Smart Chargers

[Almost There]

Need recommendations on a smart charger.

I searched all the way back to the end of 2012 and only found Bob's recommendations but that charger (a B&D) has been discontinued AFAIK.

I need it this winter to keep the van battery topped up since it's going to be sitting except for shuffling it around the parking lot for snow removal.

Later on I'll need it for maintaining/charging house batteries from either shore power or my Honda 1000 generator when solar won't do.

Hopefully I'll never need it to quick charge a battery so I can go someplace...for two reasons - first being I hope never to be in so much of a hurry that I need to go somewhere 'quick'... and, second, I'll try never to do something so thoughtlessly that I end up with a dead starting battery..yeah I know, fat chance of that...

But ya never know! I've tried to kill batteries before...:angel:

All brands may not be available in Canada so maybe instead of brands, what should I be looking for in a charger.

 

[MikeRuth]

One word :Schumacher: They make fine chargers.

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-520A-PE-Automatic-Dual-Rate-Charger/dp/B000H92KVG

this is good all around choice for charging needs.

---

Do you have Sears in Canada?
http://www.sears.com/diehard-battery-charger-maintainer/p-02871219000P?adCell=pvt_1_1

 

[Almost There]

One word :Schumacher: They make fine chargers.

http://www.amazon.com/Schumacher-520A-PE-Automatic-Dual-Rate-Charger/dp/B000H92KVG

this is good all around choice for charging needs.

---

Do you have Sears in Canada?
http://www.sears.com/diehard-battery-charger-maintainer/p-02871219000P?adCell=pvt_1_1

---

Amazon.com won't ship that one to Canada.

Amazon.ca has this Schumacher available

http://www.amazon.ca/Schumacher-SE-...rds=battery+charger+schumacker#productDetails

But it doesn't specifically say that it is good for all types of batteries - I fully intend to put AGM's in for house use.

How is this one - anyone ever use a NOCO

http://www.amazon.ca/NOCO-G3500-3-5...04LWVEKS/ref=pd_cp_auto_1/180-1395332-5371010

Yes, we have Sears in Canada but it's mostly a joke. Their website when asked for automotive battery chargers gave me everything but. I fought with the site for a while to no avail.

 

[concretebox]

What do you all think about 20amp smart chargers? I was thinking of buying one since I don't want to run my Genny for more than 1-2 hours. I have a borrowed charger now that has a 25amp setting. I've noticed however it often starts at high amps but drops quickly.

I've been using the smart charger in the evenings after the sun had all day to charge the battery, but didn't quite finish. Would it be more efficient to use the smart charger in the morning for bulk charging at high amps, then let solar take over four absorption/float? (Is cold and not too sunny here).

 

[compassrose]

I bought a PD 9260C 60 Amp RV Converter/Charger with a charge wizard

http://www.bestconverter.com/PD-9260C-60-Amp-RV-ConverterCharger_p_171.html#.VGb0DslLCww

The AC lights, electronics part of the LP range and range vent is run off of a small dedicated inverter (DC into AC) because it is much cheaper that way. I still want to run the TV/DVD player off of an inverter as well.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Rather than a specific recommendation, I'm going to point out a few generalities.

True smart chargers will automatically switch between bulk, absorption, and float modes, and will have an optional setting for battery equalization.

They will also have a way to adjust for flooded, agm, and gel.

The best ones will have a way for you to input CUSTOM settings for bulk, absorption and float.

Automotive battery chargers are designed around flooded engine starting batteries and are almost never suitable for deep cycle and agm batteries.

Battery chargers designed for BOATS usually have all the features of true smart chargers.

Download the battery manuals from Trojan, Lifeline, Odyssey, etc. And compare their recommendations for bulk, absorption, and float levels, and you'll have a good idea of what you should be looking for.

Regards
John

 

[ccbreder]

Why not get an inexpensive charger from an auto parts store for now. Will do a good job of charging your van battery. Then when you build out your AGM house bank you can get a expensive charger to match your battery bank. As your batteries charge, the amps from the charger fall off until near full, maybe only 2 or 3 amps at last.

 

[compassrose]

Be careful of the bells & whistles. Many times you do not need the added cost. Do your research before you buy anything. The charger we bought was one we decided on after I did a LOT of research. I knew how we RVed. I knew what we needed. I knew the power we were (and would be) using. Then after looking at the various types, narrowed it down by brands and then by price. Watch out for the shipping charges. Sometimes the shipping is really high. www.bestconverter.com had good prices and shipping.

 

[SternWake]

I tend to call smart chargers automatic underchargers.

Lawyers got into the mix and declared.it is.ultimately more.profitable to undercharge a battery.

The battery manufacturer recommend ed absorption voltage is the most import aspect of charging. A charger which safely and lawyerly falls short of.this.does.so at the expense of.battery longevity.

