>In a message dated 10/25/99 1:09:47 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mr.c
>writes:
>
>> If you have the old converter and leave yourself connected to shore
>> power, you might be damaging your battery in the rear as it will keep
>> charging all the time and could overcharge. The battery in the front
>> does not get charged unless the engine is running in a normal mode.
>> al
>
>Thanks Al!
>The pieces of the puzzle are fitting together now--I'm beginning to
>understand why some have made the change. Maybe if someone would like to
>chime in with some sort of definition as to what these things do maybe it
>would clear up some questions.
Combiner
A combiner is an electrical apparatus used to permit two battery (banks) to
be charged "intelligently." The combiner relies on the fact that the
voltage across a charging battery will rise as the battery charge
increases. When the charging voltage is great enough, the combiner
electrically connects both batteries in parallel to permit them both to
become charged. When the batteries are not being charged the combiner
electrically isolates the two banks. Using a combiner in place of the
isolator that is original equipment in the GMC permits the electrical
isolation (keeps the engine battery from becoming discharged) when you use
the coach 12V electrical AND allows both batterioes to be charged when
charging voltage is present. This can simplify the electrical system if you
want to permit charging of the engine battery from the coach charger.
battery isolator - a diode based device that permits both battery banks to
be charged from the alternator (and allows the alternator to provide 12V
tot eh coach wiring) but blocks current flow from one battery to another.
This stops the two banks from discharging themselves in a short period of
time. The discharge happens because (generally) one battery bank is
different electrically from the other. This leads to the "stropnger" of the
banks experiencing current flow out as the batteries try to reach
equilibrium electrically. As one banks dicharges into the other it will
overshoot a little bit so that it becomes the weaker of the banks. Then the
second bank tries to charge the first - and overshoots a little bit. The
"seesaw" current flow eventually discharges both battery banks.
Battery bank - in the GMC one 12V battery or 2 6V golf cart batteries in
series to create a 12V bank. The GMC has two banks - the engine (usually
one battery) and the coach bank (a 12V or 2 6V). Some coaches have added a
third bank to extend the time between recharges.
statpower - a company that manufatures a variety of battery related
equipment including chargers and inverters.
>statpower40, TrueCharge 40, TrueCharge 40+
A series of multistage battery charger/converters that convert 110 to 12V
(24V if you have that type of system - GMCs are generally 12V systems). The
multistage charger permits rapid charging of battery banks by employing a
high current phase until a specific battery voltage is reached. The current
is then reduced for another period of time until a differtn higher voltage
is reached. The process continues reducing current with the goal of
supplying the maximum charge current without boiling the battery
electrolyte. The chief advantage to the multistage chargers is that they
can restore a battery to a specific charge level much more rapidly than an
automotive trickle or taper charger. In addition, these devices only supply
a float curretn when needed, so batteriies aren't overcharged. Charge time
for a given battery bank differs based on the type of batteries used, but a
typical golf cart battery configuration will recharge to the 75% point in
about 2.5 hours assuming a discharge to 25%. This represents the fastest
recharge possible and maximum useful battery capacity with reasonable
battery life. The Statpower products also function as a converter to
provide 12V from the 110V shorepower (or genset). Teh charger can charge
batteries while supplying the coach 12V but it requires more time to charge
the batteries when they are operated int eh 25-75% range.
Inverter - a device for converting 12V DC from the batteries (or
alternator) to 11V AC. There are many different types of inverter, each
with different properties. The least expensive inverter supplies a
near-square wave output which is passed through a simple filter to make it
more sine wave-like. These are very inexpensive but relatively inefficient.
The power filtered out to make the output more sine wave-like is turned
into heat and is lost. Some inverters lose 45% of converted energy this way
(so if you are trying to power a 100W AC item at 110V you will actually
expend close to 200 watts of DC - half of which is turned into heat). Small
inverters of this type are usefull for powering small items used
occassionally (or if you don't care to conserve power).
The next most expensive inverter is a modifiied sine wave inverter. This
device is more complex than the simple inverter but is more efficient.
Where the square wave inverter loses much energy to heat losses, the
modified sine wave inverter is more efficient. It also costs a bit more. It
is better for running some type of motors and electronics. most Statpower
inverters are modified sine wave inverters.
The most expensive inverter is a sine wave inverter. It produces AC that
looks just like the power company. It is generally the most efficient of
the inverters. Electronic equipment and motors operate like normal when
using these inverters.
You do not need an inverter unless you dry camp AND want ot not run your
genset often.
Wire size or gauge - wire must be of a size sufficient to carry the current
that will flow through the wire. Wire has a resitance. Resistance means
that the wire will lower the voltage from the source to the item using the
electricity. The large the gauge the lower to voltage drop (loss) from
source to the item. This means that you lose less battery capacity while
getting brighter lights, faster turning motors, etc. Some items like motors
can fail when the voltage drops too low because there isn't enough torque
to turn the motor but there is enough heat generated to destroy some parts.
>etc. --i.e., what do these things do and why do we need them?
How's that for a start?
