Battery Charging - Solar, shore power & alternators

[settingsun]

We've lived on 12 volts almost exclusively for the past 8 years on a boat and in an RV, and I've written up some notes about what we've learned about battery charging.

In hopes that this info is helpful to fellow cruisers, here are it is:

Marine Battery Charging Basics

Converter, Inverter/Charger & Engine Alternator Battery Charging Systems

Solar Charge Controllers - Optimizing Battery Charging from the Sun

Solar Charging and Shore Power / Alternator Charging Combined - What Happens?

[Axelbo]

Thanks, Settingsun, for a great writeup!

The description of different charging algorithms of different major brand solar regulators was particularly useful, information hard to come by and very clearly explained. Also, your tricks of modifying default settings to optimize charging and the combination of charging sources was interesting.

Recommended!

[settingsun]

Gosh, Axelbo, thank you so much for saying so. I'm glad it was helpful!!!

[k9spud]

Thanks settingsun
I have been researching how to get more amps out of both solar and my belmar ars5
I belive both under performing
Solar 800 whatts max amps seen 32 in full sun midday
2 100 amp belmar alts and 2 ars5 max amps seen 48 with both running but then drops to 28 after about 10 min with both motors running.
Turn off one motor it drops to 20 amps.
After 6 hour running yesterday battry monitor still showing 185 amps in negative in 660 amp battry bank it was negative 250 in the morning.

After reading all your information I will be contacting my agm battery manufacturers for recommend charge voltages and programing both the 2 ars5 regs and the 2 plasmatronics pl 40 solar charge controllers to suit.

I have to say thank you again I have been stuck on what to do for months and after reading your well written and easy to understand articles I can move forward in resolving charge issues
Thanks spud

[Sea Scamp]

Thanks Setting Sun

for the time and effort you put into your post, it is going to come in very handy for us.

Cheers

Shane & Tracey

[settingsun]

I'm so glad you all appreciate it -- thanks for letting me know!!