Mega Watt only 15.34V?

sjturbo wrote:
Ok, thanks for all the responses thus far! Responses follow:
rjxj have not measured the SG lately but was ok.
MW not sure I want additional worts.
RJ Shu may be an alternative.
NinerBikes I thought the MW was good for Top Charge?
Actually have not tried charging yet, but connections to battery are all 4ga.
Do not mean to leave anyone out but I'm working on it.

Depending on the day, my Mega Watt shows 15.56 to 15.64 V at the terminals before hooking up to the T 1275 150 AH battery I run it with, with 8 gauge wire and 18 " long run.

For a Trojan T-1275, they suggest 14.8V (conservative) and older manuals suggested 15.0V to top charge.

Keep in mind, Top Charging is not the same as Equalization charging, which takes a C-20 rate at constant amps, from a charger capable of 16.0V.

So your Mega Watt is probably capable of Top charging your flooded Lead Acid batteries, if it can get to at most 15.3 V, and it will probably, based on you looking up the specs of your particular battery, be closer to 14.8... or if a sealed AGM battery, 14.4V Max. See the manufacturer's specifications, for your brand and size of battery.

Crown C 235

How I decipher it:

Charge a pair of C 235's at 12V at 25 to 30 amp hours, at 14.4 V until they start gassing, or get held to a 9 amp hour charge rate.

At that point they want you to maintain a constant 9 amp /hour charging rate, while gently increasing the voltage to hold that constant 9 amp hour charging rate, for 3.5 to 5 hours after the gassing rate has started.

To Equalize, maintain the 9 amp /hour rate, and let the voltage continue to climb for another 3 hours... (6.5 to 8 hours after gassing starts)

I don't know what a charge factor of 1.08 or 1.15 for equalization means.


Here is what I would do... Set your voltage for 14.5V and when the battery reaches a rate where the amp hours on an amp meter hooked up inline drops to at or slightly below 9 amp hours, call your bulk charging good. Finish off with a solar panel capable of 14.8V and 18 amp hours(320 watts, on a 12V system solar panel setup, with a voltage adjustable controller. Watch until your amps drop to a constant 9 amps. Call it good. Consider it top charged.

Equalize once every 10 to 14 days if off the grid or living on it full time, or when you get back home, if your trips are no more than 14 days long.

landyacht318 wrote:

15.34v might be more than enough on your battery.

X2

The meanwells with -15 in their part number go higher. But you already have the mega. See how it does on your battery. Every battery is different and will change as it ages. The SG can't lie.

These power supplies are tools. Means to an end after other charging sources give up and say good enough, with too low a voltage and too short a duration.
15.34v might be more than enough on your battery. The hydrometer will tell you, then you can tell us.

SJ, the Mean Well's go higher in voltage than the Mega Watts. You have to look at the specs for the power supplies in question.

Ok, thanks for all the responses thus far! Responses follow:
rjxj have not measured the SG lately but was ok.
MW not sure I want additional worts.
RJ Shu may be an alternative.
NinerBikes I thought the MW was good for Top Charge?
Actually have not tried charging yet, but connections to battery are all 4ga.
Do not mean to leave anyone out but I'm working on it.

Niner wrote:

"Are you running good 8 gauge wire or thicker, with premium connectors on the ends, with a short run from Mega Watt to batteries? You can lose voltage there also." (end)

This may seem like a non-issue to some, but I can assure you it makes a significant difference. I recently changed the cable from the batt neg to the 500a shunt post, from 14 1/2" of 4ga with cheapo ends, to 2" of 2ga with heavy duty tinned copper ends, and the voltage drop reduced from .03v to .01.

XC 75

I use my Mega Watt for boost charging only. The old Sears 6/2 Amp manual charger at 16.0v gets the nod for EQ charging after the Mega Watt is done. 2 or 3 hours on the Sears usually gets the SG as high as it's going to go on a Single T-1275. I can tell it's usually finished when the amp meter starts at 6 amps or a bit more, and drops to 50% of the rating, or 3 amp charge rate, on the analog meter.

Are you running good 8 gauge wire or thicker, with premium connectors on the ends, with a short run from Mega Watt to batteries? You can lose voltage there also.

sjturbo wrote:
Ok thanks RJ, gotta model number?

Hey, at least I got 1 reply.
I posted it here before, but not even a comment.

I forgot the number, but I'll get it later today.

I don't have a Schu but several people who do have posted here about their really weird charging profiles, so I would steer clear of them without knowing more. It is possible that there is nothing strange about them.

I do have a VEC1093DBD and know its charging profile is a good one.