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electrical:12v:multipoint_charging [2018/08/26 10:01]
frater_secessus [concurrent charging] |
electrical:12v:multipoint_charging [2019/12/14 12:54]
frater_secessus [how to make them cooperate] |
| So what happens when multiple chargers are running at the same time? Nothing dramatic, as it turns out. | So what happens when multiple chargers are running at the same time? Nothing dramatic, as it turns out. |
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| In general, **the charging source with the highest voltage will win**. The only caveat is that if one of your controller uses end-amps to signal the end of Absorption, it may get confused and drop out early.((http://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/389634#Comment_389634)) | In general, **the charging source with the highest voltage will win**. The only caveat, for advanced users, is if one of your controller uses end-amps to signal the end of Absorption, it may get confused and drop out early.((http://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/389634#Comment_389634)) |
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| ==== why one source wins ==== | ==== why one source wins ==== |
| Most charging involves holding((or trying to reach)) a particular voltage [[electrical:12v:electrical_notation|setpoint]].((current-terminated Absorption excepted for purposes of this discussion)) If a charging source sees the bank voltage is above its own setpoint it thinks the job is done; it sits quietly. | Most charging involves holding((or trying to reach)) a particular voltage [[electrical:12v:electrical_notation|setpoint]].((current-terminated Absorption excepted for purposes of this discussion)) If a charging source sees the bank voltage is above its own setpoint it thinks the job is done; it sits quietly. |
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| Example. Pretend you have a bank in a van with [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator charging]] and a large and small [[electrical:solar:panels|solar panel]] on the roof. Each panel has a dedicated [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|charge controller]] because the panels are of wildly different specs. This gives us three charging sources if you are driving down the road at dawn. | Example. Pretend you have a bank in a van with [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator charging]] and two [[electrical:solar:panels|solar panels]] on the roof. Each panel has a dedicated [[electrical:solar:charge_controller|charge controller]] because the panels are of wildly different specs. This gives us three charging sources if you are driving down the road at dawn. |
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| The alternator is just a plain alternator and puts out 14.0v all the time. | The alternator is just a plain alternator and puts out 14.0v all the time. |
| So how do we make them all charge all the time? | So how do we make them all charge all the time? |
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| Barring heroic measures((exotic alternators/regulators, DC-DC chargers)) the alternator is going to stop contributing at some point during Bulk charging. That is ok, the alternator provided a ton of current while it was charging. | Barring heroic measures((exotic alternators/regulators, [[electrical:12v:b2b|DC-DC chargers]])) the alternator is going to stop contributing at some point during Bulk charging. That is ok, the alternator provided a ton of current while it was charging. |
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| But if you want to the charge controllers (and some [[electrical:converter|converters]]) can be convinced to stay roughly in sync and keep charging together. This is done by **configuring the Absorption and Float setpoints on the controllers to be the same**.((including Absorption termination setpoints like time or current)) There will be short periods where one controller makes a change before the other, but for most of the time both will be contributing at the same time. | But if you want to the charge controllers (and some [[electrical:converter|converters]]) can be convinced to stay roughly in sync and keep charging together. This is done by **configuring the Absorption and Float setpoints on the controllers to be the same**.((including Absorption termination setpoints like time or current)) There will be short periods where one controller makes a change before the other, but for most of the time both will be contributing at the same time. |
