24V Battery Charger

ghostofthenorthghostofthenorth Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Hi friends,

Second time poster, 1000th time reader.  Last year after reading through so so many fantastic posts here I finally made my final decisions and bought the components for and installed my first system.  It's at my hunt camp in Canada.

I have 4x 235w panels connected to a midnite classic charging 4x6v cr430 batteries, then a cotek st1000 inverter.

Everything is working beautifully.  Generally we use about 10% of the battery capacity in a typical night.  In our area, this is great, as we can have some low charge days, so over a week, we shouldn't be at much risk of going below 60% capacity.  Huge thanks to this forum for the help in getting to this stage.

That said, I've got one piece left that I would like to add.  This is a fairly high capacity charger for the 24v battery bank for the times we run a generator.  I'm looking for recommendations.  It would be used when we happen to run the genny, which is not common usually, but depends on who's at the camp.  It would also function as the winter source of battery recovery in the event we get there (rarely, maybe 2 times per winter) and its low.

Thoughts?  Recommendations?  General comments on my setup?

Thanks NAWS!
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Comments

  • ghostofthenorthghostofthenorth Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭✭
    #2
    I should note that during the first winter, 3 people visited the camp, and the batteries (kept in an insulated box in the basement (super rare!!)) Were at 100% each time.  So no major worry, just wanting to protect the investment.
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  • TecnodaveTecnodave Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
    One one thing that will make a high power charger more useful especially on a generator is power factor correction or PFC, this corrects the current and voltage of the charger to unity making better use of the generator power.  Chargers that do not have PFC will be able to use less of the generator's power. Cotek and Victron manufacturers good PFC corrected battery chargers. Chargers such as the Iota which is not PFC will be able to use only 60% or so of total generator power. I have a small Cotek 40 amp and Two huge Victron Steca (100 amp) chargers, both PFC
    2 Classic 150, 2 Kid, 5 arrays 7.5 kw total  2ea.  2S6P Sharp NE-170/NE-165, 1ea. 12P Sanyo HIT 200,  2ea. 4/6P Sanyo HIT 200, MagnaSine MS4024AE, Exeltech XP-1100,  2 Banks L-16 battery, Rolls-Surette S-530 and Interstate Traction, Shunts with whizbangJr and Bogart Tri-Metric, iCharger i208B  dc-dc buck/boost converter with BMS for small form lithium 8S 16650 or LiFePO4,
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  • TecnodaveTecnodave Registered Users Posts: 437 ✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2019 #4
    Cotek model number is CX2445,120 volt in , 24volt 40 amp DC out, programmable for battery types including lithium, true 4 stage charging,   great unit, perfect match for my Cotek SD 2500 124 inverter, can't find the Steca model number, but it's a Victron Steca, but it's 180-277 volt AC or 180-240 DC switch mode power supply, apparently no us dealers, bought them used from a ship being dismantled, can't find dealer...
    2 Classic 150, 2 Kid, 5 arrays 7.5 kw total  2ea.  2S6P Sharp NE-170/NE-165, 1ea. 12P Sanyo HIT 200,  2ea. 4/6P Sanyo HIT 200, MagnaSine MS4024AE, Exeltech XP-1100,  2 Banks L-16 battery, Rolls-Surette S-530 and Interstate Traction, Shunts with whizbangJr and Bogart Tri-Metric, iCharger i208B  dc-dc buck/boost converter with BMS for small form lithium 8S 16650 or LiFePO4,
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  • ghostofthenorthghostofthenorth Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭✭
    #5
    Thank you very much for the recommendations!
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  • BB.BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 32,998 admin
    #6
    Not cheap, but very nice Xantrex TC-2 PFC AC battery charger (10-30 amp @ 24 vdc models):

    https://www.solar-electric.com/residential/batteries-battery-storage/battery-chargers.html?manufacturer=101&nav_charger_output_voltage=492

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • EstragonEstragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #7
    The point on PFC chargers is well taken, but may or may not be a deal breaker.  I use a pair of 45a Iotas to charge my ~700ah 12v bank.  I generally only use them in fall/winter, and when I do a honda eu2000i does the job easily.  90a at 12v dc output is only 9a at 120v ac.  Even with lousy PF, at a few hours a couple times/week, a few weeks/year it really doesn't amount to much.  With a much larger bank and more regular charging, it may have been worthwhile using a spendier charger, but for my occasional use, the Iotas and the little honda get the job done.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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