On 10/03/2011 09:11 PM, Phil Zimmerman wrote:

"If I have a point to make here, one size does not fit all.
Be specific when asking a question about batteries in general and
especially when asking
about charging."

My bad. I make a point of saying "Trojan 130 A/h deep cycle battery"
when discussing my van's house battery, but because I started this
thread so closely on the heels of my earlier thread about the
Vitrofrigo's power usage (in which I did describe the battery) that I
assumed everyone would, after carefully memorizing and annotating that
earlier thread, know instinctively that this was the same battery.

Just kidding. Yeah, every battery type has its own charge/discharge/care
requirements. What I learned this week is that my practice of slowly
re-charging that Trojan non-sealed lead-acid deep-cycle battery was, in
Dennis's words, not doing my battery any favors.

I am fortunate that the Powerstream PST-BC1212-15
<http://www.powerstream.com/DC-input-chargers.htm> four-stage DC > DC
battery charger in the van is the earlier version with the hi/lo current
switch, so I flipped it from the low current (~7A) setting to the 15A
setting for mo' bettah charging of my battery.

Unfortunately, neither this charger nor the two little wall-powered
smart chargers in the van (little three-stage chargers mounted in the
van to maintain the engine and the house battery) have the "equalize"
function, so I have to rely on the solar controller's equalize function
to stir the juices in the battery, an inconvenience given the fact that
if I had my 'druthers I'd have the solar panels packed away when the van
is at home. I don't attempt to use it when camping because I'd have to
shut down the system, including refrigerator, while equalizing to
protect the gadgets from overvoltage.

--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.

Sent from my kitchen.

On 10/03/2011 09:11 PM, Phil Zimmerman wrote:
> On Sun, 2 Oct 2011 18:36:51 -0700, Rocket J
> Squirrel<camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>> 2. That Dennis Haynes explained to me that I was not doing my
>> deep-cycle battery any favors by recharging it gently. Turns out
>> that batteries such as this want a charge rate of 10% to 16% of
>> their rated A/h capacity (Trojan sez 10% to 13%), .....
> ----------------
>
> Jack, you have a way of eliciting the most wonderfully obtuse
> electrical posts.. Battery Voodoo!
>
> Different batteries demand different charging protocols. Wet Cell,
> Gel, AGM; each are lead acid batteries but, of a different type or
> form. Each type will respond better to a charging algorithm designed
> for the specific type of battery.
>
> Sure, the standard battery charger will work ok but is not  optimal.
> By standard I mean the heavy(er) transformer-based type of charger.
> The newer light weight so called smart chargers are pulse-chargers
> which have their own quirks and shortcomings.
>
> The so-called smart chargers are rather dumb when used to recharge a
> totally dead battery. They require remedial help....  Need to see ~9+
> volts to begin charging. If they detect less than this voltage they
> assume an open cell... so will not begin a charge cycle. So much for
> smart charging.. 8:(
>
> Anyway, I digress. Dennis asserts exciting or stirring up the
> wet-cell battery. Even a true deep cycle calcium cell needs a jolt to
> recharge. Tame or gentle charging leads to battery myopia. (a
> dreaded disease) So Mr Squirrel, raise up your charge cycle, add some
> jolt to your deep cycle battery life.
>
> Gel Cells demand careful charging! Enough said. Read and follow the
> manufactures advice. Purchase the best charging system you can
> afford.
>
> My favourites are AGM's. (Flame suit on) These puppy's love high
> charge rates.. they are temperature limited, as are all lead acid
> cells... But, love getting a jolt that is limited by voltage (~15
> volts) and unlimited amperage until a temperature of 125 F at the
> cell is reached. Low cell resistance allows this high rate of charge.
> (Do not attempt this with a wet-cell lead-acid battery).
>
> If I have a point to make here, one size does not fit all. Be
> specific when asking a question about batteries in general and
> especially when asking about charging.
>
> Pz On a rock off the West Coast of america.