Next message: (no name): "Re: lv-ab: Gulf Coast sailing"
In a message dated 8/13/2005 10:02:52 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:
The problem I see is that if the voltage is correct at the batteries when
charging at a high rate of amperage, it will be over voltage when it is at the
end of the charging cycle and the amperage is lower, since the voltage drop wil
be less.
I see no downside to getting the connections good enough so there is little
or no voltage drop.
Comments?
According to Home Power magazine, chronic undercharging is the primary cause
of premature battery failure. Since I WAS experiencing chronic undercharging
I wanted to take positive steps to stop that. Going by the voltage at the
battery solved that problem.
No matter how good the wires and connections are, there will always be some
voltage drop. Since the "smart" charger operates by sensing voltages it is
important that it is set to charge the battery properly no matter what it
"thinks" the voltage is. The charge only knows the voltage it sees inside itself and
mistakenly thinks that is the voltage at the battery. So we have to modify
that set point to make the charger aware of the voltage at the battery.
Hard charging for the bulk charging is a good thing, as long as the battery
is not overheated. My Trace has a temp sensor in contact with the battery that
the charger takes into consideration. Long finishing charging is also a good
thing, but not normally available while away from the dock. So as a
practical matter, we who are cruising must charge harder in order to avoid having to
charge for very long times.
Norm
S/V Bandersnatch
Lying Boothbay ME
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