Battery charger

[shonky]

Hi, all.

This is just to let off steam - who the xxxx word would set up a $3500 solar install placing the new 300w inverter directly above the original 7amp charger? Now you all should know by now that the writer's skills do not cover 12 volt electrics, but after advice from the manufacturer about how to replace the cooling fan, which went really noisy at 3AM today, and after several calls checking out the prices etc, someone queried the size of the batteries. They're 2x120amp FullRiver AGMs. Stunned silence, then advice was given about the 10% rule. Moving right along, after getting quotes around $500-$600 plus labour for the latest you beaut units, an auto sparky was recommended who subsequently fitted a Jaylec BC9020 charger immediately upon my arrival at his workshop, for $288 plus $88 for labour. My understanding of the situation was that if it's for a motorhome it costs twice as much. This unit is fairly large in comparison to the latest products, but has all the bells and whistles.

http://www.projecta.com.au/site/Default ... Issue1.pdf
covers the 10% rule, and we went for the 20amp charge rate on the installer's advice.

For those on, or travelling through, the Sunshine Coast, the installer was Brad Maker - Kawana Auto Electrics, and has my whole- hearted recommendation.

[Mrcoolabah1au]

Web site dont work

[shonky]

Hi, all.

Mrcoolabah1au - try this one - you'll need to do a cut-n-paste job.
http://www.pioneercampers.com/assets/manuals/
IC2500-IC5000_INTELLI_CHARGE_MANUAL.pdf

[T1 Terry]

Will this one work? http://www.pioneercampers.com/assets/ma ... MANUAL.pdf

[T1 Terry]

Looks like you scored well, that charger is $295 on evil bay so $288 and an hrs labour was a very good deal.
Who fitted the 7 amp charger for a 240Ah battery pack? Or was the charger there originally, then the larger battery pack fitted later?

[shonky]

Hi, all.

T I Terry - 2006 Talvor ex Apollo Rentals, so who knows. We had the solar and battery pack installed last September, and the old charger was affixed parallel to, and touching, the new inverter. Possibly the inverter was fitted by the bloke who's Labrador had a funny handle on it's back.

Having sailed fulltime for years my reaction upon being woken by a strange buzzing sound probably differs from the layman's. Bilge alarm?? Whereabouts?? Sh-t !!

[T1 Terry]

The 10% rule is a funny one and only pertains to lead acid batteries. It seems strange that a 7 amp charger had a fan at all, very little current flow to create much heat. I'd take a guess that the little charger fed a little battery pack as the vehicle would not have been set up for free camping, more caravan park hopping, so the charger would have only needed to replace what the lights used.

[shonky]

Hi, all.

T I Terry - the vehicle was definitely set up for caravan sites, hence the microwave, aircon, small water capacity etc.,to ensure the nice customers did not stray off the beaten track at all. God help us, what if they had a flattie, or the fridge went off. Call the SES perhaps?

[glynhouse]

If it helps my Roadstar came with a 120ah battery and a 7 amp charger, fortunately it lasted 5 months and I refused to accept the same, a lot of talk later and they did supply a 15 amp Baintech, did not last that long for its price either.
But that was a long time ago !

DD

[T1 Terry]

I bought one of these 40 amp units http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/280853947994 ... 1423.l2648 a few yrs ago, I have punished it sometime terrible, melted the fuse into the holder so I had to bypass it, reverse connected and popped the 2 x 20 cent diodes, a quick repair and it back to work recharging my lithium batteries. I did need to add a second fan, lithium batteries work battery chargers very hard, full rated output till the very end, the 720Ah battery pack keeps it running flat out for 18 hrs (they don't understand the 10% rule ) if the sun forgets to come out for a few days, it still works fine, can't fault it. Erich (the other half of Swisslulu) bought one and it died a few days later, you just can't pick 'em, hoping it's something simple when I have a look at it at Easter.