T-105 RE's & Iota converter

[Gadget728]

We are going to build the battery box for my 4- Trojan T 105 RE batteries very soon. After reading many posts here, a renewable energy system was in the GadgetVans future. (this forum is the greatest)
Due to higher initial repairs on my 06 G2500 extended Hi Top Savana, I had the choice of Generator or Solar Panels, but not both to begin with. I wanted Panels really bad, because they are a gadgetman's dream of cool. Make your own power, how great is that? 
I went ahead and purchased a Yamaha 2000 EF2000iSv2 2000 Watt Inverter Generator from national Supply. http://www.yamahagenerators.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=EF2000iSv2 about $900 with the added hour meter. Now for a converter and lastly I'll get solar panels and a mppt charge controller and inverter as funds are available.
  
I want to be able to charge these batteries with a 120v to 12 volt converter. I've been looking at the IOTA brand of chargers and would like some feedback about them. 
The 2 models I'm looking at are:
https://www.solar-electric.com/iota-engineering-sdc1-120-12-45-battery-charger.html
and https://www.solar-electric.com/iota-engineering-sdc1-120-12-55-battery-charger.html

The only difference is the output amperage. Naturally I'll pay the extra $22 for the add on that makes it a 4 stage charger. 

Iota is having a 10% off sale Friday & Monday. Any help from the solar experts here would be truly appreciated.

 

[Almost There]

It's not a solar expert you need, solar has nothing to do with it...  

And I'm no expert at much of anything!

I have the 55 amp charger paired with my 4 Trojan T105REs on the advice of the guys at Northern Arizona Wind and Sun. I bought it there last April. They carefully checked the charging requirements of the batteries and also checked the specs on the output capabilities of my generator (a Honda 1000ei)

Truthfully, I haven't had it running long enough to give you a solid recommendation. I've had months of electrical problems of all kinds that were finally solved by coming to Missouri on my way west and getting some expert help from Got Smart. Now everything is running like it should.

The only difference between the 45 amp and the 55 amp is how long you're going to have to run the generator to bring the batteries up to full. Your generator should handle the larger battery charger with no problem whatsoever.

BTW, the Iota is not a 'converter', it is a battery charger only. The larger RVs use a combination unit that is both a converter and a battery charger but that's a different animal.

 

[29chico]

We are going to build the battery box for my 4- Trojan T 105 RE batteries very soon. After reading many posts here, a renewable energy system was in the GadgetVans future. (this forum is the greatest)
Due to higher initial repairs on my 06 G2500 extended Hi Top Savana, I had the choice of Generator or Solar Panels, but not both to begin with. I wanted Panels really bad, because they are a gadgetman's dream of cool. Make your own power, how great is that? 
I went ahead and purchased a Yamaha 2000 EF2000iSv2 2000 Watt Inverter Generator from national Supply. http://www.yamahagenerators.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=EF2000iSv2 about $900 with the added hour meter. Now for a converter and lastly I'll get solar panels and a mppt charge controller and inverter as funds are available.
  
I want to be able to charge these batteries with a 120v to 12 volt converter. I've been looking at the IOTA brand of chargers and would like some feedback about them. 
The 2 models I'm looking at are:
https://www.solar-electric.com/iota-engineering-sdc1-120-12-45-battery-charger.html
and https://www.solar-electric.com/iota-engineering-sdc1-120-12-55-battery-charger.html

The only difference is the output amperage. Naturally I'll pay the extra $22 for the add on that makes it a 4 stage charger. 

Iota is having a 10% off sale Friday & Monday. Any help from the solar experts here would be truly appreciated.

It looks like the Iota chargers you linked do not have temperature compensation.  I suggest that you treat those fine T-105 RE's to a charger that has temp comp. 

The 55 amp charger is still a little low output for charging your battery bank.  I would suggest you consider looking for a charger that has around 65 amps of output and that also matches the charging set points that Trojan specs for the T-105 RE.  Not many chargers meet The 14.8v bulk charge set point requirement.

