upgrading power converter
My power converter has apparently bit the dust, lights flickering for past couple of years now no charge to batteries... Anyhoo, we do a lot of dry camping, where we need to daily boost the batteries...
Forum Discussion
BFL13 wrote:
EDIT---yes voltage rises. (called battery charging :) ) the converter is "current limited" so it can't go higher so its amps stays constant at the rated value. (except PDs don't) Converter voltage stays just ahead of battery voltage until converter voltage reaches "threshold" and then the converter swaps over to Stage 2 , "Absorption Stage"
The voltage it stays at during Absorption (Vabs) varies among different brands of converters and chargers. Some stay at the threshold of say 14.4 or 14.8 while others drop to 14.2 or 13.6 for a more "gentle" absorption stage. I prefer where it stays at the high voltage 14.8 until the battery is fully charged before it drops to Float voltage in the 13s.
My PD4655 will stay at 14.4-14.5 until the amps drop less that 1.5, which is fully chargerd according to lifeline.
Either the power max goes above the set voltage, or it tapers the amps. Those are the only two options. Since it's claimed it holds amps longer it must go above the set charge voltage, I'd rather maintain the set voltage and taper amps as required (which my PD does). Unless the batteries are low enough that 55a cannot bring them to 14.4 the charge voltage is 14.4-14.5 and uses the amps required, from 1 to 55.
