Problems with Boondocker 60 amp converter

NinerBikes wrote:

DieselBurps wrote:
rt of a manual charger regardless since I think I prefer that and like the control it gives me. Which Meanwell should I be looking at for my 2000 watt genny?

S15 -400 or S18-400.

Did you mean MegaWatt S-400-12 ? (which is the closest I can find to all the other discussions on the 'MegaWatt 35' previously recommended in other threads.

Never mind, I see below that others have already confirmed it to be a MegaWatt part number. (Ordered on EBAY this morning since they ship to Canada). Thanks to all (most) for the information on battery charging.

Yes, ignore my posts, while at the same time remembering the fact that everything I say is true,....except the few post that really were made made to agitate a little.
It has always been said "you can't fix stupid", and the last few posts prove that to be fact for sure.
I am glad that there are a couple here that really do know what they are talking about,....(not including mex, niner, and yaht) I respect them, and I do still learn from them.
It seems that there is a growing number of battery fryers, that they could form a "Battery Fryers Club" of their own. That seems to be their whole life anyway, mite as well form a club and get some real recognition. But on 2nd thought, where would I then come every morning for my comedy of the day.:(
:)

smkettner wrote:
Next thing you know people are going to want automatic transmissions and a thermostat for the furnace....

Not for their electric cars that are battery powered. 1 gear box, forward and reverse is it.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
I love the name calling and labeling :)

When a discussion degenerates to that level the name caller has lost.

neanderthal was humorous but when associated the same with hermit, I object. Can you please stop name calling. thank you.

I plan to go with both

Good plan.

I have an Automatic schumacher that I've grown to trust to eventually fully charge, and not overcharge, on the AGM setting, when there is no loads on the battery. BUt throw a cycling load such as a compressor fridge on it and forget it.

But the Meanwell kicks its butt in sheer ability and versatility, especially on an AGM battery that lists a 13.6 float voltage.

I thought about all 3 of the big converter makers, went for the Meanwell, and have zero regrets.

'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.

I have had fully dead batteries and still not got bulk charge out of it. Max is 12 amps according to my Trimetric and tapers from there.

About the Meanwell or Megawatt, the part numbers Niner gave you are for the Megawatt:
http://www.12voltpowersupplies.us/

Thank for that, I was having trouble locating the meanwell Niner was refering too.

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.

If I can get Randy to warranty the converter I will run larger wire for sure.

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 plan to go with both that is IF i can get my Boondocker warrantied. I like the idea of the manual adjustable voltage chargers like the Megawatt and Meanwell. I have all my fuses in the Boondocker so I need someway to still have that and be able to charge my batteries without running the genny 24 hrs a day

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.

Toss another log on the fire, shove and row that 9-speed. The issue with automatic transmissions, and thermostats is THEY WORK. I tried a vocal speech keyboard program. It took longer to correct gibberish than if I typed things outright. I'll always remember the time between graduation and college. The National Lampoon had a toilet paper thrift saver" Wound between two spools. When one side was "used up" the spools flipped to offer the unused side.

Next thing you know people are going to want automatic transmissions and a thermostat for the furnace....

That's why the BORG has a bullet-proof wind-up TIMER on it. That's why ALL my charging sources have Intermatic timers. I even have 24-hour timers. And definitely NOT electronic timers. Mechanical wind-up timers good for a hundred thousand cycles or so. "Overcharging" a battery at 14.8 volts for A WHOLE FIFTEEN MINUTES is such a farce, I won't even bother going there.

Rationalization via using double digit I.Q. arguments is embarrassing. And such an emotional reaction is not directed at the reader. It is a seeking of a prime directive of intelligent problem solving that gets the problem solved quickly and correctly.

"How can I make this work?"

"Maybe I'll ask"

Instead of tossing out a bushel basket of asinine assumptions or especially engaging in antler sharpening displays of pure ignorance. I have a giant reference library - and mold does not form on it. Querying Google for valid data is a double-digit percentage of my computer usage.