PD or Iota for my upgrade?
I'm thinking about a converter and battery upgrade. The batteries will be wet cell lead acid 6 volt Possible T-105s or the 230AH, EGC2 from Sam's club. I'll probably go for four. (Does nayone have...
Forum Discussion
The PD, like most chargers is not an "ideal" current source when operating in the bulk charging mode. E.g. a current source that will deliver a fixed current independent of the voltage across it. An ideal current source could deliver infinite, or fixed current across zero ohms and infinite or fixed current across an open circuit. Clearly not possible.
In the case of the PD it has an upper output voltage limit across the load of 14.4V. That limit is often call a "compliance voltage".
It also does not have infinite internal impedance like an ideal current source.
since in internal impedance is finite and has a compliance voltage limit, unlike an ideal current source it won't go from full current to zero current at the compliance voltage limit. It will begin to taper the current as it gets near the compliance voltage, going to zero current at the compliance voltage.
Since one can't design an ideal current source, no matter what converter design you look at it, it will have similar characteristics. However, the rate at which voltage tapers, the voltage it starts to taper at, and the voltage at which current drops to zero is going to depend on the design. Some will come close to acting like an ideal current source during bulk mode charging, others not as good. And to some extent, the battery bank they are charging can influence how "close" or "far" from an ideal source it is.
Some designs are better than others in terms of coming close to an ideal current source, none are ideal current sources. Pick the converter that gives you what you want/need.
In the case of the PD it has an upper output voltage limit across the load of 14.4V. That limit is often call a "compliance voltage".
It also does not have infinite internal impedance like an ideal current source.
since in internal impedance is finite and has a compliance voltage limit, unlike an ideal current source it won't go from full current to zero current at the compliance voltage limit. It will begin to taper the current as it gets near the compliance voltage, going to zero current at the compliance voltage.
Since one can't design an ideal current source, no matter what converter design you look at it, it will have similar characteristics. However, the rate at which voltage tapers, the voltage it starts to taper at, and the voltage at which current drops to zero is going to depend on the design. Some will come close to acting like an ideal current source during bulk mode charging, others not as good. And to some extent, the battery bank they are charging can influence how "close" or "far" from an ideal source it is.
Some designs are better than others in terms of coming close to an ideal current source, none are ideal current sources. Pick the converter that gives you what you want/need.
