3000W Chinese Gensets Info.
professor95 wrote: EDIT ADDED 45/5/2013- When this thread started in March of 2005, I never expected to see it survive this long or amass the quantity of information that has been shared here. In...
Forum Discussion
Let's not turn this thread into a converter or charger thread, but there is some significance to those issues as charging batteries is one of the primary reasons for having the generators.
There are three basic designs of chargers: linear, ferroresonant and electronic switching. The switching converters may be single voltage or multistage.
Linear converters have low charging current output ratings, most below 15 amps with many around 6 amps. Not good for rapid battery charging.
Ferroresonant converters are single voltage chargers - the Magnatek/Parallax models are designed for 13.8 volts under light load. See below on that. They are very sensitive to low frequency input - there will be a significant reduction in charging current for any frequency below 60 Hz.
Most single voltage switching converters are (PD, Iota, Elixir, Centurion, etc.) are set for 13.6 volts; Magnetek/Parallax are 13.8 volts (with a couple of exceptions). The charging current decreases rapidly as the battery charge level, and hence the terminal voltage, increases. The multistage converters may go to the "Bulk" mode, and that has a nominal voltage over 14 volts depending on brand/model. The charge level will be higher in this mode. Only Progressive Dynamics converters have the ability to be "forced" into the bulk mode when the microprocessor doesn't choose that mode.
All of these converters actually get there charging power from a small part of the sine wave. The generator current capability at the sine wave peaks is a key factor in the charger performance. There is another thread on charging with three different generators and the charger outputs and it has some good discussion in it: Generator / Intellicharger problem - Please help. Wayne Dohnal made two posts with pictures of his oscilloscope screens with a couple of loads on his - I really hate to do this, but the last picture is worth it - EU2000i. (Note, the pictures make take a little time to load.)
The first post is of the normal output and then a 1500 watt resistive load.
The second post is of the normal output and then a PD9160A delivering 65 amps. That picture says a lot.
It would be good if we had some similar scope displays for the Champion, Elim, etc. and with some of the other converters; but this is the best I've seen so far.
I hope this helps understanding of the issues with the various converters and chargers and charging the batteries.
Mel
There are three basic designs of chargers: linear, ferroresonant and electronic switching. The switching converters may be single voltage or multistage.
Linear converters have low charging current output ratings, most below 15 amps with many around 6 amps. Not good for rapid battery charging.
Ferroresonant converters are single voltage chargers - the Magnatek/Parallax models are designed for 13.8 volts under light load. See below on that. They are very sensitive to low frequency input - there will be a significant reduction in charging current for any frequency below 60 Hz.
Most single voltage switching converters are (PD, Iota, Elixir, Centurion, etc.) are set for 13.6 volts; Magnetek/Parallax are 13.8 volts (with a couple of exceptions). The charging current decreases rapidly as the battery charge level, and hence the terminal voltage, increases. The multistage converters may go to the "Bulk" mode, and that has a nominal voltage over 14 volts depending on brand/model. The charge level will be higher in this mode. Only Progressive Dynamics converters have the ability to be "forced" into the bulk mode when the microprocessor doesn't choose that mode.
All of these converters actually get there charging power from a small part of the sine wave. The generator current capability at the sine wave peaks is a key factor in the charger performance. There is another thread on charging with three different generators and the charger outputs and it has some good discussion in it: Generator / Intellicharger problem - Please help. Wayne Dohnal made two posts with pictures of his oscilloscope screens with a couple of loads on his - I really hate to do this, but the last picture is worth it - EU2000i. (Note, the pictures make take a little time to load.)
The first post is of the normal output and then a 1500 watt resistive load.
The second post is of the normal output and then a PD9160A delivering 65 amps. That picture says a lot.
It would be good if we had some similar scope displays for the Champion, Elim, etc. and with some of the other converters; but this is the best I've seen so far.
I hope this helps understanding of the issues with the various converters and chargers and charging the batteries.
Mel
