Just about a month ago I required 6 6V deep cycle golfcart batteries at a substantial price and now my charger went belly up. Since there is no repair
facility here in Loreto and no way to get a new one anywhere here, I was wondering if there was away to do the charging with a regular car battery
charger, if it has a 6V, deep cycle setting.
If I connect the clamps to the same terminals the large charger connects to, should/could this work ???
Need knowledgable facts, not speculation, since those batteries set me back a good chunk of moolah and I hate to screw them up. Besides, I had a hell
of a time finding them here in BCS.
[Edited on 5-17-2009 by vandenberg]Paulclark - 5-17-2009 at 10:03 AM
That depends on how your batteries are hooked up. What voltage is your system running at? With 6 - 6V batteries you could be running 6V, 12V or 36V.comitan - 5-17-2009 at 10:11 AM
I charge my 6V deep cycle batteries with an auto battery charger 12Amp.vandenberg - 5-17-2009 at 10:16 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulclark
That depends on how your batteries are hooked up. What voltage is your system running at? With 6 - 6V batteries you could be running 6V, 12V or 36V.
The system runs at 36V.
That's the part that baffles me.
Comitan,
of course I could charge each battery individual. That's a piece of cake. But I want to be able to charge all 6 at once, like you do with the charger
that came with the unit.
So my question still is: "could that be done with the car battery charger"Russ - 5-17-2009 at 10:18 AM
Here's what I did. I'm on a 24 v system but should work on a 12v if your panels are wired for 12.
hook the panels to clips and clip them on just like you would your charge controller. Check it early afternoon and if the bank is full remove one of
the clips until late afternoon. A bit of a pain but until you can have another controller installed it will work.
Edit: If you're thinking about running a generator & car charger. You inverter should have a built in charger with a regulator so it will charge
correctly.
[Edited on 5-17-2009 by Russ]Paulclark - 5-17-2009 at 10:23 AM
If you don't know what your system voltage is then you can determine it by what it runs -- for example does it run 12 volts light bulbs, or use a
volt meter at the point the wires hook into the house or RV system and read the voltage. If it is 12 volts at the point it joins the house system
then you can clip you cahrger on there and set it to charge at 12 volts. It will take a long time for a small chager to charge that many batteries. --
maybe 8 hours.Paulclark - 5-17-2009 at 10:29 AM
With the 12 volt charger you would have to charge the batteries in pair--you cannot use a 12 volt charger on a 36 volt systemcomitan - 5-17-2009 at 11:06 AM
In pairs, and you already knew that.vandenberg - 5-17-2009 at 11:32 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Paulclark
With the 12 volt charger you would have to charge the batteries in pair--you cannot use a 12 volt charger on a 36 volt system
OK I got you. Just another question: since they are in line, do I have to disconnect the other batteries from the 2 I'm charging.??? Logic tells me
no, but need to make sure.
Again: so you're telling me I can keep that golfcart battery set fully charged with a car battery charger, if I do 2 batteries at the time ??? Correct
???
Anyone care to explain why a charger for a 36 or 48V system sells for over $300.00 ??? While you can get a decent car charger for under $30.00.TMW - 5-17-2009 at 11:41 AM
Because they can.TMW - 5-17-2009 at 11:44 AM
Another thought is to buy three 12 volt chargers that way you can charge them all at the same time.comitan - 5-17-2009 at 11:57 AM
6 volts, 6volt charger, 12volts 12v charger, 36volts 36 volt charger.......Paulclark - 5-17-2009 at 12:13 PM
The cost of a battery charger is usually a factor of the charge rate -- or power of the charger. Small trickle chargers are really cheap -- vs large
high amperage charger which are more expensive. Also volume -- they sell lots of 12v charger, some 24v and few 36v. ---Better chargers control the
charge rate going from bulk charge to a float charge. etc. etc.
Two batterries at a time and you do not have to disconnect them -- but I would not do it long term as you may effect the life of the batteries -- they
like to be in balance with each other.Russ - 5-17-2009 at 12:23 PM
vandenberg, 99% of the folks here are on solar systems and I don't know of one using 36volts.
I realize there are 36v systems but how did you come across or decide on it? I just checked my OutBack manual and it offers 12v to 60v outputs. But
not cheep. Anyway I'll talk around here and see if there is something to do... Good luck!
Edit: After doing some google searches I get the impression that you must be trying to charge your golfcart???
[Edited on 5-17-2009 by Russ]comitan - 5-17-2009 at 12:41 PM
