Specifications
m6
Sizing a Battery Charger
The size of the battery charger depends on the amp-hours
of the batteries and the loads the charger must supply. The
loads must also include the DC loads for which the charger
must provide when in power supply mode. A simple rule of
thumb when sizing your charger:
1. Total the number of amp-hours in the battery bank.
(Group 24, 27 & 31 batteries are @100-120 amp-hours)
2. Most battery companies recommend that the batteries
be discharged no more than 50%. Thus, divide the number
of amp-hours by 50%.
3. Decide how much time, in number of hours, you want
the recovery of the batteries to take. Divide 50% of the
total amp-hours by the number of recovery hours.
4. The final number you are left with is the amperage of the
battery charger needed to bring your battery bank to full
charge in the desired time.
EXAMPLE: A boater has a battery bank of four Group 27
batteries and would like to recharge in 8 hours.
• 4 Batteries x 120 amp-hours each = 480
• 50% of 480 = 240
• Divided by 8 hours = 30
• Battery charger size should be >_ 30 amps
Installation Information: wire size, torque,
distance and connection to batteries
Charles recommends that you consult ABYC (American
Boat & Yacht Council) standards for information regarding
the installation and use of onboard, marine battery
chargers. Charles torque recommendations are included
within all owner’s manuals. Wire size depends on the
distance from the batteries to the charger.
Charging Multiple Battery Banks (outputs):
Charles C-Chargers include isolation at each output. 2000
SP, 5000 SP, 9000 & HQ chargers will look for the battery
that is the most depleted and direct power into that unit
first. When that battery's power is level with the others,
the charger will share power with all of the batteries in the
bank. The IMC Charger uses a round-robin approach to
charging. All batteries will charge in sequence, with
additional time give to batteries with lower power levels.
Charles C-Chargers are constructed in a such a way that
each output can handle the full current rating.
Should I leave my charger turned on at
all times?
If you are using a C-Charger you should leave the charger
on at all times. The output voltage of the electronic
C-Chargers (2000 SP, 5000 SP, HQ & IMC series chargers)
will move to a "float" stage, or maintenance stage, of
charge. This provides a minimal amount of voltage to the
battery(s) that creates a very low level of heat while
maintaining the "ampacity" of the battery(s). Ferroresonant,
single stage chargers will reach a peak voltage of 13.8V at
10% of the full rated amperage of the charger; this is the
low end of the unit's operating curve considered the
maintenance phase. Do not forget that batteries are in
constant use, even for minimal loads such as automatic
bilge pumps and DC lighting. If a small amount of charge is
not continually provided to the batteries while they are
supplying power to these items, they may deeply discharge
having an adverse effect on the batteries.
How long does battery recharge take?
There are many factors that can either shorten or lengthen
the time it takes to recharge batteries, including condition
of the batteries, battery temperature, depth of discharge,
loads on the batteries, etc. The average recommended
time for recharge is 8 hours if the C-Charger is sized
properly. (See ABYC standards for load calculation and
sizing info.) This time can be adjusted based on user
preference, understanding of battery upkeep, the use of
temperature compensation, charging profiles and nominal
loads which can enhance or restrict the performance of the
charger.
GENERAL BATTERY CHARGER INFORMATION
INDUSTRIAL BATTERY CHARGERS
Please see these additional battery charger models on the Industrial Solutions flipside of this catalog:
Charles recommends consulting ABYC standards for direction on the use
and installation of batteries and chargers. Please visit www.abycinc.org for
more information.
INcharger Series
Page i3
EB & EP Series
Pages i3-i4
AA Series
Page i5
AE Series
Page i6
CI Series
Page i7