I have a newmar nautilus battery charger that I leave on while I am away from the boat which can be up to six weeks during the winter if the skiing is good. My concern is that the charger being 5+ years old is not one of the "smart" types and what effect this has on the batteries. The factory states that this charger could be considered a "SCR" type and it will float at 13.4VDC. I think the 13.4float should be ok-any thoughts? What about "SCR"-what does this mean?
Thanks
lmace@gt.com
Help-battery chargers
Moderator: Jim Walsh
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Tom
Re: Help-battery chargers
</LI>
TShel11523@aol.com
SCR refers to a silicon controled rectifier usually a small rectangular.block with four pins on it.The old style was a plate rectifier.Looked like a group of square plates bolted together.Kind of fraigle,heat got to them.The best way is to check the battery after an hour or so of charging.Connections cool,battery cool, no smoke and a quiet sound from the charger "no clicking noises".If in doubt get some experienced help It' a lot cheaper than cleaning up the acid from a blown battery.I have a newmar nautilus battery charger that I leave on while I am away from the boat which can be up to six weeks during the winter if the skiing is good. My concern is that the charger being 5+ years old is not one of the "smart" types and what effect this has on the batteries. The factory states that this charger could be considered a "SCR" type and it will float at 13.4VDC. I think the 13.4float should be ok-any thoughts? What about "SCR"-what does this mean?
Thanks
TShel11523@aol.com
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Larry DeMers
Re: Help-battery chargers
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By "SCR", I believe they are trying to tell you that this is an *unregulated* charger. That is, this charger will keep charging until the 13.4vdc battery voltage is reached, and the current will decrease as this level approaches. In real life however, these chargers are unsatisfactory in doing this current cutoff. The charger continues pumping in a small amount of current, causing the electrolyte to 'bubble' and gas at a higher rate than normal, dropping the electrolyte levels in the cells.Over a period of time, the battery will loose more electrolyte than if you had a smart charger, which would be ideal for these conditions. Additionally, the battery takes a long time to reach the fully charged voltage, and uses a charge rate that is not appropriate for the battery. The manufacture has a definite idea about what type of charge rates his battery needs for the advertised length of life to be had, and makes these available to you if you wish to read them. It involves either a 3 or 4 step charge protocol.
My recommendation would be to keep an eye on the batteries electrolyte levels, checking them at least once a month, then switch over to the smart charger of an appropriate size when convenient.
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~Sailing Lake Superior~
ldemers@win.bright.net
By "SCR", I believe they are trying to tell you that this is an *unregulated* charger. That is, this charger will keep charging until the 13.4vdc battery voltage is reached, and the current will decrease as this level approaches. In real life however, these chargers are unsatisfactory in doing this current cutoff. The charger continues pumping in a small amount of current, causing the electrolyte to 'bubble' and gas at a higher rate than normal, dropping the electrolyte levels in the cells.Over a period of time, the battery will loose more electrolyte than if you had a smart charger, which would be ideal for these conditions. Additionally, the battery takes a long time to reach the fully charged voltage, and uses a charge rate that is not appropriate for the battery. The manufacture has a definite idea about what type of charge rates his battery needs for the advertised length of life to be had, and makes these available to you if you wish to read them. It involves either a 3 or 4 step charge protocol.
My recommendation would be to keep an eye on the batteries electrolyte levels, checking them at least once a month, then switch over to the smart charger of an appropriate size when convenient.
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~Sailing Lake Superior~
I have a newmar nautilus battery charger that I leave on while I am away from the boat which can be up to six weeks during the winter if the skiing is good. My concern is that the charger being 5+ years old is not one of the "smart" types and what effect this has on the batteries. The factory states that this charger could be considered a "SCR" type and it will float at 13.4VDC. I think the 13.4float should be ok-any thoughts? What about "SCR"-what does this mean?
Thanks
ldemers@win.bright.net
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Walt Bilofsky
Re: Help-battery chargers
</LI>
I don't think you'll kill the batteries quickly with any charger. You might shorten their life somewhat. You do want to keep an eye on the electrolyte level - bare plates is one rapid way to do the batteries in - but that shouldn't become a problem over a six week period, especialy in winter. A warning sign would be if you see or hear any bubbling when the batteries are fully charged.
I left the ProMariner ferroresonant charger (original equipment on my CD 30 power) on all the time. The batteries were rarely discharged in use, and lasted about three to four years. Last time I replaced them, I got a three-stage charger on the theory that if it got a couple extra years out of the batteries, it would be worth it. Talking to battery manufacturers, it seemed like that was a good possibility, particularly if I occasionally used the equalization cycle on the new charger. I'll report back in three to six years.
West Marine has a 10 amp three stage charger for $129. (A 10 amp three stage will be faster than an older 10 amp charger, because it will put out a full 10 amps longer into the charge cycle.) It might make sense to just see how long your batteries last, and next time you replace them consider replacing the charger too.
bilofsky@toolworks.com
I don't think you'll kill the batteries quickly with any charger. You might shorten their life somewhat. You do want to keep an eye on the electrolyte level - bare plates is one rapid way to do the batteries in - but that shouldn't become a problem over a six week period, especialy in winter. A warning sign would be if you see or hear any bubbling when the batteries are fully charged.
