Converter and Charger at the same time
I did a rather un-scientific test to compare my WFCO converter to a battery charger. I ran the slides in and out a few times and ran 2 fans and all the lights for a while (about a 25 amp draw). After ...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
If both are plugged in at the same time, then the factory converter will see the 14.6 volts, and then stop charging.
The problem with charging a battery at 14.6 volts means that the battery will get warm and boil a lot more than normal amount of water out of the battery. If you do this frequently, plan on adding water every month or so. Also if the battery plates get to warm, they can warp. This can cause the plates to touch each other, shorting out that cell, and require battery replacement.
So Yes you can charge at 14.6 volts. No, not my battery, but yours - go ahead. If you are running from a generator, you can recharge much faster with the portable 40 amp charger. If I really wanted to save generator run time, then I would set my inverter/charger for 70 amps and let the generator run about 1 hour, charging from 60 to about 40 amps (tapers as the 4 golf cart batteries fill). Then shut off the generator, and let the sun keep filling my batteries via my 415 watt solar system. This will very slowly fill the battery - at 8 - 25 amps per hour, just they way batteries like it. The battery will not warm up, water loss will be minimal.
SunElec.com
Fred.
If both are plugged in at the same time, then the factory converter will see the 14.6 volts, and then stop charging.
The problem with charging a battery at 14.6 volts means that the battery will get warm and boil a lot more than normal amount of water out of the battery. If you do this frequently, plan on adding water every month or so. Also if the battery plates get to warm, they can warp. This can cause the plates to touch each other, shorting out that cell, and require battery replacement.
So Yes you can charge at 14.6 volts. No, not my battery, but yours - go ahead. If you are running from a generator, you can recharge much faster with the portable 40 amp charger. If I really wanted to save generator run time, then I would set my inverter/charger for 70 amps and let the generator run about 1 hour, charging from 60 to about 40 amps (tapers as the 4 golf cart batteries fill). Then shut off the generator, and let the sun keep filling my batteries via my 415 watt solar system. This will very slowly fill the battery - at 8 - 25 amps per hour, just they way batteries like it. The battery will not warm up, water loss will be minimal.
SunElec.com
Fred.
