โOct-21-2014 07:29 PM
โOct-25-2014 12:38 PM
โOct-22-2014 08:40 PM
โOct-22-2014 06:52 PM
โOct-22-2014 03:33 PM
โOct-22-2014 02:54 PM
pianotuna wrote:
Hi coolmom,
Nice that it comes with an inverter. How many watts can they do on a continuous basis? Pure Sine Wave?
See if a 2nd alternator is an option.
I do see pulses of up to 70 amps from the alternator my dual path charging system. At about 35 amps continuous voltage starts to drop on the engine side. At that point I sometimes shut down one charging path to limit amperage and not over load the OEM 130 amp Ford alternator. I've toyed with the idea of adding a second rectifier located away from the hot engine compartment.
Duty cycle is something to not ignore. It might be an expensive lesson to burn out an alternator.
Double conversion is rarely the best path for battery charging.
You have chosen an exciting project--I wish you great times while doing so.coolmom42 wrote:
I'm looking at the Nissan NV or Ford Transit vans, and they generally do have a heavy-duty alternator. That's on the list to double-check when serious van-looking time arrives.
They also have a built-in inverter that would allow me to plug in the battery charger at any time the van is running. The inverter plug-in while driving would be a good way to top off the batteries, since most days I will be driving some.
โOct-22-2014 12:53 PM
coolmom42 wrote:
I'm looking at the Nissan NV or Ford Transit vans, and they generally do have a heavy-duty alternator. That's on the list to double-check when serious van-looking time arrives.
They also have a built-in inverter that would allow me to plug in the battery charger at any time the van is running. The inverter plug-in while driving would be a good way to top off the batteries, since most days I will be driving some.
โOct-22-2014 12:48 PM
โOct-22-2014 07:52 AM
coolmom42 wrote:It will probably be more efficient to charge your house batteries with the vehicle's alternator while traveling rather than doing the two conversions with an inverter and charger. A separate rectifier and bigger wire will be an improvement over the stock charging system. FWIW. I have a HD alternator in my Ford truck and it is a great piece of gear. Just replaced the original battery last year. 10 yrs., one month of not-so-easy life.MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
A question is, with one thousand watt limit what are the options in a power factor corrected charger dept? Trying to recharge 100 amp hours at 30 amps is dooming the user to listen to the generator for four hours at a stretch to charge to 75-80% with regular batteries and perhaps 80-85% with AGM. I would be -mighty- tempted to fit a 140 amp alternator to that van and let it whack the AGM's for a half hour while concurrently running the Honda. But there is a finite amount of amps that a Honda 1000 will ignite and if memory serves me correctly that figure is 50 amperes or less
I'm looking at the Nissan NV or Ford Transit vans, and they generally do have a heavy-duty alternator. That's on the list to double-check when serious van-looking time arrives.
They also have a built-in inverter that would allow me to plug in the battery charger at any time the van is running. The inverter plug-in while driving would be a good way to top off the batteries, since most days I will be driving some.
โOct-22-2014 07:38 AM
coolmom42 wrote:
My background in chemistry made it pretty easy to comprehend.
โOct-22-2014 03:55 AM
SteveAE wrote:
coolmom42,
I have nothing of substance to contribute to this thread, but I do want to congratulate you on how well you have researched your upcoming project and verbalized your questions. Good job.
Steve
โOct-22-2014 03:52 AM
mena661 wrote:
45A charger on the Honda 1000W generators is about the max it will do.
โOct-22-2014 03:52 AM
MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
A question is, with one thousand watt limit what are the options in a power factor corrected charger dept? Trying to recharge 100 amp hours at 30 amps is dooming the user to listen to the generator for four hours at a stretch to charge to 75-80% with regular batteries and perhaps 80-85% with AGM. I would be -mighty- tempted to fit a 140 amp alternator to that van and let it whack the AGM's for a half hour while concurrently running the Honda. But there is a finite amount of amps that a Honda 1000 will ignite and if memory serves me correctly that figure is 50 amperes or less
โOct-22-2014 03:48 AM
pianotuna wrote:
Hi Coolmom,
AGM are faster to charge and can accept current faster, but recharging any lead acid chemistry to 100% will still require MANY hours of generator run time. The trade off comes with lower total capacity. A group 27 is probably not going to be 100 amp-hours.
Mostly folks settle for 50% to 90%. If that takes say 3 hours, then getting from 90% to 97% will take an additional 3 hours. Probably 97% to 100% takes yet another 3 hours.
โOct-22-2014 03:35 AM
pianotuna wrote:
Hi Coolmom,
AGM are faster to charge and can accept current faster, but recharging any lead acid chemistry to 100% will still require MANY hours of generator run time. The trade off comes with lower total capacity. A group 27 is probably not going to be 100 amp-hours.
Mostly folks settle for 50% to 90%. If that takes say 3 hours, then getting from 90% to 97% will take an additional 3 hours. Probably 97% to 100% takes yet another 3 hours.