|
Q. |
How much charging time is available per day, either
with shore power or generator power? |
| A. |
A 20 amp unit will average 20 amps per hour.
Twelve hours of charging time will equal near 240 amperages
returned to battery. |
|
Q. |
How many batteries or battery banks are
to be charged? |
A. |
A bank is several batteries harnessed together
and treated as if they were a single, larger battery. Your charger
will require one output per bank. Chargers often have a number
of outputs, some which need not be used. Some have 1 or 2, most
have 3 or more units. |
|
Q. |
What is the type, usage and total amp
hour capacity of your batteries? (Examples: #1-one 205 amp 8D
for engine start, #2-one 205 amp 8D for engine start, #3-four
250 amp 6 volt golf cart-house, #4-one 85 amp gel cell for generator
start) |
A. |
This figure is usually expressed as a "20-hour
rating." Fast or quick chargers should not exceed 20% of this
rating for normal batteries or 30% for golf cart or specialty
batteries. |
|
Q. |
What is your average hourly DC load (24
hours)? (Example: Fridge runs for 20 minutes out of every hour
at 12 amps = four amps average load.) |
A. |
This is the total of all equipment loads: lighting
+ refrigeration + pumps + motors, etc. Intermittent loads, such
as 12V DC refrigerators which cycle on and off, should be averaged
out over their duty cycle. |
|
Q. |
How quickly do you need to recharge and
to what percent of full charge - 80% or 100%? |
A. |
Batteries need to be kept fully charged (to 80%
is okay for two or three weeks of cruising). Normal alternators
and battery chargers reach 70% of full charge fairly quickly,
but take longer than "fast" chargers to charge that last 30%.
The new technology multistep chargers will recharge your batteries
100%. |
|
Q. |
What type of batteries - flooded, lead/acid,
gel, agm, etc.? |
A. |
Chargers are field adjustable to meet manufacturer's
specs, or Professional Mariner will customize a unit for your
requirements. |
