Recomended Battery charger

morrisrv
morrisrv Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭
in Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum #1
Hello. I am looking for advice on purchasing a quality battery charger.
I have Exide 80 AH 2volt batteries. Two parallel groups each with 12 in series. (They were given to me,used) I have a Prosine 1000 inverter, no built in charger. What 12/24v charger would be best? I want to leave it connected all the time? I am looking for a smart charger. Hopefully in the $200 range. any input is greatly appreciated.
Thank you all for listening. Bob
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  • GreenerPower
    GreenerPower Solar Expert Posts: 264 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    For a C10 charge rate, you have 2 banks of 24V @ 8A charging each bank. That's 28.8V * 16A = 460W 24V charger. Likely you are not going to find a smart (3, 4 -stage) charger for ~<$200. If you are upto, here is what I would do
    * Buy a C40 charger controller here at NAWS ($98)
    * Buy two 48V/5A power supplies from here ($30 each)
    Plus shipping, total probably close to $200.

    Wire the DC power supply outputs in series (I've done this, you can adjust the DC output to lower it if you like) i.e. getting 96V @ 5A (480W) to feed the C40. Good luck.

    PS: Opps! Just look up the C40 spec, for 24V battery, the input is limited to 50VDC. Dang ! these DC supplies can not be paralleled without modification. I guess you could stay with one and more time for charging. Also the DC supply is short protected but not current limited on the DC output. So put in a fuse.

    ..... and if you are electrically handy, soldering in one resistor inside would make it "power limited" and "parallelable".
    I had 4 of these modified and paralleled for 48V/20A DC supply.

    ... The 24V 15A Iota charger from BB's link below is very close to what you need. That's probably the best choice.

    GP
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,613 admin
    #3
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    The Iota chargers have had good reviews by some folks here and elsewhere...

    Wonder why they don't offer a battery temperature probe? (at least I did not ever find one)...

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    I've just picked up a Vector 40A charger (1093D) which claims to have true 3 stage charging, and rated for deep cycle cells.


    info
    http://www.boatersworld.com/product/199270141.htm
    http://www.directdepot.net/product_info.php?products_id=1188
    (also sold with a B&D label on it too.

    Wife's car battery was dead, and needed a fast charge, and it did the trick. Downside is, I had to pay full price at Pep Boys, on a Friday morning, didn't have a chance to "best price shop" for it.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    Quality battery chargers include 3-stage charging, an equalization feature, temperature compensation, and selectable charging profiles for different battery types. The Xantrex TrueCharge 20 and 40 chargers for 12 V batteries include all of these features.

    I haven't seen anything comprable for 24 V batteries. The next best thing might be something from Iota (with the optional IQ controller).

    See: http://www.iotaengineering.com/24vdc.htm
    and: http://www.iotaengineering.com/iq.htm

    HTH,
    Jim / crewzer
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  • morrisrv
    morrisrv Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭
    #6
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    Thank you all for the great input. I have looked at the Iota chargers and may go with one; What would be the best charge rate and for how long? Or is it all taken care of with the "smart" charger. I will spend more money if needed, I think this is where you get what you pay for. I appreciate all your help. I have a C-40 CC.
    Bob
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  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    Morris,

    A charge current of ~10% to 13% of battery capacity is suggested by Trojan Battery for flooded-cell lead-acid batteries. For your 160 Ah bank, I'd look for a charger in the 16A to 20 A range. Iota's 15 A is probably OK.

    "How long" will be decided by battery bank state of charge (SOC), charge current, and the charger's algorithm. Full charge current is not delivered in the absorption stage. Translation: The charger will figure it out. ;)

    HTH,
    Jim / crewzer
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  • icarus
    icarus Solar Expert Posts: 5,436 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    The xantrex truecharge 20/40 is a great charger. Fully automatic with temp probe. Plug it in and forget it for the most part. (I found mine on e-bay for ~$100. Buyer beware however)

    Icarus
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  • morrisrv
    morrisrv Registered Users Posts: 13 ✭
    #9
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    It is my belief the Xantrex are for 12v only, I need a 24v charger. Do they make a 24v model? I have 12 2v cells in series, paralled with another group of 12 2v cells. Each cell is stamped 80 AH, so thats what, 1,920WH each bank, total of 3840Wh
    Bob
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  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: Recomended Battery charger

    Bob,

    Right you are: The Xantrex TrueCharge units are 12 VDC only.

    Regards,
    Jim / crewzer
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