Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Hum box out, Ctek in or ?
| Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250003] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 07:30  |
 |
Loffen
Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
My Hum boxes are just one thing.. heavy, other than that useless, so I have been looking at some other options for 12v supply and charging.
And after looking at several power converters and chargers I started to wonder if a Ctek could do the job, I have a couple in use at my work shop, those small units charge and maintain batteries up to 150Ah and can sometimes restore a battery.
So what if I use a larger unit ? they have the Muliti US 2500 ( http://smartercharger.com/products/batterychargers/ctek-multi-us-25000/ ) which is able to charge and maintain battery banks up to 500Ah.
But will it be able to do the job as a power converter ? this is where you guys come in, it will deliver up to 25A at 13.6v in supply mode even without a battery, and together with the battery it should be more than enough power or what do you think ?
1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green,
And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel
in Norway
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250007 is a reply to message #250003] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 08:08  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Espen,
25 A is far below what most of us consider adequate for a
charger/converter. 45 A is generally considered minimal but adequate.
Probably the most common unit is the Progressive Dynamics 9245 though
there are others that are probably just as good, though usually more
expensive. The problem for you may be the input voltage; I don't know
whether PD sells a 240 vac/50 Hz unit.
There's also the matter of your being comfortable with the product you know
and for which you can obtain immediate service or replacement. That may be
your deciding factor.
If you find that you're depleting your batteries too quickly with the
lowcharge current, you can probably install a second charger in
parallel.
HTH,
Ken H.
On Sun, May 18, 2014 at 8:30 AM, Espen Heitmann wrote:
> My Hum boxes are just one thing.. heavy, other than that useless, so I
> have been looking at some other options for 12v supply and charging.
>
> And after looking at several power converters and chargers I started to
> wonder if a Ctek could do the job, I have a couple in use at my work shop,
> those small units charge and maintain batteries up to 150Ah and can
> sometimes restore a battery.
>
> So what if I use a larger unit ? they have the Muliti US 2500 (
> http://smartercharger.com/products/batterychargers/ctek-multi-us-25000/ )which is
> able to charge and maintain battery banks up to 500Ah.
>
> But will it be able to do the job as a power converter ? this is where
> you guys come in, it will deliver up to 25A at 13.6v in supply mode even
> without a battery, and together with the battery it should be more than
> enough power or what do you think ?
> --
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250029 is a reply to message #250003] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 09:56 |
 |
Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Espen, (quoted below)
Charging lead-acid flooded batteries is one of these things that everybody thinks is either easier or more difficult than it actually is. The strange thing is, both are true.....
There are also some simple facts.
Slower is better for the batteries. (Heat and circulation)
If you are going to recharge the bank while requiring DC service, you are charge voltage limited to less than about 15VDC.
There are two over-riding questions you need to answer:
A - How fast do you have to try to recharge the bank?
B - How slow a recharge can be tolerated.?
The real problems with the first are two-fold as noted above, heat and circulation.
Heat is the nemesis of lead/acid batteries. They don't like hot at all. The problem seems to be at least two real issues. One is the actual local boiling of the electrolyte and this is made easier by the off-gassing (electrolysis) of the water in the electrolyte (acid). The other is that the higher temperature increases the reaction preference for the formation of of lead sulfate(sulphate) that is less soluble. This can reduce the effective surface and therefore the effective capacity of the cell.
Flooded cells require the electrolyte to to circulate in the space between the cell plates. This is aided by the change in electrolyte density during charge and discharge. Problem: When charging the higher density sulfuric acid gets more dense, but if you heat it during charging, then the density increase might not be adequate to insure effective circulation.
So, it will take time to fully recover a bank after a serious discharge, and there is just nothing you can do about that, except supply electrons and wait patiently.
Now, on to the actual question...
The Ctek unit is a sealed package and so could be installed virtually anywhere. This would be good to limit the line loss to the bank.
It is rated at a peak charging current of 25amp. That just is not very much. If you are using golf cart or a 4D, they can take much more than that. As KenH said, 40 is a better choice for those two.
It seems to be available in 120VAC only, and I don't know what you are doing with the coach shore power.
It is expensive for what it is.
If I were in Europe, I would look for something I can get service for and this might not be it.
In the boat work (almost dead now due to the depression here) I try to stay with Progressive Dynamic and Iota. I do not know if either can supply a 240VAC unit, but both are proven.
Matt
Loffen wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 08:30My Hum boxes are just one thing.. heavy, other than that useless, so I have been looking at some other options for 12v supply and charging.
And after looking at several power converters and chargers I started to wonder if a Ctek could do the job, I have a couple in use at my work shop, those small units charge and maintain batteries up to 150Ah and can sometimes restore a battery.
So what if I use a larger unit ? they have the Muliti US 2500 ( http://smartercharger.com/products/batterychargers/ctek-multi-us-25000/ ) which is able to charge and maintain battery banks up to 500Ah.
