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electrical:12v:b2b [2018/12/28 14:32] frater_secessus [CTEK D250 series] |
electrical:12v:b2b [2020/06/23 12:53] frater_secessus [CTEK D250 series] |
====== Battery to battery chargers ====== | ====== Battery to battery chargers ====== |
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A b2b (or //dc-dc//) charger is a type of [[electrical:12v:alternator|isolator]] that boosts charging voltage to the house battery. These typically cost more and deliver less current than normal isolator types | A b2b (or //dc-dc//) charger is a type of [[electrical:12v:alternator|isolator]] that boosts charging voltage to the house battery. These typically cost more and are rated for less current than normal isolator types.((but they will provide more current overall during longish drives. See below.)) |
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[[https://amzn.to/2RY2GNQ|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/3131jBgz9LL._AC_US218_.jpg}}]] | [[https://amzn.to/2RY2GNQ|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/3131jBgz9LL._AC_US218_.jpg}}]] |
This kind of controller boosts the chassis voltage to voltage appropriate for proper Absorption. | This kind of controller boosts the chassis voltage to voltage appropriate for proper lead-acid Absorption. |
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===== CTEK D250 series ===== | |
| ===== limitations ===== |
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| Lead-acid batteries require two things to get fully charged: |
| - a high enough [[electrical:12v:charging#absorption_stage|Absorption voltage]] (Vabs) |
| - enough //time// at that voltage for the battery to stop accepting much current.(([[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|C/100]] to C/200)) |
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| DC-DC chargers address the first requirement, but unless you are driving for //hours// the isolator still won't have enough time to fully charge the batteries. DC-DC chargers were first marketed for cruisers (powered boats) since they run the engines ("cruise") for hours each day. |
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| **Charger throughput is generally limited** to 20-30A since higher rates would dictate $$$ internal components. This isn't as big a limitation as it might seem, since lead-acid [[electrical:solar:status#in_absorption|current acceptance drops substantially throughout Absorption]]. Untested theory: [[https://boondockplan.wordpress.com/2019/04/11/on-the-ctek-d250s-charger-and-smartpass/|b2b chargers might work well beside normal isolators]]; this is essentially the $$$ CTEK SmartPass setup described below. |
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| ===== sizing ===== |
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| DC-DC chargers come in different ratings (10A, 40A, 60A, etc) which increase significantly in price as the rating increases. |
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| Bigger is not always better, since battery types accept current at different rates and buying more charging capacity than the battery wants((or should have for its own good, see Li below)) is a waste. Assuming a 100Ah battery: |
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| * **Flooded lead-acid** accepts a maximum of about [[electrical:12v:battery_capacity|C]]/5, or 20A and requires a minimum of C/10 (10A). In this case, **10-20A of charging capacity would be appropriate**. Less than 10A would be insufficient [[electrical:batterycide|for battery health]] and more than 20A would be wasted expense. |
| * **AGM lead-acid** accepts a max of about C/3, or 33A per 100A of battery capacity, and requires a minimum of C/5 (20A). In this case, **20-33A of charging capacity would be appropriate**. Less than 20A would be insufficient for battery health and more than 33A would be wasted expense. |
| * **Lithium** has very low internal resistance, and may be able to slurp up all the alternator has to give. However, for the following reasons an appropriate charging capacity for lithium would be **as small as possible while still meeting your power needs**: |
| * added expense |
| * lithium does not care about [[electrical:12v:psoc|partial states of charge]] |
| * lithium tends to last longest with gentler charging/discharging |
| * the alternator will be happier with lighter loading |
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| ===== common examples ===== |
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| ==== CTEK D250 series ==== |
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The most common b2b charger with 'dwellers is the [[https://amzn.to/2RY2GNQ|CTEK D250SA]], a 20A solar/alt controller. It has connections for both alternator and solar panel input + MPPT function, although the MPPT algo may not be partcularly robust. | The most common b2b charger with 'dwellers is the [[https://amzn.to/2RY2GNQ|CTEK D250SA]], a 20A solar/alt controller. It has connections for both alternator and solar panel input + MPPT function, although the MPPT algo may not be partcularly robust. |