Henry
Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (831) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (831) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com/ http://www.henry-davis.com
>writes:
>
>> If you have the old converter and leave yourself connected to shore
>> power, you might be damaging your battery in the rear as it will keep
>> charging all the time and could overcharge. The battery in the front
>> does not get charged unless the engine is running in a normal mode.
>> al
>
>Thanks Al!
>The pieces of the puzzle are fitting together now--I'm beginning to
>understand why some have made the change. Maybe if someone would like to
>chime in with some sort of definition as to what these things do maybe it
>would clear up some questions.
Combiner
A combiner is an electrical apparatus used to permit two battery (banks) to
be charged "intelligently." The combiner relies on the fact that the
voltage across a charging battery will rise as the battery charge
increases. When the charging voltage is great enough, the combiner
electrically connects both batteries in parallel to permit them both to
become charged. When the batteries are not being charged the combiner
electrically isolates the two banks. Using a combiner in place of the
isolator that is original equipment in the GMC permits the electrical
isolation (keeps the engine battery from becoming discharged) when you use
the coach 12V electrical AND allows both batterioes to be charged when
charging voltage is present. This can simplify the electrical system if you
want to permit charging of the engine battery from the coach charger.
battery isolator - a diode based device that permits both battery banks to
be charged from the alternator (and allows the alternator to provide 12V
tot eh coach wiring) but blocks current flow from one battery to another.
This stops the two banks from discharging themselves in a short period of
time. The discharge happens because (generally) one battery bank is
different electrically from the other. This leads to the "stropnger" of the
banks experiencing current flow out as the batteries try to reach
equilibrium electrically. As one banks dicharges into the other it will
overshoot a little bit so that it becomes the weaker of the banks. Then the
second bank tries to charge the first - and overshoots a little bit. The
"seesaw" current flow eventually discharges both battery banks.
Battery bank - in the GMC one 12V battery or 2 6V golf cart batteries in
series to create a 12V bank. The GMC has two banks - the engine (usually
one battery) and the coach bank (a 12V or 2 6V). Some coaches have added a
third bank to extend the time between recharges.
statpower - a company that manufatures a variety of battery related
equipment including chargers and inverters.
>statpower40, TrueCharge 40, TrueCharge 40+
A series of multistage battery charger/converters that convert 110 to 12V
(24V if you have that type of system - GMCs are generally 12V systems). The
multistage charger permits rapid charging of battery banks by employing a
high current phase until a specific battery voltage is reached. The current
is then reduced for another period of time until a differtn higher voltage
is reached. The process continues reducing current with the goal of
supplying the maximum charge current without boiling the battery
electrolyte. The chief advantage to the multistage chargers is that they
can restore a battery to a specific charge level much more rapidly than an
automotive trickle or taper charger. In addition, these devices only supply
a float curretn when needed, so batteriies aren't overcharged. Charge time
for a given battery bank differs based on the type of batteries used, but a
typical golf cart battery configuration will recharge to the 75% point in
about 2.5 hours assuming a discharge to 25%. This represents the fastest
recharge possible and maximum useful battery capacity with reasonable
battery life. The Statpower products also function as a converter to
provide 12V from the 110V shorepower (or genset). Teh charger can charge
batteries while supplying the coach 12V but it requires more time to charge
the batteries when they are operated int eh 25-75% range.
Inverter - a device for converting 12V DC from the batteries (or
alternator) to 11V AC. There are many different types of inverter, each
with different properties. The least expensive inverter supplies a
near-square wave output which is passed through a simple filter to make it
more sine wave-like. These are very inexpensive but relatively inefficient.
The power filtered out to make the output more sine wave-like is turned
into heat and is lost. Some inverters lose 45% of converted energy this way
(so if you are trying to power a 100W AC item at 110V you will actually
expend close to 200 watts of DC - half of which is turned into heat). Small
inverters of this type are usefull for powering small items used
occassionally (or if you don't care to conserve power).
The next most expensive inverter is a modifiied sine wave inverter. This
device is more complex than the simple inverter but is more efficient.
Where the square wave inverter loses much energy to heat losses, the
modified sine wave inverter is more efficient. It also costs a bit more. It
is better for running some type of motors and electronics. most Statpower
inverters are modified sine wave inverters.
The most expensive inverter is a sine wave inverter. It produces AC that
looks just like the power company. It is generally the most efficient of
the inverters. Electronic equipment and motors operate like normal when
using these inverters.
You do not need an inverter unless you dry camp AND want ot not run your
genset often.
Wire size or gauge - wire must be of a size sufficient to carry the current
that will flow through the wire. Wire has a resitance. Resistance means
that the wire will lower the voltage from the source to the item using the
electricity. The large the gauge the lower to voltage drop (loss) from
source to the item. This means that you lose less battery capacity while
getting brighter lights, faster turning motors, etc. Some items like motors
can fail when the voltage drops too low because there isn't enough torque
to turn the motor but there is enough heat generated to destroy some parts.
>etc. --i.e., what do these things do and why do we need them?
How's that for a start?
Henry
Henry Davis Consulting, Inc / new product consulting
PO Box 1270 / product readiness reviews
Soquel, Ca 95073 / IP reviews
ph: (831) 462-5199 / full service marketing
fax: (831) 462-5198
http://www.henry-davis.com/ http://www.henry-davis.com
