Battery charger vs power converter
I know there is a difference between a power converter and a battery charger but what is it.Some of the new smart chargers look pretty capable.In my old school truck camper all there is are a few led ...
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In some cases the difference between a battery charger and a Converter is the paint job.
But in most cases it is filtering and regulation.
Battery chargers tend to be unfiltered rectified AC Some (non-smart) are not regulated so you go (sixty or 120 times a second) from zero volts up to around 15 or 18 and back to zero This is ok for charging batteries. but not so good for powering electroincs.
CONVERTERS have (at least most of 'em today) Filters on them.. So the output is 13.6 volts DC with very little AC ripple. In fact in my RV is a very sensitive radio. I have, many times, chatted with folks over in Italy, or France or Germany on digital modes pushing a great whomping 30-40 watts into the wire (Antenna) and they are doing the same.. A radio that sensitive will notice things like AC ripple on the power leads. My TS-2000 can not tell if it's running on Batteries, Converter or both the converter is that clean. (it runs on 12 -15 volts very nicely).
But the converter has both very good flitering, and very good regulation..
(I mentioned some older ones, Like the Magnetek 6300 which actually had two outputs.. Both were unfiltered and unregulated.. one was tied to the battery though and that one the battery acted as both filter and voltage limiter. Boiling dry if the voltage got too high.)
But in most cases it is filtering and regulation.
Battery chargers tend to be unfiltered rectified AC Some (non-smart) are not regulated so you go (sixty or 120 times a second) from zero volts up to around 15 or 18 and back to zero This is ok for charging batteries. but not so good for powering electroincs.
CONVERTERS have (at least most of 'em today) Filters on them.. So the output is 13.6 volts DC with very little AC ripple. In fact in my RV is a very sensitive radio. I have, many times, chatted with folks over in Italy, or France or Germany on digital modes pushing a great whomping 30-40 watts into the wire (Antenna) and they are doing the same.. A radio that sensitive will notice things like AC ripple on the power leads. My TS-2000 can not tell if it's running on Batteries, Converter or both the converter is that clean. (it runs on 12 -15 volts very nicely).
But the converter has both very good flitering, and very good regulation..
(I mentioned some older ones, Like the Magnetek 6300 which actually had two outputs.. Both were unfiltered and unregulated.. one was tied to the battery though and that one the battery acted as both filter and voltage limiter. Boiling dry if the voltage got too high.)
