lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
(OP)
Hello guys, my first post so hello all.
I've just moved from aeronautical to marine engineering. I have joined my first vessel as the sole engineer and was after some thoughts on charging a triple battery bank.
I have a 24v charger wired to a diode splitter, this has a 0.6v drop and then splits off to 3 banks of 24v batteries. These battery banks are made up of two 12v batteries. These batteries are used to start the two generators and main engine and nothing else.
I am currently seeing just over 27 volts on the charged batteries when sat on the charger, the skipper has complained that the batteries only last a year to fourteen months before requiring replacement. How previous engineers have tested these batteries to prove this, i don't know.
I am also getting warm batteries on only one set whilst they are being charged, by it's respective engine. Normally no more than 50°c.
So a couple of questions,
1) Am i seeing anything abnormal?
2) is the skipper expecting too much from the battery life considering each engine starts at least once a day
3) I have the task of upgrading the charging system if required, what would be my best set up?
I am an electrician by trade but due to mostly being on aircraft i have a lot to learn about DC and batteries.
I've just moved from aeronautical to marine engineering. I have joined my first vessel as the sole engineer and was after some thoughts on charging a triple battery bank.
I have a 24v charger wired to a diode splitter, this has a 0.6v drop and then splits off to 3 banks of 24v batteries. These battery banks are made up of two 12v batteries. These batteries are used to start the two generators and main engine and nothing else.
I am currently seeing just over 27 volts on the charged batteries when sat on the charger, the skipper has complained that the batteries only last a year to fourteen months before requiring replacement. How previous engineers have tested these batteries to prove this, i don't know.
I am also getting warm batteries on only one set whilst they are being charged, by it's respective engine. Normally no more than 50°c.
So a couple of questions,
1) Am i seeing anything abnormal?
2) is the skipper expecting too much from the battery life considering each engine starts at least once a day
3) I have the task of upgrading the charging system if required, what would be my best set up?
I am an electrician by trade but due to mostly being on aircraft i have a lot to learn about DC and batteries.





RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
The answer to your question is somewhat complicated and you have not provided enough information for one.
RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
While the "charged" batteries are showing ~13.5V for each 12V battery, which is more or less normal, what's the actual voltage during charging. A typical car alternator hits around 14-14.5V, so anything more than that could be overcharging the batteries.
TTFN

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Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
When the batteries are charging you should see over 28 volts, so this may indicate a problem. It is also possible that the charger switches to a lower voltage after it senses the batteries are fully charged.
RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
Compositepro, Thank you, sorry i may have digressed from the title. They are sealed lead acid.
I was curious as to wether i should be seeing more than 27v, wether just one battery bank should be so warm whilst being charged from it's engine and what would be a more modern set up than a diode splitter.
I'm afraid your post comes off rather prickly for a reply to a first post on a forum.
RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
Thankyou, i was making the assumption that the diode wasn't helping. I'm not sure why it is there, i have only been on the vessel for two weeks and it was fitted previously.
What could i fit to ensure that all the batteries get the charge they require?
RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
Cheers
Greg Locock
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RE: lossless 24v, 3 battery bank charging system.
If the engines charge their own batteries, why do we have a charger?
That is a normal, charging voltage for 24 Volt lead Acid batteries.
May be a shorted cell
These splitters work without problems in millions of RVs.
Your batteries are possibly failing from excessive vibration.
Bill
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