Its been really cloudy in our desert lately with this crazy snow storm. I need to charge up the batteries.
Updated list with good brands details below so gar none can be adjusted with an app. Adjusting would be good based on your needs higher for top balancing like 57 to 58v and lower for everyday use like 54.4v to stay within battle borns' suggested max for long life.
AIMS - lifepo specific option
IOTA - 54.4v max
NOCO
Signature solar EG4
It seems as though my LV6548 wont charge with a 120v generator. It looks like the LV6548 requires parallel split phase 240v setup (I want 120v) and a $1000+ 240v inverter gen with electric start, which is crazy! I chose the LV6548 bc it has 250v DC input and higher stats than other models which allowed me to string three used 250w solar farm panels together to get higher voltage for a longer distance on our property without too much voltage drop. Anyway...
So is there a charger that I can connect to my 48v lifepo battery? One that I can set the charge max limit (55.5v) if I have a couple cells that need top balancing? Adjusting the settings via a phone app would be nice. It would be great if it was like my MPP LV6548 but actually only needed a normal 120v regular generator which I already have.
Can the generator and charger be running all night and continue to charge as the LV starts getting solar in the morning before I wake up? Will it back feed to the LV and cause an issue? Or will it work like dual charge controllers?
I have a 2200w yamaha generator with pull start or my remote start 4750/3800 30amp Champion generator to run a 10a or 15amp charger
I think I need something like this in 48v
Update 1/8:
Iota makes a legit 48v charger also, but neither this or aims have an app to adjust charging. Although this Iota only charges to 54.4 which is low and safe for lifepo if you have a few cells that are running high or low compared.
Iota DLS-54-13/IQ4 54 Volt 13 AMP 4 Stage Smart Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBJT6KY/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_YT44PJBBEYPHY4EV4CN6
NOCO brand
NOCO Genius GX4820 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FRQQKAK/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_7Y9ZEE0K9EDSM1W4J4AJ
Signature solar
AIMS
Update 1/7:
As per MPP it wont run off a cage generator. It needs clean power from an inverter generator. After a new inverter gen it did charge via the 120v input.
However, the MPP just isn't as perfect as I thought for off grid. It treats the utility as a limitless supply utility, not a generator - yet it has all the generator features. If you have a 6000w MPP then you better plan for a minimum 6000w inverter generator for $1000s above a $700 8500w champion cage generator. It needs clean power so even a pure sine wave 4500w cage generator didn't work. Then you have to plan for double the gas of a 3500w generator to get 15a to 20a of charging. 2 gallons of gas for 10 hrs vs 5 gallons.
To get around all of these issues I got an Aims 48v 18a charger. It will give you clean power from any generator and then loads will draw from the battery, not the generator so you will save gas with a smaller generator. I just wish I could set charger settings with the aims charger.
-------------------------------------
Update 12/31
Further details why charging through the MPP sucks. First I will explain how it should work then how MPP charges.
Aims charger (normal) example:
The Aims charger runs off the generator and charges the 48v battery at 18amps = 2160watts off the 3500w generator.
Then lets say you want to make breakfast = you turn on the coffee pot = 1500w, take a shower so then well pump turns on bc the well pressure tank was low = 850w, = Total 2350w running off the inverter.
In all the total watts = 5850w for a couple minutes and the generator doesn't overload and everything works fine.
MPP charger (with pass through to loads also) example:
Everything above but the generator connects to the MPP. That means that the 3500w generator overloads bc for some reason the inverter tries to charge and run the loads at the same time. So it will charge at 10a or 20a depending on your setting and the generator runs the 2350w load also for some reason.
Either 10a or 20a overloads the generator, which has happened 3 times then I figured out why.
10amps = 1200w charging + 2350 inverter loads = 3550w
20 amps = 2400w charging + 2350w loads = 4750w
If you have a normal utility this would be fine and then the inverter would kick on when a hurricane or fire hit and the power went out. All power would route through the MPP and be seamless if you are on grid. This scenario is not great from an real off grid situation/generator, and the MPP has generator controls. Go figure...
The MPP just isn't as perfect as I thought for off grid. It treats the utility as a limitless supply utility, not a generator - yet it has all the generator features. If you have a 6000w MPP then you better plan for minimum of 6000w inverter generator for $1000s above a $700 8500w champion cage generator. It needs clean power so even my pure sine wave 4500w cage generator didn't work. Next, plan for double the gas of a 3000w generator to get 15a to 20a of charging.
To get around all of these issues I got an Aims 48v 18a charger. It will give you clean power from any generator and loads will draw from the battery, not the generator so you will save gas with a smaller generator.
I just wish I could adjust the charge settings
Updated list with good brands details below so gar none can be adjusted with an app. Adjusting would be good based on your needs higher for top balancing like 57 to 58v and lower for everyday use like 54.4v to stay within battle borns' suggested max for long life.
