samir101ng:


I strongly support this point by Oga Niyi.

Though, it might be a bit expensive at the beginning especially with the ongoing transition to Lithium, a good 12v AGM/Gel/Flooded charger is essential for the general maintenance of your batteries. It's highly recommended (especially buying brand new) for those who are about to install a new inverter and batteries to charge their full before installation. Some batteries come in a low state of charge and a good charge by the 12v charger to the batteries specs and allowing it to float for 24hrs before connecting is a good practice that will save you anguish in the future.

1. Samlex

https://samlexamerica.com/product-category/battery-chargers/#

SEC-1250UL 12 Volt, 50 Amp Battery Charger. Safety listed
Input: 120 VAC 50/60 Hz (default) or 230 VAC 50/60 Hz (by internal jumper setting)
Output: 12 VDC
Amps: 50
Remote Control: 900-RC
Weight: 9.0 (lbs)
Weight: 4.1 (kg)
Dimensions: 13.03 x 9.60 x 3.82 (in)
Dimensions: 331 x 244 x 97 (mm)

2. Aims Power
[url]
https://www.aimscorp.net/ac-converter-battery-charger-12v-and-24v-smart-charger-75-amps-listed-to-ul-458-csa.html[/url]

Model Number: CON120AC12/24DC
Safety: Intertek-ETL listed: Conforms to ANSI/UL Standard 1564 ; Certified to CAN/CSA STD. C22.2 No. 107.2
Input Voltage 96-145VAC full performance 70-96VAC derated to 50% of output
Frequency 40Hz to 70Hz
Nominal Input Current at Rated Output <9Aac
Voltage Measurement Accuracy ±8Vac
Frequency Measurement Accuracy ±1Hz
Output Nominal Voltage 12V
Output Current Input voltage 96-145V,
output current 75A for 12V mode

Rated Output Current auto adjust to 12V
Current Accuracy ± 6% of full rated output current @25°C, for target currents across the range from 10% rated output (for absorption exit criteria accuracy) to the current limit setpoint.
Load Regulation 1.5%
Current Limit 75-80Amp
Dead-Battery Charging 8-14.9Vdc at 100% of rated output current
8-29.8Vdc at 100% of rated output current
Selectable Battery Type Open Lead-Acid, Gel, AGM, LiFePo4, adjustable

3. Suoer

http://www.chinasuoer.com/battery-charger/113.html

MA-1240A - AGM/GEL Battery Charger
Output Voltage - 12V
Input Voltage - 180-250V
Rated Frequency - 47-63HZ
Charger current - 40A
Charger Mode - Four-steps
Full Load Efficiency - >90%
Dimensions - 225*145*80MM
1.6KG
Certification - ISO,CTA,CE

The first two are premium american brands but the last one is chinese can easily be gotten online from Jumia or Kongo. Just make sure you verify authenticity before you purchase. I am actually interested in the AimsPower as it can charge both Lithium and Lead Acid batteries.

Namzy:


You can afford lithium battery and still use pwm cc. ....

ojesymsym:
For induction cookers, do I go to the market with a magnet to know what pots can work with it?

cc: ojeysky

Penuelseun:
Let me advise you based on my setup which consists of a 12v 1.2kva inverter, 120ah lifepo4 battery with 120a BMS, 600w panels connected to a 60a pwm CC. It powers my electronics which are a 43" led tv, a LG home theater system, a DC ceiling fan, charges laptops and phones with about 4 10w AC bulbs. I put on my fridge occasionally during periods of good sunlight.
So far so good, I have electricity 24/7

ojeysky:


I have no experience on induction cookers as I don't use one

ojesymsym:
Oh the picture you shared looked like induction cookers. Thought it was.

FEGEITOK:


Thanks for sharing, I wanted to ask about this, then you posted this.

Wanted to go for option 2 then I noticed zero support for 240V so I will be getting number 1.

Thanks to you and NiyiOmoIyunade, I was about to get a battery balancer, but now I will go for this only.

Once again, I appreciate your sharing this knowledge.

If you are a practicing electronics engineer, please let me know, there I don't have to hire foreign ones for a project I am about to work on.

Thanks.

TechGeek777:


My brother backup inverter na money be that oh.

Did you install proctective devices before the thunder struck?

