Alternative Fridge power .....

[rogerthebodger]

My Victron charger boiled the failing start battery one night.

If the electronics goes wrong, it can fail in a way that will boil the batteries.

I have a number of 6 amp intelligent chargers that got wet and boiled my start battery which I need to replace.

My solar regulators are simple on / off regulators which don't get the battery to full change but cut off way before they can boil my batteries.

Its not just the design but it's the quality of manufacture which is now done in China with a bout 10% testing only and the design is not fail safe to cut down on cost of manufacturer

 

[PaulRainbow]

My Victron charger boiled the failing start battery one night.

If the battery fails due to a shorted cell this will happen with most chargers. The charger sees 10.xx V at the battery and tries to charge it up.

 

[Refueler]

I recently updated the DC systems for a customer and have been monitoring his boat remotely, courtesy of the Victron VRM portal. He lives aboard a 42 sailboat. Just looked at some data from the portal and his batteries are currently in storage and have been 100% charged for the last 30 days.

Don't underestimate the Victron charger. As long as you are not going to regularly exceed the chargers current rating it will do a good job

I understand and agree.

But by isolating off the systems .... it means I can extend the battery life significantly (I can afford batterys - but humping them on / off boats is a pain I can do without !)

Like I say its a 'brainstorm' idea at present

 

[PaulRainbow]

I understand and agree.

But by isolating off the systems .... it means I can extend the battery life significantly (I can afford batterys - but humping them on / off boats is a pain I can do without !)

Like I say its a 'brainstorm' idea at present

Sorry Nigel, but i don't think you do understand. The charger will maintain the battery at 100% charge, going in and out of "storage mode" as needed to do so, whilst simultaneously running the DC loads. Running the loads from an alternative supply (or not) would do nothing to change that.

If you run the loads from a transformer the charger will maintain the batteries. If you don't use the transformer, the charger will maintain the batteries and run the loads.

The customers boat i mentioned above does. the monitoring logs show the batteries are always at 100%, despite the owner living aboard.

My own boat does the same, running all DC systems on an all electric motor boat.

I've fitted dozens of Victron chargers, they keep the batteries maintained.

 

[Refueler]

Sorry Nigel, but i don't think you do understand. The charger will maintain the battery at 100% charge, going in and out of "storage mode" as needed to do so, whilst simultaneously running the DC loads. Running the loads from an alternative supply (or not) would do nothing to change that.

If you run the loads from a transformer the charger will maintain the batteries. If you don't use the transformer, the charger will maintain the batteries and run the loads.

The customers boat i mentioned above does. the monitoring logs show the batteries are always at 100%, despite the owner living aboard.

My own boat does the same, running all DC systems on an all electric motor boat.

I've fitted dozens of Victron chargers, they keep the batteries maintained.

But I DO UNDERSTAND ....

My position is based on requiring MORE amps than the Victron is rated for .....

I totally agree with you IF the Victron can supply the amps ... but once the amp load is higher than the Victron - then batterys will deplete ... if not careful - the batterys can drop below 'safe level' ...

I realise that usually the amp load will not exceed the Victron ... but given that my boat often is the 'disco entertainments' provider ... my sound is up to 300W per channel ...
With the fridge running as well ....

Maybe you can see my reasoning for my idea now ???

 

[PaulRainbow]

But I DO UNDERSTAND ....

My position is based on requiring MORE amps than the Victron is rated for .....

I totally agree with you IF the Victron can supply the amps ... but once the amp load is higher than the Victron - then batterys will deplete ... if not careful - the batterys can drop below 'safe level' ...

I realise that usually the amp load will not exceed the Victron ... but given that my boat often is the 'disco entertainments' provider ... my sound is up to 300W per channel ...
With the fridge running as well ....

Maybe you can see my reasoning for my idea now ???

I did say "As long as you are not going to regularly exceed the chargers current rating it will do a good job"