But will it be able to do the job as a power converter ? this is where you guys come in, it will deliver up to 25A at 13.6v in supply mode even without a battery, and together with the battery it should be more than enough power or what do you think ?
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250038 is a reply to message #250032] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 11:23 |
|
Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Espen,
The spec sheet on the PD9260 says 50~60Hz.
Everybody here that has installed a PD is happy with it. I like the fact that I do not have to monitor the battery level when on shore power.
I bet you will be happy with it.
Matt
Loffen wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 11:30Matt, you are ofcourse right.
I have 120v in to the coach, my only worry is the 50hz when I am connected to land power, but I guess I will find out if it works or not.
I found a PD9260 for $ 163 ( 60A 4 mode charger) including shipping to NJ so I think I will go for that one, the GMC will be connected to a power line most of the time, also when it is not in use and I do not think the batteries will be without charge/dry camping for more than 3-4 days total during the season and if I run out of power during those days I can use the Onan to power up the DP and do a faster recharge than I could with the Ctek so DP it is 
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250043 is a reply to message #250038] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 11:49 |
|
Loffen
Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Thanks Matt
I feel like I have been all over the place and the only thing I found is the installation manual and it states 105-130v - 60 hz for all models, but if your manual says 50-60 hz I will take your word for it
Matt Colie wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 18:23Espen,
The spec sheet on the PD9260 says 50~60Hz.
Everybody here that has installed a PD is happy with it. I like the fact that I do not have to monitor the battery level when on shore power.
I bet you will be happy with it.
Matt
Loffen wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 11:30Matt, you are ofcourse right.
I have 120v in to the coach, my only worry is the 50hz when I am connected to land power, but I guess I will find out if it works or not.
I found a PD9260 for $ 163 ( 60A 4 mode charger) including shipping to NJ so I think I will go for that one, the GMC will be connected to a power line most of the time, also when it is not in use and I do not think the batteries will be without charge/dry camping for more than 3-4 days total during the season and if I run out of power during those days I can use the Onan to power up the DP and do a faster recharge than I could with the Ctek so DP it is
1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green,
And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel
in Norway
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250061 is a reply to message #250032] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 17:25 |
 |
USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Espen,
That's the unit I installed in Double Trouble under the shelf under the bathroom sink. It works very well, however, it puts out 60
AMPS and the connection to the house batteries in the back only had a 40 AMP fuse in it. It kept blowing and being electrically
challenged I couldn't figger out why for the longest time. Evidently there were occasions that the input into the batteries exceeded
40 AMPS. When the penny dropped I replaced the 40 AMP fuse with a 60 AMP circuit breaker and no more problems.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
-----Original Message-----
From: Espen Heitmann
Matt, you are of course right.
I have 120v in to the coach, my only worry is the 50hz when I am connected to land power, but I guess I will find out if it works or
not.
I found a PD9260 for $ 163 ( 60A 4 mode charger) including shipping to NJ so I think I will go for that one, the GMC will be
connected to a power line most of the time, also when it is not in use and I do not think the batteries will be without charge/dry
camping for more than 3-4 days total during the season and if I run out of power during those days I can use the Onan to power up
the DP and do a faster recharge than I could with the Ctek so DP it is :)
--
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250087 is a reply to message #250040] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 21:47 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Matt Colie wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 10:27appie wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 11:32Being a dutchman I went for a Dutch system that the Dutch consider the best !
a Victron Phønix MultiPlus 12/1600/70 12volts upto 1600W at 230V and upto 70 A charging
http://www.victronenergy.com/Manuals/PhoenixMulti/UKISM010054000-rev00.pdf
Appie,
I don't think being Dutch has anything to do with making good choices.
At the request of an owner, I spent a long time looking into the Victron line a little while ago. They look to be very well designed and manufactured. The problem in this country is that they are not well represented.
Matt
Matt--having grown up in Holland I need to argue with you on that one
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
|
|
|
|
| Re: Hum box out, Ctek in or ? [message #250089 is a reply to message #250080] |
Sun, 18 May 2014 21:56 |
Bob de Kruyff
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Loffen wrote on Sun, 18 May 2014 19:23Thanks Rob and Peter
I will check up on the fuse Rob, there has been a self thought electrician working on DT and I have sorted most of his work out by now, the original 50 amp or so fuse is still there but it does not matter much as he have added a second and thicker wire directly from the combiner (well it was a couple of relays but I removed them)so the 12 v to the interior goes in a loop, you have the (now) original setup to the fuses and then the new wire to the rear batteries and then to the interior fuses again..
Peter do you think that the Ctek gives enough power ?
Both my coaches has some pretty large step down transformers (30 lbs or so ) so I keep everything inside the coach 12/110 volt as it was originally, not a large problem really as I only need a 110v coffee maker and the transformers on PC's and stuff like that today are multi voltage so I only need a couple of adapters to use them.
Don't forget to look into IOTA--a superior unit in my mind and experience.
Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Sun Oct 13 13:20:59 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.03964 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
