CHARGING TERMS Bulk/Absorbsion/Float
Lots of confusion about these three terms. Let's simplify things a little. We have a TWO STAGE CHARGER. The main charger and a float. Not a three stage, that's a bunch of marketing hooey. The MA...
Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
13.6 is a good, normal all-around float voltage value.
14.8 is a good normal set point for absorbsion.
16.0 is a good normal end point for equalization.
The charger is doing one of three things...
Charging
Floating
Unplugged
It is not a "charger" it is a "converter" so besides "charging" it is also running "loads" even when the battery is fully charged.
If there are no loads and the battery is fully charged the converter (if so designed) will drop to 13.2v for its "float voltage" stage. some of them have a little shot of 14.4v every so often tossed in with that third stage to prevent stratification. Some converter makers go so far as to call that a "fourth stage" and even call that little shot of 14.4, "equalization"
That is so they can sell their "4-stage converter" which is better than the other guy's mere "3-stage converter."
You can't fight it Mex. It is sales not engineering that runs the World. You know that! :)