Penuelseun:
Let me advise you based on my setup which consists of a 12v 1.2kva inverter, 120ah lifepo4 battery with 120a BMS, 600w panels connected to a 60a pwm CC. It powers my electronics which are a 43" led tv, a LG home theater system, a DC ceiling fan, charges laptops and phones with about 4 10w AC bulbs. I put on my fridge occasionally during periods of good sunlight.
So far so good, I have electricity 24/7

NiyiOmoIyunade:
Your setup is simple boss - you do not want to complicate things too much.

If you choose to go with a 24v inverter, find a means (12v charger) to charge each of your two batteries individually and fully and even equalize them if possible first time around and before you put them together in series. Once you have done this step once then you can be equalizing (at 24v nominal) once every 30 days or so. You will not need to disconnect or separate the batteries at all.

If you choose a 12v inverter, that makes things even simpler and more stable, if your 12v inverter or charger or charge controller is capable of getting the batteries to equalization voltage, you will see extreme longevity from the batteries significantly better than in a 24v setup and much simpler maintenance.

Namzy:


You can afford lithium battery and still use pwm cc. ....

samir101ng:


I strongly support this point by Oga Niyi.

Though, it might be a bit expensive at the beginning especially with the ongoing transition to Lithium, a good 12v AGM/Gel/Flooded charger is essential for the general maintenance of your batteries. It's highly recommended (especially buying brand new) for those who are about to install a new inverter and batteries to charge their full before installation. Some batteries come in a low state of charge and a good charge by the 12v charger to the batteries specs and allowing it to float for 24hrs before connecting is a good practice that will save you anguish in the future.

1. Samlex

https://samlexamerica.com/product-category/battery-chargers/#

SEC-1250UL 12 Volt, 50 Amp Battery Charger. Safety listed
Input: 120 VAC 50/60 Hz (default) or 230 VAC 50/60 Hz (by internal jumper setting)
Output: 12 VDC
Amps: 50
Remote Control: 900-RC
Weight: 9.0 (lbs)
Weight: 4.1 (kg)
Dimensions: 13.03 x 9.60 x 3.82 (in)
Dimensions: 331 x 244 x 97 (mm)

2. Aims Power
[url]
https://www.aimscorp.net/ac-converter-battery-charger-12v-and-24v-smart-charger-75-amps-listed-to-ul-458-csa.html[/url]

Model Number: CON120AC12/24DC
Safety: Intertek-ETL listed: Conforms to ANSI/UL Standard 1564 ; Certified to CAN/CSA STD. C22.2 No. 107.2
Input Voltage 96-145VAC full performance 70-96VAC derated to 50% of output
Frequency 40Hz to 70Hz
Nominal Input Current at Rated Output <9Aac
Voltage Measurement Accuracy ±8Vac
Frequency Measurement Accuracy ±1Hz
Output Nominal Voltage 12V
Output Current Input voltage 96-145V,
output current 75A for 12V mode

Rated Output Current auto adjust to 12V
Current Accuracy ± 6% of full rated output current @25°C, for target currents across the range from 10% rated output (for absorption exit criteria accuracy) to the current limit setpoint.
Load Regulation 1.5%
Current Limit 75-80Amp
Dead-Battery Charging 8-14.9Vdc at 100% of rated output current
8-29.8Vdc at 100% of rated output current
Selectable Battery Type Open Lead-Acid, Gel, AGM, LiFePo4, adjustable

3. Suoer

http://www.chinasuoer.com/battery-charger/113.html

MA-1240A - AGM/GEL Battery Charger
Output Voltage - 12V
Input Voltage - 180-250V
Rated Frequency - 47-63HZ
Charger current - 40A
Charger Mode - Four-steps
Full Load Efficiency - >90%
Dimensions - 225*145*80MM
1.6KG
Certification - ISO,CTA,CE

The first two are premium american brands but the last one is chinese can easily be gotten online from Jumia or Kongo. Just make sure you verify authenticity before you purchase. I am actually interested in the AimsPower as it can charge both Lithium and Lead Acid batteries.

samnaija:


Equalization is a process that is carried out once a month, to ensure all your batteries are adequately over charged. Even up to a point the distilled water may reach boiling point.

This is to ensure that your batteries don't sulphate, from inadequate charging .

And the batteries, within a battery bank all reach or past the bulk voltage set by your charge controller.

