New 2 stage PD lithium Converter charger yet?
When I installed lithium batteries 18 months ago I also changed out my converter charger. I didn't want it constantly charging 14.4 volts. so I returned it and have been using my original PD convert...
Forum Discussion
One of the complaints about the older PowerMax PM3 converter was that the Bulk Stage was too short. Like the Iota, it had a 15 minute time after it got the battery to 14.6v and then dropped its voltage.
In the new LK version, the standard 3 stage mode extended the Bulk time to 30 minutes, still way too short for many scenarios. But they fixed that by including the single stage mode that will hold Bulk voltage forever until you change it.
I am trying to find out what the new Li LK has, where it says there is a new Load Sensing system that extends Bulk if needed.
Meanwhile, it might be that the old PM3 with its 15 min after reaching Vabs or the 30 min in the new one, would be what the LFP guys are now looking for as an automatic timer to keep Bulk short. That still leaves the question of whether it could drop to a desired voltage if you don't like 13.6.
This all only applies to being on shore power using the converter. On generator you don't leave it running long enough to matter. On solar it might matter depending how early in the day you get to Full.
If you want to stop the solar at a certain SOC like 90% automatically and not wait till dark happens (automatically every day!), then you would have to invent something if the Load Controls of the solar controller can't be made to do that. Maybe use the Load terminals to control a switch on the PV input?
Maybe get an old Shunt type solar controller that stopped at the high set point and restarted when the batt got low again?
In the new LK version, the standard 3 stage mode extended the Bulk time to 30 minutes, still way too short for many scenarios. But they fixed that by including the single stage mode that will hold Bulk voltage forever until you change it.
I am trying to find out what the new Li LK has, where it says there is a new Load Sensing system that extends Bulk if needed.
Meanwhile, it might be that the old PM3 with its 15 min after reaching Vabs or the 30 min in the new one, would be what the LFP guys are now looking for as an automatic timer to keep Bulk short. That still leaves the question of whether it could drop to a desired voltage if you don't like 13.6.
This all only applies to being on shore power using the converter. On generator you don't leave it running long enough to matter. On solar it might matter depending how early in the day you get to Full.
If you want to stop the solar at a certain SOC like 90% automatically and not wait till dark happens (automatically every day!), then you would have to invent something if the Load Controls of the solar controller can't be made to do that. Maybe use the Load terminals to control a switch on the PV input?
Maybe get an old Shunt type solar controller that stopped at the high set point and restarted when the batt got low again?