Solid choice in a generator.

 

[Gadget728]

Almost There - Thanks for the correction about it being a charger not a converter. I always appreciate your input.

29chico - Do you have any recommendations for a good charger?

 

[Gadget728]

How about this one?
https://www.amazon.com/DLS-75-AUTOM...words=iota+4+stage+SMART+12v+battery+chargers

 

[Almost There]

It looks like the Iota chargers you linked do not have temperature compensation.  I suggest that you treat those fine T-105 RE's to a charger that has temp comp. 

The 55 amp charger is still a little low output for charging your battery bank.  I would suggest you consider looking for a charger that has around 65 amps of output and that also matches the charging set points that Trojan specs for the T-105 RE.  Not many chargers meet The 14.8v bulk charge set point requirement.

Solid choice in a generator.

The Iota with the IQ4 installed does meet the 14.8v bulk charge needed for the Trojan batteries. It also changes it from a 3 stage charger to a 4 stage charger. The only thing any of the Iota chargers don't do is temperature compensation.

From the reading up I've done on temperature compensation, it may provide UP to 15 % more battery life. Compensation is needed above and below 77F. Since I try to live in that range of temperature year round, I'll do my own temperature compensation.

 

[Almost There]

How about this one?
https://www.amazon.com/DLS-75-AUTOM...words=iota+4+stage+SMART+12v+battery+chargers

Easiest solution is to talk to one of the reps at Northern Arizona. They were extremely helpful in assisting me in finding the right charger not only for my batteries but also for the power sources I was going to be using.

 

[29chico]

Easiest solution is to talk to one of the reps at Northern Arizona. They were extremely helpful in assisting me in finding the right charger not only for my batteries but also for the power sources I was going to be using.

I have had great service and support from Arizona Wind and Sun.  Very aggressive price matching saved me a bunch of cash.

 

[regis101]

Can I get an explanation of this quote from post #2 ?

*BTW, the Iota is not a 'converter', it is a battery charger only.*
Their website description calls out converter and charger for the DLS series as well as the SDC series.

The PD9200 series description calls out converter that safely recharges batteries.

Thanks,

 

[sushidog]

Can I get an explanation of this quote from post #2 ?

*BTW, the Iota is not a 'converter', it is a battery charger only.*
Their website description calls out converter and charger for the DLS series as well as the SDC series.

The PD9200 series description calls out converter that safely recharges batteries.

Thanks,

The 2 models that Gadget 728 linked to are chargers only with no A/C output, only A/C input and DC output. Here's the spec sheets:  https://www.solar-electric.com/lib/wind-sun/sdc1245spec.pdf  and https://www.solar-electric.com/lib/wind-sun/sdc1255spec.pdf

Chip

 

[GotSmart]

[font=Arial, sans-serif][font=Georgia, serif]Converter     [/font]What it is
Electrical devices that convert the voltage from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC).[/font]


[font=Arial, sans-serif][font=Georgia, serif]Inverter   [size=medium][font=Arial, sans-serif]What it is[/font][/font]
Electrical devices that convert the voltage from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC).[/font][/size]

Posted by regis101 - 9 hours ago
Can I get an explanation of this quote from post #2 ?

*BTW, the Iota is not a 'converter', it is a battery charger only.*
Their website description calls out converter and charger for the DLS series as well as the SDC series.

The PD9200 series description calls out converter that safely recharges batteries.

[font=Arial, sans-serif]What is meant, is that those models are designed to only produce power to charge batteries, they do not have an option of plugging in a 12V unit for safe regulated power to run say a light.  It would be like trying to drink out of a fire hydrant.  .  Possible, but not a good idea at all.  [/font]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]There are units that have the safety features to do this, but they are much more expensive. [/font]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]I hope I have been clear... :s [/font]

 

[regis101]

Perhaps you could provide links or at least brand names of converter-only?

