145 is 260 amp hrs, so 50% is going to be 130 amp hrs @ 24V . The question is, are you planning to charge them to 100% or bulk them up t0 85% and let your solar finish the charge ??

I do a setup on Boats with a EU 2000 and a IOTA 30 amp @ 12V and a 45 amp @ 12v. The 30 amp runs all the time and the 45 amp is on a relay with a A/C ( 5,000 btu ). It'll run for about 7 hrs on a tank and keep the batteries up and still have A/C all night

zoneblue

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

In the pacific, Powermaster is a taiwanese brand that is readily available. They make reliable reasonably priced chargers (and other gear), ive had one in our motorhome for years. Two stage, not adjustable but on genset you really only need to bulk and let solar fisnish it off.

See http://www.powermaster.com.tw/battery-chargers.htm

K4KMG

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

Just want to bulk and let solar finish. I get to my camp on Friday and if there is an issue I have time to bulk up before the rest of the weekend. Charger will probably be used very little, as no loads are involved Mon-Fri morning. PV should keep batteries charged, but nice to have the charger just in case.

vtmaps: great thread on the Meanwell. SteveK appears to really like his. Thanks

K4KMG

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

Another thought occurred to me. How do these chargers 'play' with the other components in the system? Inverter? (Prosine 1800) CC? (Rogue 3048) Will I have to disconnect those before running the charger?

Blackcherry04

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG wrote: »

Another thought occurred to me. How do these chargers 'play' with the other components in the system? Inverter? (Prosine 1800) CC? (Rogue 3048) Will I have to disconnect those before running the charger?

You shouldn't have a issue. The charging issues usually come up more in absorb where one can override the other.

MeanWell, means they meanwell , but it doesn't work well. I have a new one in the box that costs $389, I'll sell for $100 and shipping It's 60 amp @ 12 V. Totally useless on a Solar system.

K4KMG

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

Blackcherry04 wrote: »

You can buy a Outback GFX 1424 for around $1,000 + a Mate for $185 or so and have a 35 amp charger and a 1,400 watt Inverter with Generator support and have it all and the best off grid Inverter / Charger made, it'll do 2,000 watts for 30 minutes. A Xantrex SW 2024 would be my next choice.

Looks like this would be the better choice. Currently about $1250 for both whereas the Prosine and charger would be around $1400+.

This whole solar thing is probably overkill for my needs, but somebody got me on this 'merry-go-round' and I can't seem to get off!

Blackcherry04

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG wrote: »

Looks like this would be the better choice. Currently about $1250 for both whereas the Prosine and charger would be around $1400+.

This whole solar thing is probably overkill for my needs, but somebody got me on this 'merry-go-round' and I can't seem to get off!

The GFX is a wonderful Inverter setup for a small system. It has all the bells and whistles the larger Outback Inverter / Chargers do, It is a grid interactive, but you just keep the sell off. You can choose Grid or Gen and have two different setups for two different generators on all the input settings. The generator Support is seamless. It's worth every penny and you don't have to buy a bunch of stuff that is " Not Exactly " you cobble together.

westbranch

Re: Suggestions for 24v battery charger?

K4KMG wrote: »

This whole solar thing is probably overkill for my needs, but somebody got me on this 'merry-go-round' and I can't seem to get off!

Call it the difference between men and boys....it's the size and price of the toys...

Solar is addicting, beware! But who are we to talk?