Battery charging

Progressive dynamics, lota, power max??? I'm looking for a charger to run off my generator but all I find are converter chargers. I would like a 14.8 cc cv bulk charger only. Any recommendations. 12 volt 208 amp hr b bank.

2kw array 6 345 q cells  make sky blue 60 cc
 6 230ah GC @36 volts 
18 amp accusense charger. 3650 champion 

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Is this for daily charging from a generator, or backup charging for solar ? 
    If simply backup for a solar install, any good 30-40A automotive charger should do it.  As the battery charges, it's current draw goes down, so you might see 10 min @ 40A, then 20 min @ 30A, and 90 min @ 15A.  At some pooint you must decide when to cut the dino juice to the generator, and let the solar finish the batteries.  Running the genset for 2 hours for 4a of charging, has diminishing returns.
    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 ,

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Besides Mike's excellent suggestion--And my adding, if this is a "permanent" installation, replace the battery clips with terminal rings and bolt up connections. Alligator clamps are not very reliable for high current/longer term usage...

    Our host has always recommended the Iota chargers (should probably get the IQ-4 two stage controller option). They have been recommended for their ability to sustain rated output for many hours (not a lot of charge controllers can do that--apparently). Also, there is a 10 turn pot inside (you have to take out security screws and remove the cover to get at the pot) so you can adjust voltage for your needs.

    A couple of notes... The "standard" (older) Iota designs have a "simple" AC front end (rectifiers and high voltage cap). That can make for high surge current and poor power factor... And will limit how big of DLS charger you can put on a small genset (Honda eu2000i--As I recall from other posters here, ~30 amps @ 12 volts max). Also, there have been a few reports here of the "front end" needing repairs after years of service (AC rectifier???).

    https://www.solar-electric.com/dls-30.html

    Iota also has a new charger line... I don't have any information, but hopefully it is power factor corrected. That allows you to put a 45 amp @ 12 VDC on a Honda eu2000i (1,600 Watt) AC genset.

    https://www.solar-electric.com/iota-engineering-dls-30-x-battery-charger.html

    And Xantrex makes a very nice Power Factor Corrected battery charger... With a fair amount of features (multiple charging voltages/modes/battery chemistries, remote battery temperature sensor):

    https://www.solar-electric.com/residential/batteries-battery-storage/battery-chargers.html?manufacturer=Xantrex&nav_charger_output_voltage=12+Volts+DC

    The Xantrex units are not cheap. I am not sure if the 60 Amps @ 120 VAC can run on an eu2000i.... Talk with NAWS or perhaps somebody here can answer the question.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • mountainman
    mountainman Registered Users Posts: 439 ✭✭
    Back up charging on rainy days  with solar. Currently using 200 amp car charger on 35 amp setting cutting it off at 14.8 because the volts keep climbing. Only thing you have to monitor it . If I had something that would turn the charger off at that voltage and shut the generator down would be great. But I could probably buy a charger for what that would cost 
    2kw array 6 345 q cells  make sky blue 60 cc
     6 230ah GC @36 volts 
    18 amp accusense charger. 3650 champion 
  • mountainman
    mountainman Registered Users Posts: 439 ✭✭
    Looked up lota 45 -x (11 amps max ac input) should run on my 2000 generator. Would 45 amps be too much on 208 bank?
    2kw array 6 345 q cells  make sky blue 60 cc
     6 230ah GC @36 volts 
    18 amp accusense charger. 3650 champion 
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    In general, for flooded cell lead acid batteries, if you charge at more than ~13% rate of charge--It is recommended that you use a remote battery temperature sensor. As FLA batteries get hot, the charging voltage falls... So you can get thermal runaway (higher temperature, higher current flow, higher temperature, etc.). Around C/8 rate of charge (0.125) is usually the point where (for example) fork lift batteries get active cooling and thermal management.

    Otherwise, the highest rate of charge is probably 20-25% (again on the 20 Hour capacity rating of the battery bank) that I would suggest to not exceed.

    Temperature rise of a FLA battery is also based on state of charge--At less than 80% SOC, FLA batteries are very efficient at charging. At over 90% state of charge, their efficiency falls to where even an extended charging time (many hours or longer) even a 5% or 2.5% rate of charge will eventually overheat the battery (basically battery gassing--Hydrogen+Oxygen+Heat).

    Of course, battery voltage is important here--You only get "high current flow" with high voltage (i.e., equalization at >~15.0 volts and >~2.5% rate of charge).

    And that seems to be the weakness of "car chargers"... They are designed for quick charging and many chargers do not seem to regulate the charging voltage (will go over 17 volts if you let it).

    If you monitor the battery bank temperature and gassing (light fizzing OK, rolling "boil" of hydrogen+oxygen gassing not)--You can use unregulated battery chargers. Using a timer to cut the AC power after X Hours may not be a bad idea if you are trying to quick charge your bank and accidentally get distracted.