I left the ProMariner ferroresonant charger (original equipment on my CD 30 power) on all the time. The batteries were rarely discharged in use, and lasted about three to four years. Last time I replaced them, I got a three-stage charger on the theory that if it got a couple extra years out of the batteries, it would be worth it. Talking to battery manufacturers, it seemed like that was a good possibility, particularly if I occasionally used the equalization cycle on the new charger. I'll report back in three to six years.
West Marine has a 10 amp three stage charger for $129. (A 10 amp three stage will be faster than an older 10 amp charger, because it will put out a full 10 amps longer into the charge cycle.) It might make sense to just see how long your batteries last, and next time you replace them consider replacing the charger too.
bilofsky@toolworks.com
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John R.
Re: Help-battery chargers
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Ditto, that is exactly what SCR stands for. I use a Sentry switching charger that uses a operator preset cut out voltage level. It's been operating for about ten years now. It's on all the time the boat is at the dock and we're now on our second set of gels in a little over ten years. By the great performance I've experienced with a switching charger I'm concerned there may be some sales hype associated with the latest whizbang multi-stage chargers and they are not necessary to achieve long battery life. To each his own though. I don't think you should be overly concerned about a 5+ year old charger. Besides Newmar makes reliable equipment. I would run my concerns past the engineering department at Newmar, they are usually very helpful.SCR refers to a silicon controled rectifier usually a small rectangular.block with four pins on it.The old style was a plate rectifier.Looked like a group of square plates bolted together.Kind of fraigle,heat got to them.The best way is to check the battery after an hour or so of charging.Connections cool,battery cool, no smoke and a quiet sound from the charger "no clicking noises".If in doubt get some experienced help It' a lot cheaper than cleaning up the acid from a blown battery.I have a newmar nautilus battery charger that I leave on while I am away from the boat which can be up to six weeks during the winter if the skiing is good. My concern is that the charger being 5+ years old is not one of the "smart" types and what effect this has on the batteries. The factory states that this charger could be considered a "SCR" type and it will float at 13.4VDC. I think the 13.4float should be ok-any thoughts? What about "SCR"-what does this mean?
Thanks
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Larry DeMers
Re: Help-battery chargers
</LI>
Walt,
You had my current system exactly. I have a Pro-Mariner Ferroresonant 20A charger, and it has worked ok for me so far..as for you. That is because the ferroresonant charger takes literally forever to deliver the final 15-20% of the charge. The ferro charger takes all week to do the same thing the smart charger will do in a few hours. But the down side of the ferro charger is higher gassing and the need to keep an eye on the electrolyte levels.
This long recharge period for the ferro charger has been ok for me up til now because we are gone during the week, only sailing on weekends, except for 4-6 weeks every summer. But we are going to have more long periods of concentrated sailing in the immediate future, so we need to look at rapidly recharging the banks. I bought a Heart Freedom 10 charger/inverter, and have been designing the new DC panel, metering, and distribution system for my CD30, as well as a larger alternator and 3 stage controller. It's a great project. I am trying to right many ills that the previous owner had allowed to exist, and improving life aboard at the same time.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~Sailing Lake Superior~~
ldemers@win.bright.net
Walt,
You had my current system exactly. I have a Pro-Mariner Ferroresonant 20A charger, and it has worked ok for me so far..as for you. That is because the ferroresonant charger takes literally forever to deliver the final 15-20% of the charge. The ferro charger takes all week to do the same thing the smart charger will do in a few hours. But the down side of the ferro charger is higher gassing and the need to keep an eye on the electrolyte levels.
This long recharge period for the ferro charger has been ok for me up til now because we are gone during the week, only sailing on weekends, except for 4-6 weeks every summer. But we are going to have more long periods of concentrated sailing in the immediate future, so we need to look at rapidly recharging the banks. I bought a Heart Freedom 10 charger/inverter, and have been designing the new DC panel, metering, and distribution system for my CD30, as well as a larger alternator and 3 stage controller. It's a great project. I am trying to right many ills that the previous owner had allowed to exist, and improving life aboard at the same time.
Cheers!
Larry DeMers
DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 ~~Sailing Lake Superior~~
I don't think you'll kill the batteries quickly with any charger. You might shorten their life somewhat. You do want to keep an eye on the electrolyte level - bare plates is one rapid way to do the batteries in - but that shouldn't become a problem over a six week period, especialy in winter. A warning sign would be if you see or hear any bubbling when the batteries are fully charged.
I left the ProMariner ferroresonant charger (original equipment on my CD 30 power) on all the time. The batteries were rarely discharged in use, and lasted about three to four years. Last time I replaced them, I got a three-stage charger on the theory that if it got a couple extra years out of the batteries, it would be worth it. Talking to battery manufacturers, it seemed like that was a good possibility, particularly if I occasionally used the equalization cycle on the new charger. I'll report back in three to six years.
West Marine has a 10 amp three stage charger for $129. (A 10 amp three stage will be faster than an older 10 amp charger, because it will put out a full 10 amps longer into the charge cycle.) It might make sense to just see how long your batteries last, and next time you replace them consider replacing the charger too.
ldemers@win.bright.net