On board battery chargers?

[Han_solo]

The onboard battery charger on my boat for the leisure batteries ( 240v shore power and 12v alternator ) is, I suspect, kyboshed and I am thinking of adding solar panels. I'd like to have all the leisure battery charging done by one charging system so it would take it's power from 240v shore power, 12v alternator and solar panels with some sort of intelligent switching system. Does anyone know if such a charger is available as I can't seem to find one.


Cheers.

 

[vas]

why complicate things?

I have a Victron Centaur 220->24V battery charger
I have a Victron MPPT charger
and obviously the alternator

all feeding into the batteries.
When one is working (like sun is out) if you try to use the 220V charger it will see them as charged and trickle charge them

I'm not aware of any triple in out out charging solution and I'd definitely not want one as if it fails I'm stuffed big time!

cheers

V.

 

[halcyon]

The onboard battery charger on my boat for the leisure batteries ( 240v shore power and 12v alternator ) is, I suspect, kyboshed and I am thinking of adding solar panels. I'd like to have all the leisure battery charging done by one charging system so it would take it's power from 240v shore power, 12v alternator and solar panels with some sort of intelligent switching system. Does anyone know if such a charger is available as I can't seem to find one.


Cheers.

What boat / battery layout ?

Brian

 

[Han_solo]

why complicate things?

I have a Victron Centaur 220->24V battery charger
I have a Victron MPPT charger
and obviously the alternator

all feeding into the batteries.
When one is working (like sun is out) if you try to use the 220V charger it will see them as charged and trickle charge them

I'm not aware of any triple in out out charging solution and I'd definitely not want one as if it fails I'm stuffed big time!

cheers

V.

The idea was to simplify things by just having one charger rather than two. I've seen triple feed systems that can take alternator/shore power and generator power with an self switching system but so far I can't seem to find one that does alternator/shore/solar which in this day and age of solar being so popular strikes me as a bit odd.

 

[Han_solo]

What boat / battery layout ?

Brian

Boats a Sealine 305 with one battery for each engine and a bank of 3 leisure batteries

 

[halcyon]

Boats a Sealine 305 with one battery for each engine and a bank of 3 leisure batteries

Does it still have it's original battery charger ?

I can normally get it doing most things, including what you what you want to do.

If you have doubts about the systems operation, you can return the display, original charger and split charge relay I can bench test them.

All the parts are repairable or spares part available.

Brian

 

[mersey]

https://www.es-store.co.uk/product_details.php?product=PHMEASYSOLAR12/1600-70-16&description=Victron-EasySolar-12/1600/70-16-&cat_desc=Victron-EasyPlus-/-EasySolar&cat_id=76&show_menu=23

Charger, invertor, MPPT all in one.

 

[Han_solo]

Does it still have it's original battery charger ?

I can normally get it doing most things, including what you what you want to do.

If you have doubts about the systems operation, you can return the display, original charger and split charge relay I can bench test them.

All the parts are repairable or spares part available.

Brian

As far as I know the charger that's on now is the original one, it's an old Sterling 40 amp system that from what testing I've done isn't working from the shore power feed. I've got an electrician who's going to assess all the electrics next week so I'll mention to him about getting it repaired if it does prove to be faulty.


Cheers.

 

[Han_solo]

https://www.es-store.co.uk/product_details.php?product=PHMEASYSOLAR12/1600-70-16&description=Victron-EasySolar-12/1600/70-16-&cat_desc=Victron-EasyPlus-/-EasySolar&cat_id=76&show_menu=23

Charger, invertor, MPPT all in one.

Blimey that's a rare old price. :ambivalence:

 

[halcyon]

As far as I know the charger that's on now is the original one, it's an old Sterling 40 amp system that from what testing I've done isn't working from the shore power feed. I've got an electrician who's going to assess all the electrics next week so I'll mention to him about getting it repaired if it does prove to be faulty.


Cheers.

When built we supplied an integrated charging system that covered engine and mains charging, plus generator selection.

Each engine charges the service ( two batteries when built ) if you loose an alternator the system rolls over to charge that engine battery from good engine.

