Connecting a second 12VDC battery
How is the second battery electrically connected? Just paralleled? Do you add a disconnect for each for quicker charging one at a time? Thinking another battery would be better for boondocking.
Forum Discussion
Hi Rail Dawg,
33 amps @ 120 volts translates to 330 amps @ 12 volts.
The WFCO is famous for never ever going into bulk charging mode, so it takes many many hours of generator time to recharge the battery bank (if it ever gets there--perhaps 168 hours might get close).
The PD with wizard is easy to "set" for 14.4 volts and may charge the bank much faster than the WFCO.
However, no one who does not absolutely have to tries to recharge to 100% using a generator--it simply takes too long.
The reason for this is the "acceptance" rate on a lead acid jar drops to 12.5 amps @ 85% state of charge. The closer to 100% the lower the charge rate.
There are a couple of other excellent converters such as the IOTA (with genius), and iirc the Boondocker. There are other devices such as inverter chargers that are even more effective and more programmable. For example, my Magnum can "push" up to 127 amps into the bank.
While recharging using solar is the nearest thing to a free lunch you may every find, having an excellent device to charge the battery bank is definitely NOT moot, when powered by a generator.
33 amps @ 120 volts translates to 330 amps @ 12 volts.
The WFCO is famous for never ever going into bulk charging mode, so it takes many many hours of generator time to recharge the battery bank (if it ever gets there--perhaps 168 hours might get close).
The PD with wizard is easy to "set" for 14.4 volts and may charge the bank much faster than the WFCO.
However, no one who does not absolutely have to tries to recharge to 100% using a generator--it simply takes too long.
The reason for this is the "acceptance" rate on a lead acid jar drops to 12.5 amps @ 85% state of charge. The closer to 100% the lower the charge rate.
There are a couple of other excellent converters such as the IOTA (with genius), and iirc the Boondocker. There are other devices such as inverter chargers that are even more effective and more programmable. For example, my Magnum can "push" up to 127 amps into the bank.
While recharging using solar is the nearest thing to a free lunch you may every find, having an excellent device to charge the battery bank is definitely NOT moot, when powered by a generator.
Rail Dawg wrote:
My generator while 8000 watts only puts out 33 amps on each leg.
If my WFCO charger is rated at 35 amps will there be any benefit to going with a better converter like the Progressive Dynamics?
