Solar charge current
I've read about solar charging systems, and am impressed when the owner boasts of the current generated. What I don't understand is how a system that generates 20-50+ amps doesn't fry the batteries. ...
Forum Discussion
under ideal conditions most flooded cell lead acid batteries will have maximum cycle life if the intial charging current is limited to about C/10 C=rated AH. However, you can still get very long life cycle even charging at an initial C/2 to C/4 rate. The charge rate will decrease as the battery bank gets near full charge, starting to taper at when the battery is about 70% charged.
So... a initial 50A charge rate isn't excessive for a couple of 12V or pair of 6V golf cart batteries.
what controls the current going into a battery is the source voltage, battery voltage, battery internal resistance, the current the source can supply and the charging algorithm.
On a deeply discharged battery on initial charge the charging current will be limited by either the source max current or the battery internal resistance. Generally the max source current is the limit.
So... a initial 50A charge rate isn't excessive for a couple of 12V or pair of 6V golf cart batteries.
what controls the current going into a battery is the source voltage, battery voltage, battery internal resistance, the current the source can supply and the charging algorithm.
On a deeply discharged battery on initial charge the charging current will be limited by either the source max current or the battery internal resistance. Generally the max source current is the limit.