Now during this period of equalization the battery whose voltage has always been higher than the others will always be Infront during equalization and after equalization.

The balancer job essential is to redistribute charges from batteries that always get more charge, to the batteries that need it hence the balance. The equalization process is not sensitive to individual battery needs within a bank.

NiyiOmoIyunade:
This your write up is gold! Always good to read someone who gets it!

I wanted to add some perspective about balancers.

HA02 balancers rated to move 5a of current but does so only so very briefly (stops as soon as the voltages converge but then voltage convergence is not SoC convergence!!!) and then drops to just tiny amounts much less than 1a which are insufficient to effect real SoC convergence in a real life moderate to large size battery bank.

Victron balancers and Fangpusun clones activate the balance only at high voltages and move about 0.7a (1a max) - the issue here is the amount of balance current is too small to help large differences in battery capacity and needs the batteries to spend a long time above the balance voltage for the balance to complete (impractical with solar charging and again only possible with a lot of time spent on grid/gen)

Net result - you want each 12v battery to get a full charge and spend some time soaking this charge in - it is unlikely to happen if the batteries are in series (one battery will always tend to overcharge) and so the only way to achieve good results is dedicate a 12v charger to each 12v battery string and let them do a thorough battery charge - whether you are equalizing flooded battery or 'controlled overcharging' GEL or AGM, this is the way to go - battery maintenance is best done at the single battery level and not in series.

The question then comes what to do with 2v and 6v standalone batteries. I have left that to the more vibrant new generation of enthusiasts to figure out

TechGeek777:


Nice project management bro. Which inverter brand and CC are you using?

Also, which product of panel are you using and how many watts each?

Lastly, how many little is the fridge and the capacity like Amps and Volts.

Kindly help with these info as I am contemplating Oga Niyi suggestions on 12v system to have peace of mind. But my issue here is this useless Hisense 204L that did not specifically state the starting watt.

Donbigi2:
i finally got a tubular battery and an inverter but the inverter makes a hissing high pitched noise that is very irriitating to me. is that how it is supposed to sound? will i get used to the sound?

Penuelseun:
I used the tbb 1.2kva inverter, although I currently use the ceepro 600w as I have sold the 1.2kva to a client. A double door fridge with a freezer at the bottom is what I use, don't really know the litres as it is old but I see a starting surge of around 600w with 150w running.
Use 350w and 260w panels connected in parallel. Use a 10a DC supply unit as my ac charger.

Trippledots:


Bro, how do you manage the current pull on that DC supply unit? The ones i got don't have an overcurrent protection, so it always tried to pull power greater than the unit is spec'd for.I had to couple mine with an mppt CC with adjustable current limit.

TechGeek777:


Knowledge too much for this place oh, I have to read some comments 5 times before I understand the message.

But am happy I am learning from experts.

1. Does this dedicated charger replace the inbuilt charger with 18A that came with Luminous 1600va inverter?

Those inbuilt chargers most times do not charge your SLA batteries well, so IMHO, as far as the 12v chargers are sized correctly to bulk charge the batteries, yes it can replace or assist the inbuilt charger. Although there may be some conflict as inbuilt vs 12v chargers may see an abosorb voltage based on their settings and calibrations differently.

2. Do I always need to charge the batteries with this dedicated charger or it is only needed when balancing/equalization is required?

Penuelseun:
I connected it to a 30a pwm cc, it is what the second cc in the picture is for

Trippledots:


I'm referring to the DC power supply itself.

samir101ng:


I strongly support this point by Oga Niyi.

Though, it might be a bit expensive at the beginning especially with the ongoing transition to Lithium, a good 12v AGM/Gel/Flooded charger is essential for the general maintenance of your batteries. It's highly recommended (especially buying brand new) for those who are about to install a new inverter and batteries to charge their full before installation. Some batteries come in a low state of charge and a good charge by the 12v charger to the batteries specs and allowing it to float for 24hrs before connecting is a good practice that will save you anguish in the future.

