Battery Chargers - How I Did It -

[Dellmassive]

i use this . . . . (NEG to chassis)(they do an M8 eyelet version too)

https://amzn.to/3DL4cQM

with this. . . .

https://amzn.to/4j7I8zQ

 

[peter1987t]

Thanks again! I used a "multi-meter" to look up a strong - NEG point while holding the other end in the + POS, so that I measure a steady 12.x voltage. I should be fine

Our posts crossed, but that's a convenient part. Cant really go wrong there, even if the wife needs to do it.

 

[willgr]

@Dellmassive is this a faulty charger do you think?
Van is off and locked. Victron IP65 12/25 charger has been connected for about 48 hours now. It correctly moved to Storage mode after Absorbsion charge… but 13.9A !!??? That can’t be right!?

 

[Dellmassive]

@Dellmassive is this a faulty charger do you think?
Van is off and locked. Victron IP65 12/25 charger has been connected for about 48 hours now. It correctly moved to Storage mode after Absorbsion charge… but 13.9A !!??? That can’t be right!?

View attachment 274182

Unlikely, the victrin kit is very sturdy. But a possibility.

What charger? 15A? - Edit IP65 12v 25A

Screenshot the settings page to see what profile it's set to... AGM? - Gell?

Did you have a dc-dc charger and leisure battery.? - that might have powered up and charging your LB aswell?

Have you a voltmeter to confirm the voltage? - to see if it agrees.

Is the charger warm)hot/cold? - warm would confirm it delivering power,

If you remove one clip does the current drop down to 0A?

........


FYI.... The storage mode kicks in after absorption, but there is a time limit on the absorption ( ie 2hrs max - see the charge profile in the battery settings).... So it's possibly the battery's are not fully charged yet And are continuing to charge via the storage mode... One easy check it to start a new charger cycle by pressing the mode button. Or switching the charger off and back on again at the mains. or by removing one clip and put in it back on again.

When a new charge cycle restarts - if it moves into storage mode again within five minutes or so,

then the chances are the battery is charged,

but if it carries ongoing in bulk/absorbtion for hours then you know the battery wasn't charged and it just timed out in the absorption mode.



id imagine you have a dc-dc charger and the victron is charging both batterys. . . . in which case it may take 4days to fully charge a low SB + LB with a 25A charger.


let us know what you see, and post some pics if the setup - that helps loads.
.

 

[willgr]

Unlikely, the victrin kit is very sturdy. But a possibility.

What charger? 15A? - Edit IP65 12v 25A

Screenshot the settings page to see what profile it's set to... AGM? - Gell?

Did you have a dc-dc charger and leisure battery.? - that might have powered up and charging your LB aswell?

Have you a voltmeter to confirm the voltage? - to see if it agrees.

Is the charger warm)hot/cold? - warm would confirm it delivering power,

If you remove one clip does the current drop down to 0A?

........


FYI.... The storage mode kicks in after absorption, but there is a time limit on the absorption ( ie 2hrs max - see the charge profile in the battery settings).... So it's possibly the battery's are not fully charged yet And are continuing to charge via the storage mode... One easy check it to start a new charger cycle by pressing the mode button. Or switching the charger off and back on again at the mains. or by removing one clip and put in it back on again.

When a new charge cycle restarts - if it moves into storage mode again within five minutes or so,

then the chances are the battery is charged,

but if it carries ongoing in bulk/absorbtion for hours then you know the battery wasn't charged and it just timed out in the absorption mode.



id imagine you have a dc-dc charger and the victron is charging both batterys. . . . in which case it may take 4days to fully charge a low SB + LB with a 25A charger.


let us know what you see, and post some pics if the setup - that helps loads.
.

Thanks @Dellmassive.. it looks as though maybe the battery wasnt charged, as it has now (12 hours later) dropped down to ~1.4A.
There are still some interesting anomalies though, and I'm intrigued by your comment about the Leisure Battery. I have a CTEK DC-DC charger, but I thought that was connected to the Smart Altenator, and would only charge the LB if the engine was running (which it hasnt been).
I also looked at the LEDs on the Victron charger, and all of them are OFF, and the MODE button does nothing.. yet I can still connect to it via Bluetooth on my phone!?

Answers to your questions:

- Charger is the IP65 25A model
- Battery is the factory AGM starter battery, charger profile is set to 'Normal' with Absorption Voltage of 14.4v, Float 13.8v and Storage 13.2v.
- I have a separate BM2 voltage monitor, and voltage agrees
- Charger is stone cold, but it is outside, and when I checked, current had dropped right back
- Looking at the settings, Bulk charge is time limited to 24h, and Absorbtion charge limited to 8h.

 

[Dellmassive]

Thanks @Dellmassive.. it looks as though maybe the battery wasnt charged, as it has now (12 hours later) dropped down to ~1.4A.
There are still some interesting anomalies though, and I'm intrigued by your comment about the Leisure Battery. I have a CTEK DC-DC charger, but I thought that was connected to the Smart Altenator, and would only charge the LB if the engine was running (which it hasnt been).
I also looked at the LEDs on the Victron charger, and all of them are OFF, and the MODE button does nothing.. yet I can still connect to it via Bluetooth on my phone!?

Answers to your questions:

- Charger is the IP65 25A model
- Battery is the factory AGM starter battery, charger profile is set to 'Normal' with Absorption Voltage of 14.4v, Float 13.8v and Storage 13.2v.
- I have a separate BM2 voltage monitor, and voltage agrees
- Charger is stone cold, but it is outside, and when I checked, current had dropped right back
- Looking at the settings, Bulk charge is time limited to 24h, and Absorbtion charge limited to 8h.

View attachment 274221

View attachment 274222

View attachment 274223

View attachment 274224

View attachment 274225

all looks good,

that battery/s wernt fully charged then.


the CTEK d250 has the AUTO VSR feature as i call it . . . where it will switch ON when the starter battery is a high enough voltage.

with mu testing using a Victron charger i couls charge BOTH batteries just by connecting to the starter battery. .


so back ground here:

• DC-DC:
• Dc-dc Charger (for Leisure Battery) -- How I Done It --
• Charging Starter and Leisure batteries with same charger - Victron
• DC-DC Charger - AUTO VSR - feature testing
• Stop/start...regen...smart Alternator... Dc-dc Charger For Leisure Battery Or Not?
• Victron 12/12/30 DC-DC Charger
• Renogy DC50S DC-DC charger
• Redarc BCDC1250D DC-DC charger
• Votronic DC-DC standby charger - or not !
• Renogy Bt-2 Monitor
• Renogy 20A DC-DC Charger (no solar)
• CTEK D250SE DC-DC Charger
• Victron Orion XS 12/12/50A DC-DC Charger
• [Guide] Renogy IP67 50A DC-DC Charger + MPPT (for leisure battery) -- How We Done It --

 

[willgr]

Ah! That makes more sense… I didn’t realise the CTEK would switch on - that explains the increased current once the starter is fully charged.

Thanks for the explanation - I will take a look at the links.

 

[Burner]

I just used my motorcycle battery tender on the van. Positive on the battery, negative on the battery tray, thought I would give it a try and it worked.