    "Typical" battery chargers have inexpensive components which tend to have very poor power factor. Also, many "home" type gensets are not very happy running at 100% of rated output for many hours (aka--Typical charging of a battery from 50% to 90%+ state of charge). The rough formula I suggest is something like:
    • 2,000 Watt genset (rated power, not surge) * 0.80 charger efficiency * 0.70 Power Factor of charger * 1/14.8 volts charging * 0.80 Genset derating for continuous load = 60.5 Amps charging current for 12 volt battery bank maximum continuous
    If you have a "modern" power factor corrected battery charger like the Xantrex... The efficiency may be ~90% and the Power Factor ~95%:
    • 2,000 Watt genset (rated power, not surge) * 0.90 charger efficiency * 0.95 Power Factor of charger * 1/14.8 volts charging * 0.80 Genset derating for continuous load = 92.4 Amps charging current for 12 volt battery charger with PF Corrected power supply
    The above sort of estimates the "worst case" and "best case" battery charger numbers and suggested maximum output for a 12 volt battery charger on a residential genset. Note that technically we are saying a 2,000 Watt genset also has a maximum rating of 2,000 VA (volts*amps) where:
    • VA = Power * Power Factor

    Commercial and other larger gensets are frequently rated at PF=0.80 or so (80% power factor)... Residential gensets are typically rated at PF = 1.00 (100%).

    AC math and terms (like power factor) is actually a very complex subject.

    I like to be conservative in my electrical/engineering suggestions. I am not there--And things happen (forget to disconnect charger when a family emergency occurs)--I want a more "bulletproof" setup. It is not impossible for over charged/over loaded circuits/genset to fail (expensive) or cause a fire (expensive or worse). Using a genset with a limited amount of fuel in the tank (4-6 hours) does limit the charign time too.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • mountainman
    mountainman Registered Users Posts: 439 ✭✭
    edited May 2018 #7
    Yes i would like a more bullet proof system for safety. Read your response several times trying to learn. Here's what I got
    • 208 amp hr 12 volt battery bank
    • 208×25% 52 amp max charger.
    • 2000 surge 1700 running worst charger like mine
    • 1700 watts x .80 charger eff. X .70 pf x 1/14.8 volts x 0.80 gen load = 51.5 Amps charging @ 12 volt battery bank
    So 50 amp cc is my best choice. With the 50 xantrex
    • 1700 Watts  x .90 eff x.95 pf x1/14.8 volts x .51 gen load = 50 amps charging @ 12 volt battery bank
    Half load on gen easier on generator plus power left for other loads.

    [edited by -Bill to better follow the math]
    2kw array 6 345 q cells  make sky blue 60 cc
     6 230ah GC @36 volts 
    18 amp accusense charger. 3650 champion 
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Just to be clear, the Xantrex charge controller is available in 20/40/60 amp @12 volt models... There is no 50amp @ 12 volt model.

    More or less, a 10% minimum rate of charge is recommended for Lead Acid batteries, or 10%*208AH= ~21 amp load.

    A 50 Amp (or 60 Amp) charger is pretty large and may be "overkill" for a 208 AH battery bank (once the battery is >~80% state of charge, the battery will automatically cut back on charging current--Also known as the "absorb" charging stage. "Bulk charging" state is when the charge controller outputs its maximum current into a less than ~80% state of charge lead acid battery).

    For a genset--More or less gasoline engines are most efficient if they are loaded to 50% or more of rated output. If you fall back below 50% of rated output, the fuel flow (more or less) remains the same from 50% to 0% output power. The inverter generators (Honda, Yamaha, and others) are a bit more fuel efficient at lower output because the can slow down the motor RPM (inverter genset will keep 60Hz output frequency fixed and still remain fairly fuel efficient down to 25% of rated output). Most of your charging time will be in the "absorb" phase and a larger charger will only reduce the genset run time a smaller amount (for a deeply discharged Lead Acid battery bank, your system will spend ~4-6 hours in the 80-95%+ state of charger range regardless of the charger current output).

    Note that Inverter Gensets seem to be more "sensitive" to high surge/high output current and will quickly shut down if you exceed their rated output (surge or continuous). Plain old 120 VAC alternator gensets are much more forgiving with temporary overloads/surge current. I am not sure which genset you have.

    If genset (and AC mains) charging is "rare"--And Iota charger (IQ-4 Optional charger controller module is still nice) is less expensive and typically "good enough".

    If genset charging is going to be an ongoing thing (not enough solar panels/long streaks of bad weather, AC Mains charging most of the time except during power failures, etc.)--The Xantrex is a very nice (but expensive) feature rich unit. And for your present battery bank, I would probably go with the 20 or 40 amp unit. I think the 60 amp unit is too large (and too expensive) for your present needs.

    If you double the size of your battery bank to ~400 AH later--The larger 40 amp battery charger will still be a very nice fit (~10% rate of charge) with your smaller genset.

    If you ever go with a larger battery bank (over ~600-800 AH @ 12 volt battery bank), I would be suggesting you look at 24 or 48 VDC instead--So the battery charger and inverter(s) have to be replaced anyway--Which may limit the amount of money you want to put into a 12 VDC (only parts) system.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • mountainman
    mountainman Registered Users Posts: 439 ✭✭
    edited June 2018 #9
    I'm using a regular 2000 surge 1700 non inverter generator. You are right about plain old generators. I no its too hard on it but l can run my 15000 btu ac with it. I had a 2000 honda that wouldn't start my microwave. With an old non pf car charger on 35 amp setting it hardly changes sound. Im planning on staying with 12 volts. And a 400 amp battery bank is next in line. A 55 dsl-× Iota specs are 750/800 watts. max inrush current single cycle 30 amps. doesn't that mean it's not pf corrected? With a 400 ahr battery Charging at 750 watts. Wouldn't it take about 2 hrs Charging time from 50% to 80% soc.
    2kw array 6 345 q cells  make sky blue 60 cc
     6 230ah GC @36 volts 
    18 amp accusense charger. 3650 champion