Charging rate elec question
Thinking about upgrading elec system because I keep having little problems with connections and cables etc. If I upgrade I'm going to put in a "smart charger". Talking with a guy at battery shop and ...
Forum Discussion
Here is what happens at various charging rates with smart chargers (in this case Vector -now B&D-portables)
You see that you get to a lower SOC sooner with a higher rate, but then as amps taper, they are still higher than if you had started with a lower rate.
Eventually, you get to the same point (SOC at that voltage) the lower rate charger starts to taper, so after that it is the same. (as controlled by the battery itself with its "natural acceptance rate")
You can see how the time saved at the higher rates by going higher is a diminishing return. You can decide whether the cost of going to an 80amper over a 60amper is worth that many minutes of reduced gen time to do a 50-90.
Note it is all proportional, so you can ratio it out for other than 220AH. eg, doubling the capacity with the same amps, doubles the time. Doubling the amps with the same capacity does not halve the time.
You see that you get to a lower SOC sooner with a higher rate, but then as amps taper, they are still higher than if you had started with a lower rate.
Eventually, you get to the same point (SOC at that voltage) the lower rate charger starts to taper, so after that it is the same. (as controlled by the battery itself with its "natural acceptance rate")
You can see how the time saved at the higher rates by going higher is a diminishing return. You can decide whether the cost of going to an 80amper over a 60amper is worth that many minutes of reduced gen time to do a 50-90.
Note it is all proportional, so you can ratio it out for other than 220AH. eg, doubling the capacity with the same amps, doubles the time. Doubling the amps with the same capacity does not halve the time.
