What Smart charger do I need?

BFL13 wrote:
So what he really needs is a stock WFCO that actually works right! :)

Tech Issues questions would drop by at least half if WFCO actually did what was expected and advertised. ;)

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
I need some help here understanding the newer breeds of smart charger models.

I gather the newer chargers with remote can be set to provide 14.8 volts absorbsion upper limit.

OK the voltage is fine. How about adjustable time spent at selected voltage limit? Can a user program the charger to spend whatever time the user wishes at that limit?

It would be great if the newest chargers did exactly that - as I would stop my griping.

Sorry MEX, no automatic converter charges at 14.8 volts. Only BFL13's manually selectable Powermax.

Progressive Dynamics will generally start at 14.4 volts and hold four hours then drop to 13.6 and eventually to 13.2 volts. It has a button to move between these modes manually if desired. About once a day PD gives a 15 minute boost charge of 14.4 volts if plugged in continuous.

IOTA starts at 14.8 limit but as soon as the converter hits 14.6 a 15 minute timer starts. At the end of this 15 minute timer IOTA drops to 14.2 volts for an extended period (something like 4 to 12 hours depending) then down to 13.54 for float. Once a week IOTA restarts the sequence and should complete in minimum time on a full battery.

While not perfect these both seem to work well in most conditions.

Solar controllers are the only thing I know that really do it all.

Call Randy at BestConverter.com. He will work with you over the phone, as these folks are doing through posting, to help you get the best of what you want.

I need some help here understanding the newer breeds of smart charger models.

I gather the newer chargers with remote can be set to provide 14.8 volts absorbsion upper limit.

OK the voltage is fine. How about adjustable time spent at selected voltage limit? Can a user program the charger to spend whatever time the user wishes at that limit?

It would be great if the newest chargers did exactly that - as I would stop my griping.

smkettner wrote:
OK PD is manually selectable... and it should be extremely rare to ever need to actually use the button. Especially if mounted close to the battery with #4 wire.

We have both seen the charts comparing IOTA and PD and for all practical charging it is dead even at the 3 to 4 hour mark. IOTA starts in boost every time so again no real need for a button.

My comment was focused on the fact that the OP plans to hardwire and "fired up the Honda without me even having to touch the battery charger." and for not wanting to fiddle with the charger I cannot recommend a fixed 14.8 volt converter. Seems an automatic system would be a better application.
JMHO

So what he really needs is a stock WFCO that actually works right! :)

The 14.8 would only be on while the Honda is running though, so no fear of Floating at 14.8. If he got shore power he could just dial it down to 13.6 --got to do some work as an Rver! :)

OK PD is manually selectable... and it should be extremely rare to ever need to actually use the button. Especially if mounted close to the battery with #4 wire.

We have both seen the charts comparing IOTA and PD and for all practical charging it is dead even at the 3 to 4 hour mark. IOTA starts in boost every time so again no real need for a button.

My comment was focused on the fact that the OP plans to hardwire and "fired up the Honda without me even having to touch the battery charger." and for not wanting to fiddle with the charger I cannot recommend a fixed 14.8 volt converter. Seems an automatic system would be a better application.
JMHO

smkettner wrote:
I recommend the 60 amp IOTA or Progressive Dynamics converter over the PowerMax.

Notice that I recommend the adjustable voltage PowerMax for generator charging. I don't like any of the standard converter choices for that.

The PD is superior to the Iota because the Charge Wizard lets you "force" one of the three voltages, but the Iota's IQ4 does not let you do that.

I recommend the 60 amp IOTA or Progressive Dynamics converter over the PowerMax.

A manual Schumacher will keep charging when an ordinary smart charger stops charging and the battery is nowhere full. My Trace 4024 does not fill the batteries past around 90% full so when it pouts the other chargers take over. Job one is to go online and Google FRANCIS FREAS HYDROMETERS and buy the #1 model kit. Find the lowest cell of your six cells and that's your go-to cell. When it's reading charged the other 5 are guaranteed charged. This saves a lot of time and effort. You need a decent panel volt gauge for permanent mount. Again go to Google. Search 3-1/2 digit panel voltmeter. Example 12.64 volts. Forget the ones that read 12.6 volts - they are junk.
64

If it is hardwired, it is no different from a converter, except for the charging profile, which is adjustable on the model I linked to.

You still have to do some work, but not much. :)

You would have to set your chosen voltage like 14.8 and then leave the on/off button to on. You would then start the Honda and the charger would run at 14.8 till you turn off the Honda (or whatever 120v supply). That would bring the batts to 14.8 at constant amps (75a if that is the one you get) and then amps will taper while voltage stays at 14.8. It would take the 75 two hours to do a "50-90" on a pair of 6s, and about two and a half hours with a 55 amper instead. So it is all about your generator run time vs cost of the charger size 75 vs 55 what is "worth it" to you.

If you ever had shore power, you could do the recharge at 14.8 and after a while, say four hours, set the voltage to 13.6 and leave it at that.

That is way superior to the off-the- shelf converters you can buy, which have various set automatic charging profiles depending on brand--none of them very good for generator time. But they do cost less than the adjustable voltage version.