Costco GC2 spec
I decided to replace the old GC2 batteries (4 years old). Costco's GC2's are now labeled Interstate Batteries. There isn't much data on the battery, just RC = 107. A "real" Interstate battery that ...
Forum Discussion
"Now what I am understanding so far is that the acceptable amps of the charge can go up to 80 or so for a 2-GC2 220 (or so) AH battery set in series (right?). If so are you saying the difference in a high amp charge, say 80A vs 35A, might only cut off 10-15 minutes or so of the charge cycle?"
No, going higher than 80 isn't worth it. Going lower hurts more the lower you go.
Your old auto charger is not the same as a new one that does constant amps. The old way had the amps taper right off, so it was always slower with the lower amps as they tapered.
Yes you can run the rig on the existing converter for Float and when on shore power. Off grid all you need is a single voltage (14.8v) charger that will do the constant amps (that's the hard part, to find one of those)
Don't forget that the "single voltage" at 14.8 means it is a "two stage charger" as far as the battery is concerned. It does "bulk" at the constant amps until battery voltage reaches 14.8, then does "absorption" while 14.8 is held constant and amps now taper.
Converters that are called "three (or four0 stage" are different in that each "stage" is a converter stage, not a battery stage. Each converter stage is a fixed voltage , say 14.4, 13.6, and 13.2
While at the 14.4 converter stage it can still do the two first battery stages if it stays at that voltage long enough. Mostly it won't stay there that long and it will go to the next stage 13.6 during the battery absorption stage at some point along the way.
No, going higher than 80 isn't worth it. Going lower hurts more the lower you go.
Your old auto charger is not the same as a new one that does constant amps. The old way had the amps taper right off, so it was always slower with the lower amps as they tapered.
Yes you can run the rig on the existing converter for Float and when on shore power. Off grid all you need is a single voltage (14.8v) charger that will do the constant amps (that's the hard part, to find one of those)
Don't forget that the "single voltage" at 14.8 means it is a "two stage charger" as far as the battery is concerned. It does "bulk" at the constant amps until battery voltage reaches 14.8, then does "absorption" while 14.8 is held constant and amps now taper.
Converters that are called "three (or four0 stage" are different in that each "stage" is a converter stage, not a battery stage. Each converter stage is a fixed voltage , say 14.4, 13.6, and 13.2
While at the 14.4 converter stage it can still do the two first battery stages if it stays at that voltage long enough. Mostly it won't stay there that long and it will go to the next stage 13.6 during the battery absorption stage at some point along the way.