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The [[https://amzn.to/2TozjWu|SmartPass accessory]] bypasses the D250SA when the house battery wants > 20A of current. This will generally happen in the first half of Bulk mode. When the house battery demand drops below 20A control is handed back to the D250SA for boosting to Absorption voltage.((https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/292297-Ctek-250-upgrade-to-smartpass?p=3823781#post3823781))\\ | House and starter batteries are combined when the starter battery holds >13.1v for 5 seconds.((https://www.ctek.com/storage/C1493FC8638168601722950C8151FF6A802476C93EC460B3BC5323C8A7951C71/9fde706a812c451ebc7257ab76e05cdb/pdf/media/ac7a2dfdc9104b30939287bdb76b81fb/D250SA-manual-low-UK-EN.pdf)) The batteries are isolated when the starter battery is "<12.8V, for 10 sec... or service battery voltage > starter battery voltage". |
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Note: the CTEK D250SA((and the pre-2018 D250**S** model)) panel voltage (Vpanel) maximum is 23v.((https://www.ctek.com/storage/ma/b21ecd5d5e5943a995474cf36d586451/956c3913c8cc4319bb4e47baea0c6d82/pdf/A78BBB08A9DF8976DB79E21271E091489ACEF47A/D250SA-manual-UK-EN.pdf, pdf)) It requires >= 80w of solar for reliable solar charging.(())(()) There are reports that the MPPT algorithm is not particularly robust and is better thought of as an add-on for the alternator charging circuit.((https://expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/ctek-250s-poor-solar-performance.198052/)) FIXME | The [[https://amzn.to/2TozjWu|SmartPass accessory]] adds 80A of alternator-voltage charging when Vbatt is low enough that the alternator can still charge it directly. This combined charging((up to 100A)) will happen in the first half of Bulk mode. As house battery voltage rises to normal alternator voltage the smartpass can no longer contribute. At that point the 20A D250SA continues voltage-boosted charging to Absorption voltage.((https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/292297-Ctek-250-upgrade-to-smartpass?p=3823781#post3823781))\\ |
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| Note: the CTEK D250SA((and the pre-2018 D250**S** model)) panel voltage (Vpanel) maximum is 23v.((https://www.ctek.com/storage/ma/b21ecd5d5e5943a995474cf36d586451/956c3913c8cc4319bb4e47baea0c6d82/pdf/A78BBB08A9DF8976DB79E21271E091489ACEF47A/D250SA-manual-UK-EN.pdf, pdf)) There are user reports that the unit is [[https://www.4x4community.co.za/forum/showthread.php/322874-CTEK-D250S-Problem?s=a2bc518379e50466c9ec523e8b114053&p=4270868#post4270868|repairable after overvoltage or polarity damage]]. |
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| The MPPT charger will charge the house battery at up to 20A. CTEK specifies 50-300W of panel, though the 23v Vmax limits the unit to [electrical:solar:panels#panel_voltage|nominal 12v panels]. |
| Note: polycrystalline panels may be more useful here, as their Voc should be a bit lower than mono. |
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| > The D250SA trickle charges the starter battery from a solar panel at intervals of 3 seconds if the service battery is fully charged.((https://www.ctek.com/storage/C1493FC8638168601722950C8151FF6A802476C93EC460B3BC5323C8A7951C71/9fde706a812c451ebc7257ab76e05cdb/pdf/media/ac7a2dfdc9104b30939287bdb76b81fb/D250SA-manual-low-UK-EN.pdf)) |
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===== Sterling ===== | ==== Sterling ==== |
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[[https://amzn.to/2SkqVXq|{{https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41iC+8sIvJL._AC_US218_.jpg }}]] | [[https://amzn.to/2SkqVXq|{{https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41iC+8sIvJL._AC_US218_.jpg }}]] |
The Sterling Pro Batt Ultra series is alternator-charging only, but can be configured to exact [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|setpoints]]. The BB1260-12 is a 30A example and costs about $50 more than the D250S above. | The Sterling Pro Batt Ultra series is alternator-charging only, but can be configured to exact [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|setpoints]]. The BB1260-12 is a 30A example and costs about $50 more than the D250S above. |
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===== Redarc ===== | ==== Renogy ==== |
| relays |
| [[https://amzn.to/33HJ8ns|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Hu4-7NxOL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg}}]] |
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| * DC1212 series DC-DC isolators in 20-40((and possibly 60A according to manual nomenclature)) output. Switched on by ignition circuit on the D+ port.((https://www.renogy.com/content/RNG-DCC1212-20-BC/DCC1212-204060-Manual.pdf)) DIP switches for battery type. [[https://www.renogy.com/content/RNG-DCC1212-20-BC/DCC1212-204060-Manual.pdf|manual]] (pdf) |
| * DCC-series of voltage sensing b2b chargers in [[https://amzn.to/2NGIP6U|20A]] and [[https://amzn.to/33HJ8ns|40A versions]]. |
| * DCC50S [[https://amzn.to/2QYuswm|50A model with MPPT charging]]. MPPT input limited to 25v.((per the manual)) - [[https://www.renogy.com/content/RBC50D1S-G1/RBC50D1S-G1-Manual.pdf|manual]] (pdf) |
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| ==== Redarc ==== |
[[https://amzn.to/2VgTre7|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/417F858GCdL._AC_US218_.jpg}}]] | [[https://amzn.to/2VgTre7|{{ https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/417F858GCdL._AC_US218_.jpg}}]] |
Redarc makes [[https://amzn.to/2VgTre7|a 25A b2b charge with MPPT]] similar to the CTEK. | Redarc makes [[https://amzn.to/2VgTre7|a 25A b2b charge with MPPT]] similar to the CTEK. |
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| ==== Ring Automotive ==== |
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| Ring makes [[https://www.ringautomotive.com/en/product/RSCDC30|a 30A DC-DC charger]]. |