Problems with Boondocker 60 amp converter
Having issues with this converter, won't do more than 13.6 volts, ever.
Forum Discussion
Dieselburps,
I'm not going to reread the whole thread to check, but Have you tried starting the boondocker with actually depleted batteries when battery voltage is in the 12.2 range?
If the boondocker sees 12.6 or .8 or higher, it will not attempt to go into bulk where it seeks 14.4 or 14.6v, and never will.
If the wiring or its connections are compromised, the voltage it sees will quickly rise, hit that threshold of 14.4v or 14.6 and revert to its lesser voltage.
About the Meanwell or Megawatt, the part numbers Niner gave you are for the Megawatt:
http://www.12voltpowersupplies.us/
I employ a Meanwell rsp-500-15 which is rated for 500 watts but will do 600 watts, and it will hold 40 amp output until battery voltage approaches closely to the 14.XX voltage I have chosen.
They have a Meanwell rsp-750-15 which I assume would be good for 60 amps. Meanwell has a large lineup of powersupplies, but for battery charging one needs one which lists constant current limiting on overload, as a depleted battery is an overload. Powersupplies without this feature will either quit until the overload is removed, or they will roll back current, slowing charging.
Running it at max output it gets quite hot, and I added more ventilation and heatsinking. It has a very powerful and loud 40MM computer fan inside which cycled on and off at just 6 amps output. Now output must be well over 30 amps for this fan to automatically come on.
I also added a 10 turn potentiometer, replacing the tiny one on the circuit board which required a jewelers screwdriver and a fine tough to adjust voltage. The Tiny potentiometers are rated for only 100 cycles through their range,IIrc and I would have quickly wore one out.
As I enjoy changing voltage and observing different amp flow at different states of charge. It has been a good learning tool.
It is not a tool for everyone as it is not automatic, and is not really intended for this usage.
For the Automatic converter, I liked the PD 9245 I used in a project that utilized a Lifeline gpl-31xt battery AGM and it was able to exceed 45 amps, but this tapered to the high 30's and held there until the battery was in the 80% range. Others report that they do not do well on a generator and taper lower.
The ability of the PD92xx to manually force an intended voltage puts it above the powermax and the Iota, in my opinion, and I hear they can be ordered with a 14.8v absorption voltage instead of the standard 14.4v.
I do not know about the other series of PD offerings which have the powercenter or are intended as drop in replacements.
The wiring thickness is important to get the converter to go into bulk and hold it. Voltage drop is the enemy of all battery charging, especially when an Automatic 3 or 4 stage charging source source is involved.
I use ~ 3' of 8 awg then 3' of 4awg from on my 40 amp meanwell to my AGM-27, and just twist the potentiometer a little higher when I want maximum amp flow for as long as possible, until the battery terminals reach the intended voltage. The output voltage at the converter's/powersupply terminals and the voltage at the battery terminals is significantly different passing 40 amps into a depleted battery.
Sorry your thread has devolved into the Automatic vs manual approach and what is better. I find this site much more palatable if I just Ignore RJ's posts. I need to avoid such personalities as my contempt for humanity is already so high.
I actually learn things from Mex when I can decipher what it is he is trying to relate in his particular/peculiar way.
I'm not going to reread the whole thread to check, but Have you tried starting the boondocker with actually depleted batteries when battery voltage is in the 12.2 range?
If the boondocker sees 12.6 or .8 or higher, it will not attempt to go into bulk where it seeks 14.4 or 14.6v, and never will.
If the wiring or its connections are compromised, the voltage it sees will quickly rise, hit that threshold of 14.4v or 14.6 and revert to its lesser voltage.
About the Meanwell or Megawatt, the part numbers Niner gave you are for the Megawatt:
http://www.12voltpowersupplies.us/
I employ a Meanwell rsp-500-15 which is rated for 500 watts but will do 600 watts, and it will hold 40 amp output until battery voltage approaches closely to the 14.XX voltage I have chosen.
They have a Meanwell rsp-750-15 which I assume would be good for 60 amps. Meanwell has a large lineup of powersupplies, but for battery charging one needs one which lists constant current limiting on overload, as a depleted battery is an overload. Powersupplies without this feature will either quit until the overload is removed, or they will roll back current, slowing charging.
Running it at max output it gets quite hot, and I added more ventilation and heatsinking. It has a very powerful and loud 40MM computer fan inside which cycled on and off at just 6 amps output. Now output must be well over 30 amps for this fan to automatically come on.
I also added a 10 turn potentiometer, replacing the tiny one on the circuit board which required a jewelers screwdriver and a fine tough to adjust voltage. The Tiny potentiometers are rated for only 100 cycles through their range,IIrc and I would have quickly wore one out.
As I enjoy changing voltage and observing different amp flow at different states of charge. It has been a good learning tool.
It is not a tool for everyone as it is not automatic, and is not really intended for this usage.
For the Automatic converter, I liked the PD 9245 I used in a project that utilized a Lifeline gpl-31xt battery AGM and it was able to exceed 45 amps, but this tapered to the high 30's and held there until the battery was in the 80% range. Others report that they do not do well on a generator and taper lower.
The ability of the PD92xx to manually force an intended voltage puts it above the powermax and the Iota, in my opinion, and I hear they can be ordered with a 14.8v absorption voltage instead of the standard 14.4v.
I do not know about the other series of PD offerings which have the powercenter or are intended as drop in replacements.
The wiring thickness is important to get the converter to go into bulk and hold it. Voltage drop is the enemy of all battery charging, especially when an Automatic 3 or 4 stage charging source source is involved.
I use ~ 3' of 8 awg then 3' of 4awg from on my 40 amp meanwell to my AGM-27, and just twist the potentiometer a little higher when I want maximum amp flow for as long as possible, until the battery terminals reach the intended voltage. The output voltage at the converter's/powersupply terminals and the voltage at the battery terminals is significantly different passing 40 amps into a depleted battery.
Sorry your thread has devolved into the Automatic vs manual approach and what is better. I find this site much more palatable if I just Ignore RJ's posts. I need to avoid such personalities as my contempt for humanity is already so high.
I actually learn things from Mex when I can decipher what it is he is trying to relate in his particular/peculiar way.
