ianganderton
Auckland, NZ
A lot of camper vans in the UK use a simple split charge system where their leisure battery (AGM or similar) is connected to their alternator via a VSR (voltage sensitive relay)
I think I read an article once that said that this method of charging was only likely to charge a lead acid battery to 80(ish)% due to the way an alternator works.
I know from MPPT charge profiles that a lead acid battery requires bulk charge, absorb charge and float charge phases to fully charge. How does the charge delivered by an alternator compare with these MPPT charge profiles and does it provide the right kind of delivery to take a leisure battery up to 100% SOC?
What affect would cable resistance voltage drop cause too?
I'm not planning to use a split charge system, I'm happy with my solar plan. I'm just wanting to learn and work out the nuances with this particular charging method
Thanks
Ian
I think I read an article once that said that this method of charging was only likely to charge a lead acid battery to 80(ish)% due to the way an alternator works.
I know from MPPT charge profiles that a lead acid battery requires bulk charge, absorb charge and float charge phases to fully charge. How does the charge delivered by an alternator compare with these MPPT charge profiles and does it provide the right kind of delivery to take a leisure battery up to 100% SOC?
What affect would cable resistance voltage drop cause too?
I'm not planning to use a split charge system, I'm happy with my solar plan. I'm just wanting to learn and work out the nuances with this particular charging method
Thanks
Ian