Neal, The problem: If one is using the main propulsion engine for battery charging only (at anchor for days or weeks, no solar or not enough, no wind power or not enough) then the engine is being abused ( too lightly loaded, leading to damage ) and burning fuel at a very inefficient rate once the charge cycle gets past the bulk phase.
Oh yeah. The other end of the problem is that batteries, especially AGM batteries need to be FULLY recharged every time a charge cycle is started. The solution: I don't have a clue. Apparently a secret as I have asked twice and received no information except some dimensions (without units, just useless numbers) and operating procedures. No technical details at all. I would guess he wants to make money and is convinced the details would allow us all to build our own units. Eric Thompson Sunnyvale, California [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sea Quell crew." <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, May 02, 2011 8:31 PM Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery question ($300 Question) > > This is interesting but baffling. I must have missed some details, or > it's just over my head. > > Perhaps someone can restate the problem and how this device solves the > problem? > > Thanks! > -Neal. > > > > ahmet erkan wrote: >> Hi Norm, >> If what you say is true, I must be real lousy at reading what people >> feel. >> I thought the general feeling in the group other than a couple of guys >> was : >> "we don't have a problem charging our batteries why don't this Jerk just >> shut up" >> OK this box is about 4 X 3 X 6 and has a terminal block with >> seven connections. >> Five leads go to the "dual battery switch" and two leads are ground. >> The house bank is wired with a conventional dual battery switch and >> typically each >> bank consists of 300A/H lead acid flooded cell deep discharge batteries. >> The user keeps the battery switch at the "both" setting while running >> the engine >> and bulk charging the batteries at maximum alternator output. After the >> battery >> reaches the bulk charge terminal voltage and the regulator prevents the >> battery >> voltage from increasing any further, and the alternator output current >> begins to >> reduce, the engine can be shut down. As long as the battery switch is in >> the "both" >> position nothing happens. When the user flips the battery switch to #1 >> or #2 position >> the equlizer senses the condition and the bank that is open circuited >> begins to get >> charged at less than 0.02C (C=A/H rating) >> When the open circuited bank reaches the float voltage and the float >> current >> reduces to the fully charged level the equilizer illuminates a green LED. >> The user switches the battery switch to "both" position and continues to >> use the >> energy stored in his batteries until the next bulk charge becomes >> necessary. >> Captain Lew Hodgett recommended 600 to 900A/H bank as a minimum, so lets >> say >> half the bank is 450A/H. A useful piece of information from the list >> would be the >> charge current to maintain this bank at lets say +15% float voltage >> level at lets say >> 30C temperature. Maybe 500mA? Anyway, let's see if anyone from the >> list is willing >> to take a measurement from their battery bank and help us design this >> beast. >> More later >> Good night >> Ahmet >> >> >> >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> From: [email protected] >> To: [email protected] >> Date: Mon, 2 May 2011 12:56:10 -0400 >> Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] AGM battery question ($300 Question) >> >> Ahmet, >> >> I think many of us are interested in this device/technique and were just >> waiting to read about it from you on the List >> >> Norm >> S/V Bandersnatch >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Since you and I are evidently the only persons interested, I will write >> to you privately. >> >> _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list >> [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over >> the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To >> subscribe send an email to [email protected] To >> unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The >> archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To >> search the archives >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman >> Users Guide can be found here >> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Liveaboard mailing list >> [email protected] >> To adjust your membership settings over the web >> http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard >> To subscribe send an email to [email protected] >> >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >> The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ >> >> To search the archives >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] >> >> The Mailman Users Guide can be found here >> http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html >> >> >> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >> >> No virus found in this message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com <http://www.avg.com> >> Version: 10.0.1209 / Virus Database: 1500/3611 - Release Date: 05/02/11 >> > _______________________________________________ > Liveaboard mailing list > [email protected] > To adjust your membership settings over the web > http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard > To subscribe send an email to [email protected] > > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ > > To search the archives > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] > > The Mailman Users Guide can be found here > http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
