What charger should I buy?

[ColdBrook]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]For my 4 golf cart battery bank what charger should I buy and how do I set it up to properly charge my batteries for longest life?   (I only  have one week to do this)  Thank you[/font]

 

[tx2sturgis]

Hooked up to shore power or on solar panels or what?

:huh:

 

[highdesertranger]

are you running this battery charger off a generator? if so what size generator? highdesertranger

 

[MrAlvinDude]

If can plug this charger into a 110V source from a house, power pole or generator, and you only charge your batteries from this charger, then you will want a charger that has some umphfff, meaning it can charge with as many amps as possible. Typically over 20 amp, better if closer to 50 amp or even better, closer to 100 amp


If the charger is powered from a generator, then special considerations may apply. Like the charger needs no be able to supply more power than the generator can handle. On the other hand, it would be good if the charger can handle about as much power as the generator can produce. 
And some generators might even have a special output to charge batteries directly, so no charger is needed at all. 
Or in other words, if powered from a generator, then special considerations may apply.




If the batteries are also connected to the car, so they can be charged while you drive, and thus you only need to keep the batteries topped off while you are parked at home, then any charger will work.


Your batteries will have the longest life, if you can keep them fully charged at all times.  


To get more specific answers, then it would be good if you were able to answer the questions already asked in this thread.

 

[MrAlvinDude]

Or perhaps you are talking about a solar panel controller charger?

A MPPT charger, where details in the output (to the batteries) can be set individually, depending of specifics to your particular make and model of batteries, and that can handle the number of solar panels you have, would be the best way to go.

What solar panels do you have? Especially how many watts? And what is their voltage output? 
What specific batteries do you have?

 

[MrAlvinDude]

I should have said: In my opinion, a MPPT charger, where details .......... would be the best way to go.

And should also have added; but any solar charge controller being able to handle the amps and volts of the solar panels will be able to get the job done.

 

[ColdBrook]

Or perhaps you are talking about a solar panel controller charger?

A MPPT charger, where details in the output (to the batteries) can be set individually, depending of specifics to your particular make and model of batteries, and that can handle the number of solar panels you have, would be the best way to go.

What solar panels do you have? Especially how many watts? And what is their voltage output? 
What specific batteries do you have?

Ok trying to answer as many questions as I can for now.  I won't have solar right away but plan to have 400-500 watts solar panels eventually.  For now I need to set up my batteries to recharge off of a 2000 generator (honda).  And if I can figure out how also to connect batteries to my van battery to charge while driving.  I had posted another question on this topic  earlier tonight and Bob Wells recommended I ask this question.  I haven't boughten the batteries yet, but will most likely go with 4 golf cart batteries like he recommended.  Maybe if you read that post and see his answer it will help you understand what I am trying to ask?  Sorry I am a disabled older lady and no matter how hard I have tried to learn and understand what I need electrically I am lost. Thank you for any help you can offer.

 

[John61CT]

Assuming your bank is FLA (flooded lead-acid not sealed AGM), and capacity is 400+AH, then a 40A charger is minimum, and going over 80A would be a waste of money.

Sterling ProCharge Ultra or ProMariner Pronautic P are my top two recommendations. Either will likely last longer than your vehicle, and are future-proof, against when you change to different battery types over the years.

Victron, Magnum, MasterVolt are also excellent but more expensive and not as adjustable.

It is important that you get a unit that you can "de-rate" the current, turn down amps output, in case you are running other heavy loads and/or your grid power is not strong enough.

In the RV world they call them "converters", used to be terrible but newer models there are good ones, Progressive Dynamics is one, Iota another, but again not as adjustable and not as robust as those above.

Do not mess around with "power supplies" if you want charging to be automatic.

Do not get a "garage style" automotive charger from a big box store, even if labeled "marine".

 

[Almost There]

I have 4 - 6 volt golf cart batteries - Trojan T105REs.