Thanks,

 

[GotSmart]

https://www.google.com/#q=+power+converter

 

[regis101]

Am I not correct in reading the OP that he wants to charge the batt bank from the generator's 120v output?
He would use a Converter . He then goes on to say that an Inverter would be used presumably from the batt bank for the 120v loads.

 

[Gadget728]

I want to install a "charger" to change 120v AC from shore power or Generator, to 12v DC to charge my batteries. I don't particularly want to run 12v DC loads from this unit, just charge the batteries. All my 12v DC loads should come straight from my batteries.
4- 6v T-105's at 225 AH run in series/parallel should give me 12v DC @450AH. I'm hoping that will be enough stored energy to run a couple of laptops, a maxair roof vent, charge some small stuff and possibly run a small fridge.

Then I will install a mppt "Inverter" from my batteries to change 12v DC to clean 120v AC for the few 120v devices I have.
Once the solar panels are up, I would only need Shore power or Generator to top off or substitute for cloudy days.

This can get confusing & expensive. Do my plans sound OK?

 

[regis101]

I read correctly.  This is a pdf manual from Progressive Dynamics, their 2900 series.  Bottom page has a schematic
http://www.progressivedyn.com/pdfs/109821F english.pdf

 

[Gadget728]

Thanks for posting regis101 -
The progressive manual says it's boost charge is 14.4v and takes 8-11 hours. I imagine it is of lower amperage.

My T-105 RE's want 14.8v dc, which I believe the IOTA's will do if you add the IQ4 or AM1 module depending on the model. The higher amp models should do a full charge in fewer hours. (i think?)

spec sheet for T-105 RE - http://www.trojanbattery.com/pdf/datasheets/T105RE_TrojanRE_Data_Sheets.pdf

 

[regis101]

There have been recent threads similar to yours. I find I have to read pages and pages before that one magical sentence gives the, Ah ha, moment.

It has been stated that the IOTA with the IQ4 feature will allow 14.8 for a short time. It appears that the Trojan likes 14.8 . iirc, the Powermax brand allows manual voltage adjustment(s).

I'm still, just so everyone knows, learning this aspect of 12v life myself and have found heaps of info on here.

I find my self unknowing for now if a four stage charger or even three stage will affect any 12v appliance if and when it goes into charging mode. Perhaps the charger senses demand and compensates. Maybe the battery acts like a buffer and only allows enough voltage/current through , again depending on demand. Cool stuff and this sure beats the heck out of my existing straight up 13.6 forty year old converter that cooks batteries.

I've pondered using two converter chargers. One just for charging batteries when on shore power and the second for 12v appliance loads. I became confused from earlier posts mostly due to definition of terms. '\_ { *j* }_/'

 

[Gadget728]

The confusion is my fault, I said "converter" in the thread title, it should have said "charger". Sorry to everyone for that.

I think that if I'm drawing off my batteries, say for the roof vent, and I start charging, the vent would be unaffected, but it would take longer to get a full charge. I would probably turn off everything when attempting an equalization charge, just because.
I called Northern Arizona wind & solar - closed until Monday, but their 10% off sale is good on Monday too.

 

[Almost There]

You're correct Gadget...the appliances are unaffected by charging whether it be by solar, generator, shore power or the alternator.

None of us (well that I know of) turn off anything, be it fridges or vents or laptops when we're charging our battery banks. Yes it takes longer to charge...you're using (technically discharging) power from the batteries at the same time as you're adding it. As long as the input is larger than the output there's no problem no matter the charging source.

The combination converter/chargers have two separate components built in. One takes 120V from the power source and feeds it directly through to power 12V appliances and outlets. They usually also direct power through to any 120V use at the same time. The other component is the battery charger. They're just built in to one case. The older ones did the converter part fine but tended to overcharge the batteries. I'm not sure how the newer units fare in this regards. Maybe the mfrs have fixed the problem, maybe not!