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 ...
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If you are charging at 40 amps with a 5 amp load running then you are actually charging at 35 amps. Takes longer.
Charging with a converter has this problem in any rig, but with the VEC you can avoid it by charging disconnected batts and let the converter run the rig. You might have a minute there with no 12v in the rig while you switch over. Nothing bad happens, the fridge comes back on by itself, eg.
You can leave the solar on for more amps too. With the controller set to 14.8 same as the VEC it works all the way up. Temperature matters with the VEC which has temp comp. If it is hot out that 14.8 might be 14.6 so if you have 14.8 on another charger, at some point the VEC will drop out first. Amps will have tapered by then so no problem. The lower voltage charger does not suddenly stop, it tapers amps first as the voltage spread shrinks.
The VEC charging profile is to get the batts to 14v and then let amps taper. Do not be alarmed! :) The voltage continues to rise which keeps the amps from tapering as fast as if the voltage were held constant. Result is it comes out the same as if voltage rose to 14.8 and then was held there while amps tapered rapidly.
Love VEC charging. Only thing better is two VECs- now you get 80 amps (perfect for a bank of about 220AH--say two 6s or two 27s)
but you need a gen that can run 1600w. Ignore those who say fast charging at high amps is bad for the batteries. The batts have a "natural acceptance rate" and they won't take any more amps than they can safely take at 14.x volts.
All you get by *****-footing (the stupid editor just blanked out my word for a small cat) around with lower amps is longer gen times.
Charging with a converter has this problem in any rig, but with the VEC you can avoid it by charging disconnected batts and let the converter run the rig. You might have a minute there with no 12v in the rig while you switch over. Nothing bad happens, the fridge comes back on by itself, eg.
You can leave the solar on for more amps too. With the controller set to 14.8 same as the VEC it works all the way up. Temperature matters with the VEC which has temp comp. If it is hot out that 14.8 might be 14.6 so if you have 14.8 on another charger, at some point the VEC will drop out first. Amps will have tapered by then so no problem. The lower voltage charger does not suddenly stop, it tapers amps first as the voltage spread shrinks.
The VEC charging profile is to get the batts to 14v and then let amps taper. Do not be alarmed! :) The voltage continues to rise which keeps the amps from tapering as fast as if the voltage were held constant. Result is it comes out the same as if voltage rose to 14.8 and then was held there while amps tapered rapidly.
Love VEC charging. Only thing better is two VECs- now you get 80 amps (perfect for a bank of about 220AH--say two 6s or two 27s)
but you need a gen that can run 1600w. Ignore those who say fast charging at high amps is bad for the batteries. The batts have a "natural acceptance rate" and they won't take any more amps than they can safely take at 14.x volts.
All you get by *****-footing (the stupid editor just blanked out my word for a small cat) around with lower amps is longer gen times.
