What to look for in an inverter/charger?
We recently bought a new fifth wheel (see sig) and now I need to research inverters. About twelve years ago we had a Xantrex Freedom 458 installed in our Toy Hauler. It was fantastic and it never ga...
Forum Discussion
I linked to the IOTA site and read their blurb. There are TWO physical states of charging and one of maintenance.
Constant voltage regulated stage. When voltage arrives at the regulation limit, it is critical for the user to have the ability to adjust the total time the battery remains at this stage. Iota says when the voltage limit is reached the charger automatically defaults to 14.2 volts -and stays there up to 8 hours-
You'd better have enough fuel and a whisper quiet generator and be ready to shackle yourself to your campsite when boondocking. 14.2 is car alternator charging voltage. Got an hourglass? Alarm clock? Patience? Tranquilizers?
If an exercise is ACTUALLY conducted on a flooded battery, it will become apparent that 2 hours of generator run-time is woefully inadequate with this algorithm. The battery will end up 70-75% charged. When battery capacity is cut to a fine edge for an overnight (like with a heater blower in operation). Imposing short rations recharge will lead to overdischarge and blackouts.
Four + hours of generator run time every day? Maybe for you but not for me. I want a battery to be 95% filled before defaulting to float value. You might get there with a full day's running of a generator. Boondocking is not a weekend stint. It is 10-days or a month or forever of being off grid.
This is like getting steered to a chow hall for $25.00 then claiming the experience is a "miracle". If you spew out "ewwwwwww" with the thought of having to touch something other than an "on" button, be prepared to fork over lots of money for he luxury.
Many people can get away with short-term smart charging because before the batteries are damaged they get reconnected to a 24 hour "smart" power pedestal. Off grid long term boondockers, get it in the shorts.
Constant voltage regulated stage. When voltage arrives at the regulation limit, it is critical for the user to have the ability to adjust the total time the battery remains at this stage. Iota says when the voltage limit is reached the charger automatically defaults to 14.2 volts -and stays there up to 8 hours-
You'd better have enough fuel and a whisper quiet generator and be ready to shackle yourself to your campsite when boondocking. 14.2 is car alternator charging voltage. Got an hourglass? Alarm clock? Patience? Tranquilizers?
If an exercise is ACTUALLY conducted on a flooded battery, it will become apparent that 2 hours of generator run-time is woefully inadequate with this algorithm. The battery will end up 70-75% charged. When battery capacity is cut to a fine edge for an overnight (like with a heater blower in operation). Imposing short rations recharge will lead to overdischarge and blackouts.
Four + hours of generator run time every day? Maybe for you but not for me. I want a battery to be 95% filled before defaulting to float value. You might get there with a full day's running of a generator. Boondocking is not a weekend stint. It is 10-days or a month or forever of being off grid.
This is like getting steered to a chow hall for $25.00 then claiming the experience is a "miracle". If you spew out "ewwwwwww" with the thought of having to touch something other than an "on" button, be prepared to fork over lots of money for he luxury.
Many people can get away with short-term smart charging because before the batteries are damaged they get reconnected to a 24 hour "smart" power pedestal. Off grid long term boondockers, get it in the shorts.