Solar panels on the service bank will charge engine batteries via split charge relays, if you start an engine the system drops out the relays.

Mains charger charged service battery to 14.3 V, then sent a signal to the controller to engage engine relay, once that bank was up to 14.3 it engaged other engine battery. Once this was charged to 14.3 V the voltage dropped to 13.6 V float.

If a gen set was fitted this supplied primary power, plug in mains, if live it switches over to shore supply until the supply drops out, upon the gen is reconnected.

Battery status lights, engine red below 50%. yellow 50-60%, green above 60%. When the battery receives a charge voltage the yellow light above battery comes on and green in battery goes out until battery charge level reaches around 60%. Service has similar display, except it has a lashing red that indicates 10 - 15% capacity. At this point the system has a option to power a power lockout relay to reduce power load pending battery recharge, this was not used by Sealine.

If you want anynore info drop us a e-amil.

 

[Han_solo]

Thanks very much for this info halcyon it's going to be a big help as I got no documentation on the charging system with the boat.

[QUOTEMains charger charged service battery to 14.3 V, then sent a signal to the controller to engage engine relay
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?511866-On-board-battery-chargers#5zxqvFbBrJy64MT6.99][/QUOTE]

I've got a feeling that's where the problem lies - as in that controller is stuck in the engine relay position.

 

[halcyon]

Thanks very much for this info halcyon it's going to be a big help as I got no documentation on the charging system with the boat.

[QUOTEMains charger charged service battery to 14.3 V, then sent a signal to the controller to engage engine relay
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?511866-On-board-battery-chargers#5zxqvFbBrJy64MT6.99]

I've got a feeling that's where the problem lies - as in that controller is stuck in the engine relay position.[/QUOTE]

The problem may be the Sterling installation.

When you are next on the boat turn all battery isolator's off, no mains charger either, turn only service on, if batteries are charged you should have red, green, red showing in battery status. Turn service off port engine on, should be green, red, red. Do the same starboard engine and you should see red, red. green.

Quick check or alternators is, turn on cabin lights, start port engine, do you get two yellows and cabin lights get brighter ? Stop engine and repeat starboard engine, do lights get brighter ?

Any problems come back, we can supply spare or repair for most items we supplied to Sealine, look for Powercentre logo bottom right.

Brian

 

[Han_solo]

I've got a feeling that's where the problem lies - as in that controller is stuck in the engine relay position.

The problem may be the Sterling installation.

When you are next on the boat turn all battery isolator's off, no mains charger either, turn only service on, if batteries are charged you should have red, green, red showing in battery status. Turn service off port engine on, should be green, red, red. Do the same starboard engine and you should see red, red. green.

Quick check or alternators is, turn on cabin lights, start port engine, do you get two yellows and cabin lights get brighter ? Stop engine and repeat starboard engine, do lights get brighter ?

Any problems come back, we can supply spare or repair for most items we supplied to Sealine, look for Powercentre logo bottom right.

Brian[/QUOTE]

Once again many thanks for this information Brian and you'll definitely be first port of call should I need repairs to the charging system.

 

[halcyon]

The problem may be the Sterling installation.

When you are next on the boat turn all battery isolator's off, no mains charger either, turn only service on, if batteries are charged you should have red, green, red showing in battery status. Turn service off port engine on, should be green, red, red. Do the same starboard engine and you should see red, red. green.

Quick check or alternators is, turn on cabin lights, start port engine, do you get two yellows and cabin lights get brighter ? Stop engine and repeat starboard engine, do lights get brighter ?

Any problems come back, we can supply spare or repair for most items we supplied to Sealine, look for Powercentre logo bottom right.

Brian

Once again many thanks for this information Brian and you'll definitely be first port of call should I need repairs to the charging system. [/QUOTE]

As it's my design, I'm the only person who knows how it works.:encouragement:

Brian

 

[nateliv]

NoCo Genius 40 Amp 4 bank charger was installed about 6 months ago. I use all AGMs and it works like a charm.

It replaced a Promariner....