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
Here is a case where he did get his PD to more like a constant amps bulk:
ktmrfs Portland, Oregon
Posted: 02/16/13 08:14pm Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
I have a PD60A unit that previously was connected to a pair of GC with about 9 ft of #2 wire. PD would start at 55A or so at 50%SOC and start tapering fairly quickly, within 15 minutes or so. It would be down to 45A pretty quick. Don't recall how long.
Now to my new setup
1) Battery bank consisting of 4 Trojan T-125's. 490AH
2) ALL interconnect with #3/0 welding cable with one minor exception. 12V side is 9ft #3/0, ground side is 6ft #3/0.
The exception is that the PD converter is connected to the #3/0 at my inverter input with about 9" of #4 cable for the ground and positive lead.
From there the #3/0 goes to a perko disconnect switch and directly to the battery. Battery is protected at the battery terminal with 150A MRBP fuse.
So to see how this performed, I discharged the battery bank to 50% per my trimetric, then started charging. Initial current was 61.5A, and now after 2 hours, it has tapered down to 59.4A. Trimetric says 72% SOC. I'll keep checking for the next two hours to see how the output voltage holds up. At 60A, the trimetric shows a 0.1V drop along the cable run.
so I guess the PD Can be a constant current source for a long while IF you have low enough resistance in the leads, and a big enough battery bank.
2 1/2 hours, down to 57.5A and up to 80%SOC
The data are:
inital current 61.5A
after 1 hour 60.5A
after 2 hours 59.4A
after 2.5 hours 57.5A output voltage now up to 14.0V so I suspect it will taper faster now.
after 3 hours, 43.4A, and output voltage is at 14.3V and 84% SOC
after 3.5hours, 32A and 90% SOC
So it basically held the 60A output for 2.5 hours before beginning to taper.
ktmrfs Portland, Oregon
Posted: 02/16/13 08:14pm Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator
I have a PD60A unit that previously was connected to a pair of GC with about 9 ft of #2 wire. PD would start at 55A or so at 50%SOC and start tapering fairly quickly, within 15 minutes or so. It would be down to 45A pretty quick. Don't recall how long.
Now to my new setup
1) Battery bank consisting of 4 Trojan T-125's. 490AH
2) ALL interconnect with #3/0 welding cable with one minor exception. 12V side is 9ft #3/0, ground side is 6ft #3/0.
The exception is that the PD converter is connected to the #3/0 at my inverter input with about 9" of #4 cable for the ground and positive lead.
From there the #3/0 goes to a perko disconnect switch and directly to the battery. Battery is protected at the battery terminal with 150A MRBP fuse.
So to see how this performed, I discharged the battery bank to 50% per my trimetric, then started charging. Initial current was 61.5A, and now after 2 hours, it has tapered down to 59.4A. Trimetric says 72% SOC. I'll keep checking for the next two hours to see how the output voltage holds up. At 60A, the trimetric shows a 0.1V drop along the cable run.
so I guess the PD Can be a constant current source for a long while IF you have low enough resistance in the leads, and a big enough battery bank.
2 1/2 hours, down to 57.5A and up to 80%SOC
The data are:
inital current 61.5A
after 1 hour 60.5A
after 2 hours 59.4A
after 2.5 hours 57.5A output voltage now up to 14.0V so I suspect it will taper faster now.
after 3 hours, 43.4A, and output voltage is at 14.3V and 84% SOC
after 3.5hours, 32A and 90% SOC
So it basically held the 60A output for 2.5 hours before beginning to taper.
