Problems with Boondocker 60 amp converter

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mean-Well/RSP-500-15/?qs=8uyp%2Fy7yFW4u946GFlR%252b8A%3D%3D

Is 'RSVP' merely your way of showing contempt for a slightly more expensive product?

The Borg sounds like a beauty.

Revisit the Borg thread with some pics and details please, for us nerds who actually are interested.

Guess I've been looking in the wrong place. The 500 watt "RSVP" seems to be selling for 350+ dollars. For 120 dollars, I get two Megawatts that can closely approach 100 amps maximum or say 1,300 watts. Automatic Power factor Correction is the one thing the Megas cannot touch. The 33 uf run capacitor sure helps but this adds yet another component that the buy-and-plug-in-crowd would shy away from.

This is the way the BORG works...
I see a pair of Ford diesel group 65's that make the starter motor go click-click.

110-amp hours each is a close-enough guesstimate for charging the batteries. The mechanic wants to try and start the engine so a fast charge is indicated.

I set both the lower and the upper Mega for 14.8 volts, and twist the timer to start. Hmmm. 93 amperes. Two hours otter do it so the timer gets twisted to 2-hours and I walk off. The BORG just beats the krap out of a 40-amp wheeled charger for speed.

Two hours later I return to find both batteries just beginning to bubble, as the charger shuts off. I twist both pots back to 300 just for safety's sake. The mechanic is happier than a clam. He cranks and cranks and bleeds the injectors.

Jesus has a single group 27 ciclando profundo that he used to burn 40 watts of LED lights all night while diving. More or less, 12.3 volts. I set the upper Mega on 14.8 volts for an hour and a half, and the lower Mega which does NOT have a timer for 14.0 volts. He wants to grab four hours of sleep and then go fishing for red snapper. When he returns, the upper Mega of course is finished with the 14.8 while the lower Mega continues at 14.0 The battery is 100% full. This is by virtue of hydrometer verification. He snaps the four position chicken head switch off, disconnects the battery then goes fishing.

My Lifeline has worked all night. The power has just flickered back on. Time to get the butt in-gear before it goes out again. Both Mega's get pre-set for 14.4 volts at home, but in a flaky-wired hotel room, I'll start out with the untimed Mega at 14.4 and see how it does. If the lights don't dim I'll cut in the second timer Mega and let it have at the Lifeline with 14.4 volts.

For floating in 100F weather I'll dial back the lower Mega to 13.00 volts and it'll run that way forever. The upper remains off-line.

I have actually, with my little fingers, watching a real clock, timed myself setting up the BORG for an actual job. It takes less than 15-seconds. The lower Mega is the floater. The Beta, although with the pot I can set it up to 15+ volts (Moose Tonsils Northwest Territory?).

The pot allows me to dial down to 10.9 volts to check 10-watt LED chips or in conjunction with the DROK 600-watt DC to DC booster, PRECISELY AND CORRECTLY equalize flooded batteries or power a monster 500-watt LED area fixture (equal to 1,000 watts plus of metal halide lighting).

The DROK 5-digit voltmeter and ammeter and second DROK 5 digit voltmeter after the DROK booster turns this critter into a monster power supply rated to 10 amps at 60-volts WITH exact and precise current limiting down to the hundredth of an ampere. The booster has a big muffin fan under it but I could care less to test the DROK's 20-amp fuse.

From the daintiest NiCad to the largest multi-cell battery the BORG can be configured in seconds to charge them correctly.

It can switch hats, and can be carried by it's guitar case handle.

But it is NOT a converter. Not a device that offers batteries a Stalag 13, grade diet whether the battery likes it or not. I have a WFCO 55-amp converter that will mis-perform with the best of them. Routed through a 500 ampere Shottkey rectifier the WFCO insane-asylum-grade 13.6 volt float has been tamed to 13.2 A 50-amp rated switch bypasses the rectifier if 13.6 volts is needed.

A distant solar home owner from the other-side offered a thousand dollars (10- 100 dollar bills) for the BORG. No sale. I think he's going to return with a lot more cash. With meters, switches, pots, et al I believe I have something like 400 dollars invested in the BORG. Plus a lot of labor.

Well, this thread really took on a life of its own!

DieselBurps wrote:

Set voltage to 14.8 coming out of the meanwell to the batteries?
what size wire for run from Meanwell to batteries? Will be about 3 feet away.
Thank you all!

I've set my Megawatt (S-400-12) to 14.82; I'll forgo the adjustable POT for now and use it solely for the generator charging segment with the intermatic (when I find one)

I am running 4GA wire (6' of battery booster cables purchased on sale) from my charging 'center' to the dual DC24 batteries. Hmmm, may have to boost the megawatt a bit since the voltage drop for 12/30AMP on 6 feet is
Voltage drop: 0.089
Voltage drop percentage: 0.60
Voltage at the end: 14.731

Also connected will be a solar charge controller (trimetric SC-2030 (w/o monitor)). Haven't found the solar panel yet.

Everything monitored with a Victron 700 AH counter in the trailer.