1. Samlex

https://samlexamerica.com/product-category/battery-chargers/#

SEC-1250UL 12 Volt, 50 Amp Battery Charger. Safety listed
Input: 120 VAC 50/60 Hz (default) or 230 VAC 50/60 Hz (by internal jumper setting)
Output: 12 VDC
Amps: 50
Remote Control: 900-RC
Weight: 9.0 (lbs)
Weight: 4.1 (kg)
Dimensions: 13.03 x 9.60 x 3.82 (in)
Dimensions: 331 x 244 x 97 (mm)

2. Aims Power
[url]
https://www.aimscorp.net/ac-converter-battery-charger-12v-and-24v-smart-charger-75-amps-listed-to-ul-458-csa.html[/url]

Model Number: CON120AC12/24DC
Safety: Intertek-ETL listed: Conforms to ANSI/UL Standard 1564 ; Certified to CAN/CSA STD. C22.2 No. 107.2
Input Voltage 96-145VAC full performance 70-96VAC derated to 50% of output
Frequency 40Hz to 70Hz
Nominal Input Current at Rated Output <9Aac
Voltage Measurement Accuracy ±8Vac
Frequency Measurement Accuracy ±1Hz
Output Nominal Voltage 12V
Output Current Input voltage 96-145V,
output current 75A for 12V mode

Rated Output Current auto adjust to 12V
Current Accuracy ± 6% of full rated output current @25°C, for target currents across the range from 10% rated output (for absorption exit criteria accuracy) to the current limit setpoint.
Load Regulation 1.5%
Current Limit 75-80Amp
Dead-Battery Charging 8-14.9Vdc at 100% of rated output current
8-29.8Vdc at 100% of rated output current
Selectable Battery Type Open Lead-Acid, Gel, AGM, LiFePo4, adjustable

3. Suoer

http://www.chinasuoer.com/battery-charger/113.html

MA-1240A - AGM/GEL Battery Charger
Output Voltage - 12V
Input Voltage - 180-250V
Rated Frequency - 47-63HZ
Charger current - 40A
Charger Mode - Four-steps
Full Load Efficiency - >90%
Dimensions - 225*145*80MM
1.6KG
Certification - ISO,CTA,CE

The first two are premium american brands but the last one is chinese can easily be gotten online from Jumia or Kongo. Just make sure you verify authenticity before you purchase. I am actually interested in the AimsPower as it can charge both Lithium and Lead Acid batteries.

Trippledots:


Gassing you mean? Because both are different o.

FEGEITOK:


Thanks for sharing, I wanted to ask about this, then you posted this.

Wanted to go for option 2 then I noticed zero support for 240V so I will be getting number 1.

Thanks to you and NiyiOmoIyunade, I was about to get a battery balancer, but now I will go for this only.

Once again, I appreciate your sharing this knowledge.

If you are a practicing electronics engineer, please let me know, there I don't have to hire foreign ones for a project I am about to work on.

Thanks.

TechGeek777:


Thanks bro for the effort, no 3 is quite affordable. What I saw in konga is (MH-1240A) and has charging current from 7A> 12A> 20A> 40A. Which amp do I set it to for (2) 150ah & (2) 200ah respectively?

FEGEITOK:


Samlex is wonderful, going by the reviews:

https://www.amazon.com/Samlex-America-SEC1250UL-Battery-Charger/dp/B00H8N9AKS

Penuelseun:
I used the tbb 1.2kva inverter, although I currently use the ceepro 600w as I have sold the 1.2kva to a client. A double door fridge with a freezer at the bottom is what I use, don't really know the litres as it is old but[b] I see a starting surge of around 600w with 150w running.[/b]
Use 350w and 260w panels connected in parallel. Use a 10a DC supply unit as my ac charger.

TechGeek777:


Nice one bro, thanks for the info. Please which device did you use precisely to get the starting and running watts?

I don't really know how accurate this Binatone ACG-1500 Cool Guard is, because that's what I attached to the Refrigerator to know the watts.

That displayed Wattage fluctuates using the aforementioned device, is it how watt meter also work?

samir101ng:


Most batteries recommend a maximum charging current under normal operation should be limited to 25% of the rated capacity
of the battery at the C20 rate (for an 100 Ah battery @ 20 Hr rate, the maximum charging current should be 25A). This means that for 200 Ah Battery that means 50A. But please check your batteries manual for its specific charging current.

Penuelseun:
I got the needed information via my BMS app. This is the surge when I put on the fridge

Penuelseun:
I got the needed information via my BMS app. This is the surge when I put on the fridge