Forum Discussion

CA_Traveler's avatar
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2016

Faster Battery Charging

My son has 2x GC2 batteries at 232AH and a WFCO 8955 charger and it’s about 20’ from the batteries. While he also has 160W of solar he wants faster charging with the charger and 2KW gen with reduced gen run time. So I’m thinking that he needs a decent 3 stage charger for C/5 or about 50A that is mounted next to the batteries in his 5er.

The new charger doesn’t necessarily need remote temperature and voltage sense probes for his usage. I have a question about the PD9245C and PD9260C chargers. The manual shows bulk and float charging but no mention of absorb charging. Did I miss something?

Or recommendations for a suitable charger.
  • corvettekent's avatar
    corvettekent
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2016
    Sounds like he needs a MPPT charge controller for his solar and mounted close to the batteries. My batteries are charged by noon every day.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Mar 13, 2016
    To some extent the battery charging is controllable with the solar and the family but not really with a 3-4 day fishing excursion with some of his buddies.
    By the second day more extended gen charging is required with the WFCO and I'm not sure the batteries reach 80% SOC.
  • corvettekent's avatar
    corvettekent
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2016
    We have been unplugged for 6 weeks now and no generator use. We watch TV 4 hours every night, charge the phones, laptop, notepad, and use a hair drier on the inverter every morning and the batteries are full by noon. Solar works great if it is installed correctly.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Mar 13, 2016
    If he has the roof restate I'd simply add another 160 watts of panels.
  • NinerBikes's avatar
    NinerBikes
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2016
    Your son needs about 240 Watts of solar panels, and and adjustable voltage PWM charge controller that he can adjust to get 14.8v measured at the battery posts when close to fully charged.
  • doughere's avatar
    doughere
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2016
    I have a PD 9260 (with pendant) located about 2 feet from 2 6V GC's. Cables between battery and charger are battery cables from AutoZone. When starting with a depleated battery, I consistently get near 60 Amps, decreasing as charge progresses.

    My PWM solar controller is also right next to the battery.

    The wire size and distance can make a HUGE difference in charging.

    Doug
  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2016
    The question was about charging w/ converter, not about solar !!!!
    My 9245 works great, as Doug said above.
    As to the technical parts as to how much time it spends in each mode, I don't know. When I actually need the charging, it is always in bulk, and gets shut down before it ever get out of that stage. The only time it goes thru all the stages, is at home, and I seldom look at it.
  • grizzzman's avatar
    grizzzman
    Explorer
    Mar 13, 2016
    CA Traveler wrote:
    My son has 2x GC2 batteries at 232AH and a WFCO 8955 charger and it’s about 20’ from the batteries. While he also has 160W of solar he wants faster charging with the charger and 2KW gen with reduced gen run time. So I’m thinking that he needs a decent 3 stage charger for C/5 or about 50A that is mounted next to the batteries in his 5er.

    The new charger doesn’t necessarily need remote temperature and voltage sense probes for his usage. I have a question about the PD9245C and PD9260C chargers. The manual shows bulk and float charging but no mention of absorb charging. Did I miss something?

    Or recommendations for a suitable charger.


    Close to the batteries is a great idea. Large wire also. And to answer your question float is 13.20 (every 21hrs bumps it to 14.4 for 15 minutes) Adsorb (if you want to call it that) is 13.6 and bulk is 14.4.

    (But there are faster ways to charge off a Genny)
    Good luck with your project!
  • JiminDenver's avatar
    JiminDenver
    Explorer II
    Mar 13, 2016
    CA has a system like mine, I bet he understands solar quite well. There are times that demand makes high amp charging with a generator a better solution.

    Having solar to finish it off would make a 3 stage converter a waste I would think. I know someday I'll need the generator and want a Powermax 120a adjustable voltage unit. Set the voltage to absorb level and get the bulk of the charging done ASAP. When the amp meter drops to the point the solar can finish off, I get my quiet back.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Mar 13, 2016
    CA Traveler wrote:
    I have a question about the PD9245C and PD9260C chargers. The manual shows bulk and float charging but no mention of absorb charging. Did I miss something?

    Or recommendations for a suitable charger.
    Bulk, Absorption and Float are more battery terms than converter.

    Battery can be charged through all three stages at a single voltage.
    PD has a Boost (14.4), Normal (13.6) and Storage (13.2 volts).

    Yes typically the battery will transition from Bulk to Absorption during the 4 hour boost mode. The remaining Absorption time will progress in Normal mode.

    After a time the converter will drop into Storage and continue to Float the battery.

    The 4 hours of PD boost mode is generally plenty for charging on generator. The real problem with most WFCO is they never switch to boost mode and just slow charge at 13.6 volts.

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