[ihc] battery charging

[John Hofstetter <hofs@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There is a concise set of  charts for battery charging at

http://www.thesolar.biz/Battery_charging_article.htm

You will see that the main charging of a 12 volt wet cell battery is 
supposed to be at 14.2 to 14.7 volts.

The voltage at which our unmodified Delco alternators charges our 
batteries is  a voltage appropriate for a float charge which would be a 
maintenance charge  for a fully charged battery. What this means is  
that our batteries  never really get fully charged, or more properly 
fully conditioned. Other good info at that site also.

True deep cycle batteries charge at a lower voltage. My solar panel 
regulator on my trailer holds the voltage at  13.6 volts.

I was telling an old RV owner about my Odyssey battery, and the look on 
his face told me that he didn't believe a word I  said. 1700 cca out of 
a deep cycle battery that can take at least 400 complete discharges and 
is designed to last 10 to 12 years? Yeah, right, his look told me.

Hmm, I wonder if Odyssey batteries need to be equalized?

While I am rambling, let me wander one more place. Many RV owners don't 
know that the battery charger section of their "converter" is a low amp 
battery maintainer, and if the RV isn't charged with a different 
charging system (like your vehicle alternator) occasionially, that 
battery life is going to be substantially shorter than may be expected.

OK, I've beaten battery charging into the ground, I think I'm over it.

John

John Hofstetter
Ol' Saline
www.goldrush.com/~hofs