Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER
Nov 13, 2018Explorer
If you went from 45 amps to the point of saturation charging of GC 220 batteries you may find they accept almost 100 amperes when starting out at a 50% depth of discharge.
The advice I give about saturation charging must remain in context. It is designed to reduce generator run time to a minimum. There is a heck of a difference between runtime of a Harbor Freight 2-cycle 800 watt generator charging a single group 24 RV battery and a 6,500 watt generator running to charge the same battery. A 45 ampere converter will max absorbsion voltages but the battery calls the shots. X number of minutes to go from 50% SOC to 90% SOC.
500 amperes at 28.9 volts is a lot of va. But the balance of horsepower versus saturated absorbsion charge of the batteries is entirely valid.
Lbs of fuel per hour vs kWh is not linear at low draws. It short a 6.5 generator is a FUEL HOG when powering a 500 watt load. It is just plain nuts to try charging a 400 ampere hour bank with a 45 ampere converter and six thousand watt generator.
On public power the 45 amp makes perfect sense. Off grid the 45 amp charger is a fuel spendthrift.
The advice I give about saturation charging must remain in context. It is designed to reduce generator run time to a minimum. There is a heck of a difference between runtime of a Harbor Freight 2-cycle 800 watt generator charging a single group 24 RV battery and a 6,500 watt generator running to charge the same battery. A 45 ampere converter will max absorbsion voltages but the battery calls the shots. X number of minutes to go from 50% SOC to 90% SOC.
500 amperes at 28.9 volts is a lot of va. But the balance of horsepower versus saturated absorbsion charge of the batteries is entirely valid.
Lbs of fuel per hour vs kWh is not linear at low draws. It short a 6.5 generator is a FUEL HOG when powering a 500 watt load. It is just plain nuts to try charging a 400 ampere hour bank with a 45 ampere converter and six thousand watt generator.
On public power the 45 amp makes perfect sense. Off grid the 45 amp charger is a fuel spendthrift.
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