Wire gauge recommendation
To get the most efficent charging to my batteries, with cost kept in mind, what wire gauge should I use between the batteries and charger? I have a pair of 6v gc batteries. They're about 12-15 fee...
Forum Discussion
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Sorry Almot.
GC220's will eat 80 amperes and not even burp. Or maybe the several thousand GC220's I configured charging sources for were "lucky"
The distributor I worked for was Trojan's largest. I came up with a series charger utilizing 60 amperes which vf'd to 7.5 volts and change.
Or maybe it would be wise to not use that 160-amp underhood alternator to recharge house batteries altogether.
I would not hesitate a microsecond to use a 150 ampere rated charger on a pair of GC batteries. For every battery that dies a few weeks early due to fast charge positive plate erosion, 10,000 batteries die of hardened sulfation.
Power pole princess rigs can get away with a 20-amp charger feeding two dozen GC220 batteries. It's when boondocking charging comes into play that rational charging levels should help to defer premature generator wear-out and fuel trips bankruptcy.
Shore is nice spending three hundred needless dollars in toad fuel to extend battery life six-months.
If an individual disagrees with this, when max charging, run an infrared pyrometer across the batteries. Then open the caps (goggles) and check the electrolyte for gassing.
I have stated on this forum for years, at 25C, charge 5% antimony batteries at 14.8 volts limit. When bubbles increase more than 2 per second reduce charging and let the double-digit IQ "Smart" Charger take over.
Many a pair of T-105's have taken 88 amperes. My job was to minimize warranties for the distributor. My philosophy worked. Nothing as pleasant as a repeat customer with a smile on his (her) face.
Johnm1 READ what this old er well you know :W person says. Go with at least 4awg keep the 6 awg (if redundant power systems are OK with NASA why would it not be for your rv?) The frame is fine in most case's . Remember it is the distance that causes the voltage drop short runs to the frame "may" be OK with 6awg. While charging at 75 amps check the voltage at the converter and at the batteries. For the "most" efficient charging (remember you asked) They should match.
