Shore Power Converter/Charger

[Flux]

No threadjack worries, that's what this is all about!!

[Branduis]

Pretty new to the SMB electronic system. I’m about to install a new (expensive amg 189 ah group 4D) house battery and learned that my Intelli Power 9100 should have a charge wizard. Is this necessary/recommended for clean charging when plugged into shore power?
I’m in the (slow) process if installing solar, so will have an mttp (?) charge controller on the solar feed, but want to make sure I treat this battery correctly when on shore power.
Also, is there smart charge equipment when the alternator is charging my house batttery?

My little knowledge of electric asks why I couldn’t have one smart charge controller for all charging inputs (shore AC, solar, alternator) , but I’m told it’s better for different currents etc. I can live with that, but wondering if it’s advisae to have smart controllers for all inputs.

BD

[Flux]

The charge wizard I think is a good item, it will allow a better profile for your AGM and maintain it much better. The solar should do the same, just make sure the controller has different profiles for different batteries. Your alternator won't be a smart charger but it will bulk charge the agm just fine. the trick is the top off and float charge that will be provided by the intellipower and the solar charger.



It certainly would be nice to make an all in one that can take any source and properly charge your agm, but all you really need to do is either plug it in here and there or let the solar charger do it's thing when idle. Your battery will be good.



So yeah, get the charge wizard.

[Branduis]

Thx Flux. That’s what I thought. Also was curious: I have van (2000 Ford SMB EB 2wd) connected to shore power now, but the house battery is not installed. In this configuration it seems that the converter does not run the house lights/water pump/radio etc. So does the converter actually run 12V equipment, or is it only charging the battery, which then runs the equipment? Or do I have a blown fuse or relay , preventing the converter from running the equipment? ....or would the 12v equipment run without a battery if I completed the circuit? (Connect my pos and neg battery cables. -Note that I don’t plan to do that, but just trying to figure out why the converter wouldn’t run 12v equipment without a battery in line.).
Thx
BD

[boywonder]

Branduis: What is the output of the converter/charger connected to without the house battery in place?


.....and yes, get a charge wizard for your intellipower to care and feed your shiny new battery......

[Branduis]

Output on the Intelli power 9100 is 13.6v 55A. (Stated on the unit. I have not measured yet.) I’ll measure w/o battery in place to see what’s going on.

[boywonder]

Originally Posted by Branduis

Output on the Intelli power 9100 is 13.6v 55A. (Stated on the unit. I have not measured yet.) I’ll measure w/o battery in place to see what’s going on.

Branduis: My question above was more about wiring....what's the converter/charger wired to when the battery is removed? In my home-brew build I have the converter wired directly to the house battery, so If I removed the house battery, the charger would be disconnected.

[Flux]

Originally Posted by Branduis

Thx Flux. That’s what I thought. Also was curious: I have van (2000 Ford SMB EB 2wd) connected to shore power now, but the house battery is not installed. In this configuration it seems that the converter does not run the house lights/water pump/radio etc. So does the converter actually run 12V equipment, or is it only charging the battery, which then runs the equipment? Or do I have a blown fuse or relay , preventing the converter from running the equipment? ....or would the 12v equipment run without a battery if I completed the circuit? (Connect my pos and neg battery cables. -Note that I don’t plan to do that, but just trying to figure out why the converter wouldn’t run 12v equipment without a battery in line.).
Thx
BD

I think we might need to see some wiring or a simple diagram if you can draw one up. It's hard to tell.



Theoretically you should be able to run loads right off these chargers, but they may have an auto shutoff if they see no voltage on the system. So they may need the battery to give them "guidance" so to speak. there is a difference here between a charger/inverter and a pure 12 volt power supply. They adjust output to what voltage the battery has.



I have my Xantrex hooked right on to the cable from my house battery. Plugged into shore, it will certainly provide a bit of power to loads. My electical draw is pretty modest though. If everything was on and I was raising the pop top I might draw 10 amps.