Forum Discussion

Traveler7's avatar
Traveler7
Explorer
Apr 07, 2018

Advice on controlling Alternator to House battery charging?

Thanks in advance for your help!

I have a 60 amp alternator in my 1977 Dodge Camper Van and i want to use it to supplement a Solar setup- 160 watt panel flat mounted on roof with a 10 amp PWM solar controller feeding a 100 or 120 AH AGM battery.

Currently (no pun intended) there is a diode battery isolator running power to charge the house, but I want to be sure it does not overcharge the AGM. My thought is to get a 30 amp PWM solar controller and run thru it so I get an automatic float mode out of it.

I know a 60 Amp alternator probably won't send much back at all, but I am concerned that running many hours every day may cause a problem. I'm also open to eventually upgrading to a 110 Amp Alternator in the future.

So........?

Thanks again!
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Apr 08, 2018
    "Overcharge" means too much voltage, not too many amps. Your alternator cannot do too much voltage. The battery itself has an amps "acceptance" limit for any particular state of charge and voltage. So no worries.

    You do need to worry about ever getting that nice AGM fully recharged though. That means you need an ammeter to see when it gets down to nearly zip amps acceptance at its rated absorption voltage (14.8 or perhaps 14.4 depending on spec) with no load on it.

    Arranging to be able to do that in an RV while camping is where it gets "interesting". Forum member Landyacht might have a few tips on that.

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