Newbie trying to set up Megawatt for charging

Isn't the MegaWatt S-400-12 Power Supply designed for powering HAM radio equipment? Powering radios and charging batteries are two different things IMO.

DieselBurps wrote:
Trying to figure out what all I need to set up a Megawatt for charging 2 120 amp AGM batteries.

I have a "Megawatt". It is a device for measuring the voltage, power, and cycles per second of a device plugged into it in a wall outlet. This gives me an idea of an appliance's power draw.

Your post makes it sound like your "Megawatt" is a battery charger, or am I missing something?

DarkSkySeeker wrote:

DieselBurps wrote:
Trying to figure out what all I need to set up a Megawatt for charging 2 120 amp AGM batteries.

I have a "Megawatt". It is a device for measuring the voltage, power, and cycles per second of a device plugged into it in a wall outlet. This gives me an idea of an appliance's power draw.

Your post makes it sound like your "Megawatt" is a battery charger, or am I missing something?

That's a kill-a-watt for measuring power. The megawatt is a brand of power supply... http://megawattpowersupplies.com/

DieselBurps wrote:
Trying to figure out what all I need to set up a Megawatt for charging 2 120 amp AGM batteries.

I was looking at the s-400 Megawatt,cuting one end off some cheap 4 gauge jumper cables from amazon.

What else do I need to start charging? Digital volt meter hooked up to Megawatt?

I'd avoid cheap cables, they're going to be fine as dolls hair copper clad aluminum cable, near impossible to put new ends on. Have a local welding shop or alternator shop make up some 4ga cables for you, really shouldn't cost that much.

The megawatt website appears to recommend a digital volt meter and a clamp amp meter. Mexicowanderer recommends use of a mechanical timer to cut off power after X hours.

One device called a Megawatt is a power supply. I have the 30 amp model which when pushed hard gets hot and smells like it could go into melt down. I also have a Meanwell power supply which can be flat pedaled and does fine. Meawell was about twice the price. Wish I had bought it first.

You will be driving so watch for voltage rise.

GordonThree wrote:

That's a kill-a-watt for measuring power. The megawatt is a brand of power supply... http://megawattpowersupplies.com/

Yes, of course, I should have known that. Thanks.

Add an external computer fan to the top of the mega watt, blowing air into the mega watt

Just attach it to the terminals
Use a digital meter set the voltage to the desired level, without being connected to the batteries

Voltage will rise to the set point as the batteries charge

Monitoring the amps is a good idea
400 watts at 30 amps is only 13.33 volts
14.4v*30 amps is 432 watts..oops the reason for the extra fan

#4 wire for a 30 amp charger close to the battery? I would be at #8 max.

So it sounds like I am looking at having a shop make me up some cable with clamps out of #7 or#8 wire.

Adding maybe something like this to the Megawatt to measure voltage and amps

https://www.amazon.com/DROK-100105-100-300V-Multimeter-Amperage/dp/B07GB9TW6H/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1543537547&sr=8-6&keywords=digital+volt+amp+meter

I would probably spring the cash for the Meanwell but I am looking to use the megawatt for 6 months to 1 year max. I will be in Mexico for the next 3 months and I found down there my solar has a hard time keeping some days, so figured I should add a battery charger to the mix to run for a few hours in the morning.