I've installed a new ProMariner ProNautic 1240
battery charger (same as Sterling ProCharge Ultra) and as a overly compulsive
internet search junkie I'm trying to align the
charging profile to my
batteries - West
Marine AGM's (aka Deka/East Penn). My quandary is the
battery recommendation is frankly rather vague:
Quote:
Charge Voltage
For both 8A & 8G batteries the following voltage settings
should be followed:
Charge / Absorption / Equalize
13.80V to 14.60V @ 77°F (25°C)
Float / Standby
13.50V + .01 @ 77°F (25°C)
The charger must be able to maintain the system voltage
within ± 0.5% of the desired level at all times.
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Question #1 is with the range of Charge / Absorption / Equalize
13.80V to 14.60V what makes sense to pick? More is always better?
Being none of the ProMariner profiles aligned with the 13.50V Float (closest was 13.7V from memory) and Charge closest option was 14.60V (the batteries had a sticker with a warning 14.60V was max) I made a custom profile of 13.5V Float and 14.5V Charge - this seem right? Go for 14.6?
Question #2 is do I need to try and factor in voltage drop into the equation? e.g. purposely set the charger higher to offset any voltage drop. Not 100% sure how I go about figuring voltage drop (test at the charger and then at the batteries during
charging?) how wrong is it to tweak things to makeup for the drop? This sounds like a bad but viable idea.
Yes I know I should rip out all the
wiring and redo things to eliminate any voltage drop but
fishing boat wiring at the moment seems daunting.
Thanks!