Northern Ariizona Wind and Sun contacted Trojan to get charge rate information from them and then recommended the Iota 55 amp battery charger.

What charger you need will depend entirely on the batteries you're using. NAW&S in Flagstaff was great to deal with btw.

I've been happy with it for just over a year now.

It does need at least a 2000 W generator to run it.

If you do not already  have the Honda 2000 I would suggest you carefully decide whether you can safely lift the weight of it in to your vehicle. It weighs about 47 lbs IIRC. I chose to have 2 smaller 1000W Hondas with the parallel cable for 2000W output. Each of those weighs in around 27 lbs and I can easily lift them in to the van.

 

[Weight]

By far, the best choice is a marine charger such as ProMariner. pricier than you may want. But money buys protection for your batteries. Here is a very good article about chargers. https://marinehowto.com/installing-a-marine-battery-charger/

 

[jimindenver]

I have tried a Meanwell power supply as well as a Megawatt power supply. Neither can handle extended charging without modifications. My next charger will be a PowerMax PMBC 12v adjustable charger. My generator is tiny so I will get a 35a model but they come as large as 120a and automatic.

http://powermaxconverters.com/product/pmbc-12-volt/

 

[John61CT]

My generator is tiny so I will get a 35a model but they come as large as 120a

does the adjustable line allow for current de-rating? I know your bank is pretty large, and it'd be nice to be able to take advantage of a higher-amp supply when available, and would be pretty important if going to AGM for a future bank.

Actually no harm in doubling up two smaller ones. . .

 

[jimindenver]

I do not know of them having current limiting but I do not have hands on experience either. I do know of people using them over on RV.net so I could ask over there.

 

[John61CT]

Surprised they don't put spec sheets or manuals PDFs online

 

[John61CT]

And note that all decent chargers have "current limiting" in the sense that they won't be destroyed by a large high-acceptance bank trying to pull more amps than the charger can deliver.

Most "power supplies" don't however, e.g. MegaWatt, but some MeanWells do and are accordingly priced higher.

This concept is different from the related ability for the **user** to explicitly adjust amps downward, aka "de-rating" output.

This allows for example, an 80A charger to be set to only output 25A, no matter what the bank wants, so it can be run off a small genny, or to prevent an old weak campsite circuit from popping breakers.

Not trying to be disputacious, and I realize likely over the OP's level, just wanting to clarify terminology and relevant features.

 

[akrvbob]

To make this as easy as possible for Coldbrook, let’s offer her two suggestions,

1) Best charger for under $100 with minimal learning

2) Best charger for under $200 that requires more learning

 

[tx2sturgis]

If her recharging needs are minimal right now, she can just buy the DC cable that plugs right into the generator that she has. 

8 Amps is not much, but if the overnight battery drain is very minimal, this would do it.

 

[John61CT]

Wow, I never heard of a decent charger for anywhere close to that, we're talking a big deep cycle bank here, not a low-amp garage charger.

The ProMariner Pronautic P that is the cheaper I recommended, even at only 40A might sell for around $200 secondhand, but rarely comes up at all.

List price for a new one is $430, I think $350 plus shipping would be a good price, if from a known-good seller.

Might be able to get a bare-bones MeanWell power supply for around $200, but not automatic, you would need to watch that yourself with an ammeter and turn it off when the bank's full to avoid overcharging.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Given all of the above conditions, if the battery drain is expected to be significant, say using a c-pap or a fridge, waffle iron, hair dryer, whatever, then I would advise the lady to buy a $50-$75 charger from a place like Walmart or Autozone and plug it into the generator, hook up the battery clips, pump 15-30 amps into the batteries for an hour or three, then unhook, power down, and go on with other business.

This is very close to what I do with my setup when needed.

 

[John61CT]

Without solar or regular overnights on shore power, greatly reduced battery lifespan is inevitable anyway.

So if the OP is OK with running the genny maybe a couple more hours per day, I won't argue against that.