AIMS - lifepo specific option
IOTA - 54.4v max
NOCO
Signature solar EG4
It seems as though my LV6548 wont charge with a 120v generator. It looks like the LV6548 requires parallel split phase 240v setup (I want 120v) and a $1000+ 240v inverter gen with electric start, which is crazy! I chose the LV6548 bc it has 250v DC input and higher stats than other models which allowed me to string three used 250w solar farm panels together to get higher voltage for a longer distance on our property without too much voltage drop. Anyway...
So is there a charger that I can connect to my 48v lifepo battery? One that I can set the charge max limit (55.5v) if I have a couple cells that need top balancing? Adjusting the settings via a phone app would be nice. It would be great if it was like my MPP LV6548 but actually only needed a normal 120v regular generator which I already have.
Can the generator and charger be running all night and continue to charge as the LV starts getting solar in the morning before I wake up? Will it back feed to the LV and cause an issue? Or will it work like dual charge controllers?
I have a 2200w yamaha generator with pull start or my remote start 4750/3800 30amp Champion generator to run a 10a or 15amp charger
I think I need something like this in 48v
Blue Smart IP22 Charger - Victron Energy
The Blue Smart IP22 Charger is the new professional battery charger with built-in bluetooth. Find a Victron Energy dealer near you.
www.victronenergy.com
Update 1/8:
Iota makes a legit 48v charger also, but neither this or aims have an app to adjust charging. Although this Iota only charges to 54.4 which is low and safe for lifepo if you have a few cells that are running high or low compared.
Iota DLS-54-13/IQ4 54 Volt 13 AMP 4 Stage Smart Battery Charger https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BBJT6KY/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_YT44PJBBEYPHY4EV4CN6
NOCO brand
NOCO Genius GX4820 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FRQQKAK/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_navT_g_7Y9ZEE0K9EDSM1W4J4AJ
Signature solar
48V 25A 120V Battery Charger by EG4
DESCRIPTION SPECS & MANUAL VIDEOS SHIPPING This is a listing for: (1) Waterproof 48V / 25A Lithium Battery Charger Signature Solar’s LiFePo4 Battery Chargers are plug and play ready. Standard Alligator clips make any battery terminal easy to hook up to! This 48V 25A charger will provide 1200W...
www.signaturesolar.com
AIMS
Update 1/7:
As per MPP it wont run off a cage generator. It needs clean power from an inverter generator. After a new inverter gen it did charge via the 120v input.
However, the MPP just isn't as perfect as I thought for off grid. It treats the utility as a limitless supply utility, not a generator - yet it has all the generator features. If you have a 6000w MPP then you better plan for a minimum 6000w inverter generator for $1000s above a $700 8500w champion cage generator. It needs clean power so even a pure sine wave 4500w cage generator didn't work. Then you have to plan for double the gas of a 3500w generator to get 15a to 20a of charging. 2 gallons of gas for 10 hrs vs 5 gallons.
To get around all of these issues I got an Aims 48v 18a charger. It will give you clean power from any generator and then loads will draw from the battery, not the generator so you will save gas with a smaller generator. I just wish I could set charger settings with the aims charger.
-------------------------------------
Update 12/31
Further details why charging through the MPP sucks. First I will explain how it should work then how MPP charges.
Aims charger (normal) example:
The Aims charger runs off the generator and charges the 48v battery at 18amps = 2160watts off the 3500w generator.
Then lets say you want to make breakfast = you turn on the coffee pot = 1500w, take a shower so then well pump turns on bc the well pressure tank was low = 850w, = Total 2350w running off the inverter.
In all the total watts = 5850w for a couple minutes and the generator doesn't overload and everything works fine.
MPP charger (with pass through to loads also) example:
Everything above but the generator connects to the MPP. That means that the 3500w generator overloads bc for some reason the inverter tries to charge and run the loads at the same time. So it will charge at 10a or 20a depending on your setting and the generator runs the 2350w load also for some reason.
Either 10a or 20a overloads the generator, which has happened 3 times then I figured out why.
10amps = 1200w charging + 2350 inverter loads = 3550w
20 amps = 2400w charging + 2350w loads = 4750w
If you have a normal utility this would be fine and then the inverter would kick on when a hurricane or fire hit and the power went out. All power would route through the MPP and be seamless if you are on grid. This scenario is not great from an real off grid situation/generator, and the MPP has generator controls. Go figure...
The MPP just isn't as perfect as I thought for off grid. It treats the utility as a limitless supply utility, not a generator - yet it has all the generator features. If you have a 6000w MPP then you better plan for minimum of 6000w inverter generator for $1000s above a $700 8500w champion cage generator. It needs clean power so even my pure sine wave 4500w cage generator didn't work. Next, plan for double the gas of a 3000w generator to get 15a to 20a of charging.
To get around all of these issues I got an Aims 48v 18a charger. It will give you clean power from any generator and loads will draw from the battery, not the generator so you will save gas with a smaller generator.
I just wish I could adjust the charge settings
Last edited: