Battery Question - Page 2

DAN L · 09-30-2008, 01:06 AM

MR T...
i installed my 2 lifeline gpl-6ct agm batteries on their sides because of limited space.
you wrote a very good article...

MrTransistor · 09-30-2008, 07:34 AM

Hi Dan,

On the Horizons and Vectras there isn't enough space to mount them laying down. It's a tight squeeze with the 4 GPL-4s upright. Only enough room to squeeze a 2X4 in front to wedge them in.

ktlyford · 09-30-2008, 02:48 PM

I was able to squeeze in four GPL-4s and my chassis battery and there is only enough room to slip a piece of paper between the batts. The 35U need about another 2" vertically to get the 6s in which sure would be nice

The only concern I have with the PD 9200 charger/converter is the desulfation mode which Lifeline (Concord)not to do. There is no way to have the PD9270 not go into this mode that I can tell.

I haven't heard from Progressive about this and I don't want to void my warranty on the batteries. Will the desulfation mode hurt the AGMs?

MrTransistor · 09-30-2008, 11:04 PM

I don't think the PD9270 would cause any harm to the GPL-4s. The storage mode only applies 14.4 Volts for 15 minutes every 21 hours. This is an acceptable voltage for these batteries and at only 1.2% of the time should be fine and will keep them topped off. Remember that the PD9270 is current limited to 70 Amps. and that is only C / 6.25 for 4 GPL-4s connected for 12 Volt operation. That is so far under the C * 10 allowed for the GPL-4s that there should be no worries.

ktlyford · 10-01-2008, 07:32 PM

Mr.T, so I'm thinking that maybe a better way of charging my 4 batts hooked in series/parallel would be to add a second charger, this would allow me to recharge the batts in half the time I'm at now. This would be great for the times boondocking so when I need to run the gen to recharge it would only be for approximately half the time. hmmmmmmmm.............

kl

MrTransistor · 10-01-2008, 08:36 PM

Correct. Two PD9270 should be able to feed 140 Amps. into your AGMs. I use the ˜should' with the reservation that I don't know how the controlling circuitry of the PD9270s will react to a second unit also trying to charge the batteries. I have no problem with my two ProSines connected together with ¼" x 2" buss bar about 7" long and from there to the batteries through 0000 welding cable 9.5' long. The ProSines are very well behaved but there is the potential for the two units to fight over who will do what and when.

If you do run into any problem like this, a possible solution is to connect the chargers individually to the batteries through their own wires. This should prevent the electronic contention that may occur in the sense circuits.

Good luck with your setup, the reduced charging time is really nice when dry camping. Oh, the other thing you need is an AGS unit for your generator. Then it's all automatic.

ktlyford · 10-02-2008, 01:39 PM

Mr. T , thanks for the input. As for the AGS I have been looking at the Xantrex LinkPro (http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/274/p/1/pt/7/product.asp )battery monitor which has an alarm output for auto starting a generator.

kl

MrTransistor · 10-02-2008, 10:07 PM

Hi kl,

The Onan Energy Command 30 is what I and several others have. I fabricated a panel out of Aluminum and mounted the EC30, my two remote water meters, and 4 banana jacks for remote battery readings with a digital voltmeter. There are inputs that request ˜Auto Start' for AC as well as an ˜Ignition cycle' input as a safety feature (shuts the generator down if it's running and the engine is started).

The EC30 will display both the house and the chassis battery voltage although with only 1/10 Volt resolution. You can set ˜Quiet Time', ˜Generator Start' voltage, ˜Generator Stop' voltage, ˜Time' to continue after ˜Stop Voltage' is reached, etc.

When boon docking, it really does make everything automatic. Set it and forget it. You always have 120VAC from the inverter and when it needs it the generator will start, recharge the batteries, then shut down unattended as often or as seldom as needed.