Finally, a 300W PS inverter (SAMLEX - older one found in clearance sale - with 16.5 input limits) supplying a 20 feet AC (14AWG - 120 volt drop < 3 per cent) wire to a special outlet in the trailer for powering the entertainment system at night.

Still gathering parts (from everywhere; ebay, amazon, electric supply, web sites).

Using 8 AWG T-90 wire for most of the interconnect on the charging center.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Yuh! I does stares at the timer all-the-time when camping. Course it takes an opposed thumb to twist the dial.

For those looking, the intermatic part number (SPST) is FF4H. You can also use the SPDT FF34H.

Not an on the shelf item at the electric supply places (in Canada). Prices seem to run about $40-$60 CDN that I can find.

I'd use EBAY, but the import and shipping charges are the same as the timer itself :)

Good to hear the Borg is operational and operating Mex, how bout you revisit your Borg thread with the help of Niner to post the pics?

As far as megawatt Vs Meanwell pisfing contest, My intent was only to point out that there is an MeanWell SE series of adjustable voltage power supply with similar appearance to the Megawatt and similar part numbers(and price), and there is the MeanWell RSP series which I own and is rated for 500 watts, and will do 600 watts as long as the load is there to ask for it. So I did get a bit offended when you claim a superiority of Megawatt, when the OP is considering the MW RSP series which you have not held in your grubby paws to declare it superior or inferior to the products you do own.

And claiming to be unaware of the Meanwell RSP series in not believable as you had participated often in my Thread about the MeanWell RSP-500-15 when I first got it, So I'm calling you out, Mofo :)

You have an Arabian. I will have to make do with a small herd of Appaloosa's. What is wonderful is these things are available.

In case my words above come off as anything but good natured ribbing, I apologize in advance.


As far as Apples to can openers go, well, indeed, as I use mine as a Bulk charger, absorption charger, float charger, portable charger, and power supply and have no need or desire for ANY other plug in charging source as my MeanWell covers all those bases with a high degree of precision. As far as I am concerned this adjustable power supply is by far the most adaptable battery charger I could ever envision, and I thank you again for bringing up the possibilities of such a device for battery charging, as I am not going to spend the high $$$.$$ for a programmable charger, and the big three converter options are all compromises of various degrees, and I got 40 amps to meet all my desires for 129$ delivered and taxed.

As far as twisting a dial to change voltages being stressful or impeding my ability to enjoy a day for fear of holding absorption for too long, well this is simply ridiculous. Hardly baby sitting. I run from a screaming whining crying child with a furious contempt for humanity, but seeing how many amps my battery is taking at absorption voltage, is logical, and controllable, repeatable and simply enjoyable in comparison to a diaper soiling nightmare of a child and the woman who bore its continuous complaining.

If I have to be away when amps would taper to 0.5% or less, I just set the voltage to float voltage. With my AGM, this does not decrease the charging amps nearly as much as with the screwy 31, and while I do not like to agree with Pnichols on principal, I think a single voltage 13.8v charging source can indeed recharge an AGM battery pretty darn well.

When I get to 14.5v at 35 to 40 amps, and then lower voltage to 13.8v, the amps only decrease by 5 or 6 whereas the screwy 31 would decrease by 20 amps or more.

The ability to change voltage and instantly see the difference in amperage flowing at the electrical pressure allowed has given me insight into battery charging I would not be able to develop otherwise.

So for the head in the sand set it and forget it crowd (RJ) and their indignant attitude of automatic superiority, is quite laughable to me.

If I had little to no interest in battery charging and had the budget, a programmable high $$ charging source would be installed and be a no brainer.

I could certainly have made due with the 40 amp MegaWatt and saved 50$ and be limited to ~15.5v, but that was 18 months ago, those 50$ would have been long spent on other things and not available to me now anyway.

With 19.23v available, I could cut the cord on my laptop's power supply and hook it to the meanwell, in theory.

Yuh! I does stares at the timer all-the-time when camping. Course it takes an opposed thumb to twist the dial.

liborko wrote:
I have older version of Truecharge 40+ and fan runs only when needed, not all the time. I am not sure how fan on new version Truecharge 2 works.

The "smart charger" can only be as smart as a person who made a firmware for it. I use Xantrex products long enough to know that it neither undercharge nor overcharge batteries and it definitely prolongs the life of batteries. If 5 years is average life of batteries, my Xantrex charger is already paid for just by savings from not having to replace batteries prematurely.

Tweaking the 20 turn potentiometer to fine tune charger voltage when charging is not my idea of having fun when camping. And same applies to babysitting the batteries when on charge.

That's interesting, where did this 20 turn pot come from?

I have older version of Truecharge 40+ and fan runs only when needed, not all the time. I am not sure how fan on new version Truecharge 2 works.

The "smart charger" can only be as smart as a person who made a firmware for it. I use Xantrex products long enough to know that it neither undercharge nor overcharge batteries and it definitely prolongs the life of batteries. If 5 years is average life of batteries, my Xantrex charger is already paid for just by savings from not having to replace batteries prematurely.

Tweaking the 20 turn potentiometer to fine tune charger voltage when charging is not my idea of having fun when camping. And same applies to babysitting the batteries when on charge.