Smart chargers cannot have any 12v loads on the battery when operating. RV converters like progressive dynamics and powermax are designed to both power 12v loads and 3 stage charge batteries. At the same time.

However these too can fall short voltage wise. Ifmone has all the time and grid power available.to charge at leisure then no big deal and any smart charger will eventually do the job.
However those with time limitations or who are using a generator will be short changed by smart chargers as they all will quit early.

Fed up with the offerings. I got an adjustable voltage power supply. And use it as a manual charger. And no ther charger 40 amps or less can do the job as well or as quickly. But I have to monitor it and either shut itnoff. Or lower the voltage manually once the battery is brimming full.

Meanwell RSP 500-15. Not automatic but an extremely effective charger that can do what no smart. Charger can. Which is truly fully charge a battery I. The minimum amount of.time.

It can also be set to float/ maintenance voltages and left on all winter.

I am not a fan of schumacher chargers. They have a tendency to goto too high a voltage, like 16.4v. Which is just excessive and abusive. And can damage 12 v devices still attached to battery.

16v is the absolute maximum any battery should be subjected.to and only then. Briefly, as a monitored equalization overcharge and only after the battery was charged nearly full by other sources.

 

[highdesertranger]

stern is right on about the loads and smart chargers. another tip if you want it to run off your generator, make sure your generator can handle your charger as far as draw. highdsertanger

 

[MikeRuth]

Amazon.com won't ship that one to Canada.

Amazon.ca has this Schumacher available

http://www.amazon.ca/Schumacher-SE-...rds=battery+charger+schumacker#productDetails

But it doesn't specifically say that it is good for all types of batteries - I fully intend to put AGM's in for house use.

How is this one - anyone ever use a NOCO

http://www.amazon.ca/NOCO-G3500-3-5...04LWVEKS/ref=pd_cp_auto_1/180-1395332-5371010

Yes, we have Sears in Canada but it's mostly a joke. Their website when asked for automotive battery chargers gave me everything but. I fought with the site for a while to no avail.

I have no idea about NOCO, I've been using Schumachers for many years.
Drag racers tend to make good stuff .
Napa Auto is in Canada, And yes the items i recommended are safe for AGM batteries.

 

[ccbreder]

I have a 10 amp charger from NAPA. It is perfect to charge one vehicle battery. For a larger house bank I would do more research and get something designed for deep cycle charging. But for now get a NAPA for a few bucks.

 

[concretebox]

I picked up a Diehard 2/10/75 amp charger/engine starter at Menards for $45. It's usually $65. Great if you're in the midwest. It's on sale this week only and limited supply so check it out quick!

 

[SternWake]

Please verify if any given charger is indeed automatic. Some are manual chargers and will overcharge a battery if left on for too long. But some of these manual chargers are good for equalization charges as they will be able to get the battery upto 16 volts eventually.

Those seeking to recharge large battery banks on generators should get more powerful chargers that can make at least 20 amps for each 100 amp hours of capacity, but still within the limits of the generator to power.

Powemax Boondocker series sold through bestconverter.com are powerfactor corrected in the 75 amp models and will work off a standard 15 amp receptacle where as Iota and Progressive dynamics need a 20 amp receptacle at those output amperages.

Some of these powermax models available have a voltage controller that allows one to set voltages manually from 13.2 to 15.5v, and are good for those with a generator trying to get as much as possible into their batteries in the minimum amount of time. These models must be considered manual chargers and not left on batteries indefinitely unless set to float voltages. not really much of a factor on a generator, but grid power and 15.5v indefinitely will erode any battery.

Any automatic charger with different settings for AGM or gel or floodedshould be double checked with a voltmeter on the battery terminals during charging. Most all will fall on the safe undercharge side of things but some will exceed the voltage recommendations, and can get into dangerous territory, not only in terms of overcharge, but if still connected to the vehicle when charging, can exceed the max voltage for some devices still connected to the battery.

Absorption fridge circuit boards are pretty known to release the magic smoke at 15.4v.

Know that most chargers meant for garage duties are meant to charge a battery which is disconnected from a vehicle electrically, and in a vandwellers world are not good charging options as who wants to disconnect everything every time a charge session is needed.

The RV converters, while not perfect chargers, at least will keep voltages from exceeding 14.8v, and can be safely run without disconnecting loads from the battery, or even powering loads while charging the battery, which will shut down a regular automatic charger as loads are applied or removed from a charging battery.

Also know alligator clamps are meant to be a temporary connection. Leaving them on for extended periods increases the chances for them to be knocked off at inopportune times or have something conductive bridge the 2 clamps and cause a spark show at the minimum, of fukushima/ chernobyl event at the worst.

 

[akrvbob]

Fukushima/ Chernobyl is really bad, but at least there aren't any locusts!!!!

Bob
(Sorry, gotta tease every now and again!)

 

[ccbreder]

Have you seen any documentary from the restricted area wildlife around Chernobyl? Thriving is a good description, and I wouldn't give up on locust or roach