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Alternator charge-rate for AGM batteries?

Yahoo Message Number: 13858
My Xantrex inverter/charger has a charging option for AGM batteries. Apparently, this is needed because a normal lead acid battery charge-rate may be too high for the AGMs. I wonder how the engine alternator handles the charging of the AGM batteries? What tells the alternator that it should adjust the charging rate for the AGM batteries? As far as I know, there is no connection between the alternator and the inverter/charging system. If the alternator charges the AGM batteries at the normal battery rate, maybe this is the reason I had to change out my AGM batteries? Any thoughts are welcome. Thanks.

Larry 2003 Allure #30856

Re: Alternator charge-rate for AGM batteries?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13860
Hi Larry,

The converter(interter/charger) can run over 160 amps initially based on the setting. The alternator outputs in the neighborhood of 40 amps to both battery sets (house and engine) with the bus tie solenoid which energises with the OEM oil pressure switch (about 3 seconds after engine start). Consult foldout S0699 for further details like how the converter and echo charger are connected - very ingenious.
The alternator has only a voltage sense as in a car. There is no remote sense tie in with the converter.
Fred Kovol

Re: Alternator charge-rate for AGM batteries?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13864
Thanks Fred

Since I bought used, I don't think I have a full set of schematics.
For electrics, I have only five schematics showing floor and ceiling harnesses with S numbers not even close to what you suggested.
Sounds like I need to get a hold of CC publications and order some manuals, including the chassis owner's manual, which I don't have either.

I guess what you're saying is that I don't have to worry about my engine alternator overcharging my AGM batteries. Also, am I correct in assuming that the Echo charger only charges the chassis batteries? Thanks again

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Larry,

The converter(interter/charger) can run over 160 amps initially

based

Quote
on the setting. The alternator outputs in the neighborhood of 40

amps

Quote
to both battery sets (house and engine) with the bus tie solenoid > which energises with the OEM oil pressure switch (about 3 seconds > after engine start). Consult foldout S0699 for further details

like

Re: Alternator charge-rate for AGM batteries?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13875
Hi Larry,

The converter charges the house battery bank directly and the chassis(engine) battery via the echo charger. If you monitor the 2 voltages, the chassis battery is charged slowly by the echo charger (15 amps max but I can't remember)and is held a few .1vdc lower than the house batteries some where in the range of 13.5 - 13.7 vdc. The house batteries get exposed to the high amp charging from the converter.
Fred Kovol

Re: Alternator charge-rate for AGM batteries?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14111
Larry, I think that you do not have to worry about the charge rate from the alternator to your AGMs. There are two reason that I say that.
1. The charge profile of an AGM is very similar to that of a standard flooded cell battery.

2. Your batteries actually spend very little time with an alternator
charge running to them. A coach with 20K mile per year is likely to have the engine running only 400-500 hours per year. This is not much time for a slightly off voltage charge to do damage.
Interestingly, there is a company (www.amplepower.com) that offers a controller that is used to optimize the charge routime from an alternator. I had one in a SOB coach and it is incredible what a good alternator and charge controller can do.

George Sanders in Birmingham, AL
Allure 31038

Quote from: Larry Feather
>

Thanks Fred

Since I bought used, I don't think I have a full set of

schematics.

Quote
For electrics, I have only five schematics showing floor and

ceiling

Quote
harnesses with S numbers not even close to what you suggested.
Sounds like I need to get a hold of CC publications and order some > manuals, including the chassis owner's manual, which I don't have > either.

I guess what you're saying is that I don't have to worry about my > engine alternator overcharging my AGM batteries. Also, am I

correct
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Alternator charge-rate for AGM batteries?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 14113
Thanks George

Maybe I'll check out that charge controller. Sounds like there's no danger in my alternator damaging my AGMs.

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Quote from: George Sanders
>

Larry, I think that you do not have to worry about the charge rate > from the alternator to your AGMs. There are two reason that I say > that.

1. The charge profile of an AGM is very similar to that of a

standard

Quote
flooded cell battery.

2. Your batteries actually spend very little time with an

alternator

Quote
charge running to them. A coach with 20K mile per year is likely

to

Quote
have the engine running only 400-500 hours per year. This is not > much time for a slightly off voltage charge to do damage.

Interestingly, there is a company (www.amplepower.com) that offers

a

Quote
controller that is used to optimize the charge routime from an > alternator. I had one in a SOB coach and it is incredible what a > good alternator and charge controller can do.

George Sanders in Birmingham, AL > Allure 31038

[quote author=Larry Feather"

>

> Thanks Fred
>

> Since I bought used, I don't think I have a full set of > schematics.

> For electrics, I have only five schematics showing floor and > ceiling

> harnesses with S numbers not even close to what you suggested.
> Sounds like I need to get a hold of CC publications and order

some

Quote
manuals, including the chassis owner's manual, which I don't have > > either.
>

> I guess what you're saying is that I don't have to worry about my > > engine alternator overcharging my AGM batteries. Also, am I > correct

> in assuming that the Echo charger only charges the chassis > > batteries? Thanks again
>

> Larry, 2003 Allure #30856
>
>
>
>

[quote author=fredkovol"
>]
> >

> > Hi Larry,

> > The converter(interter/charger) can run over 160 amps initially > > based

> > on the setting. The alternator outputs in the neighborhood of

40

Quote
amps

> > to both battery sets (house and engine) with the bus tie

solenoid

Quote
> which energises with the OEM oil pressure switch (about 3

seconds

Quote
> after engine start). Consult foldout S0699 for further details > > like

> > how the converter and echo charger are connected - very

ingenious.

Quote
> The alternator has only a voltage sense as in a car. There is

no