How to charge using deep cycle batteries.

[Slyster]

A little tutorial on powering your charger using deep cycle batteries.

FIrst... a deep cycle FAQ:
http://www.windsun.com/Batteries/Battery_FAQ.htm

I love this setup. It works especially well for me since I can leave the heavy batteries in the van all season. I can even charge on the way to the field.. although I really don't recommend that.

I can charge 12-13 6s5000mah packs with the two deep cycles. I parallel charge from 1 to 6 packs with the charger set to 30A... the deep cycles keep up fine. With 3300mah packs, I could probably get 8-9 flights on my 600 (Fusion 50) with this setup. For funflys I charge the packs at home first then leave with the deep cycles full.

With the iCharger, I can quickly discharge my unused packs back into the deep cycles as well... at high amps. I think the limit is 20A or something? (I'll edit). But of course your deep cycles cannot be full for this to work since the charger put the power back in to them.

You can use one deep cycle but high watt chargers will be limited to 15A... but if you are only charging 3s packs, one deep cycle is the way to go. I might even go quad when I get a 90 sized electric.

I use two 125Ah "Maxx Marine" deep cycles from Walmart. They are around $90 each. I keep them in the back of my van just behind the passenger seats and I extended my charger power cords to around 6 feet so my charger can be up on my deck I have in the rear of the van.

Here is my battery setup... in series for 24v


Here is my deep cycle charger. It has independent outputs for each deep cycle battery. You can models for different number of deep cycles. Its very small and it attaches to your batteries with wing nuts. So I leave in in the van as well. When I get home from the field I just pull the cord out the window and plug it in! Very easy.

http://www.geniuschargers.com/shop/GEN2



Here is a chart I have on my back window so I can use my iCharger display to let me know how much power I have remaining in the deep cycles. You can go down to around 20% with deep cycles. The deep cycles must be at rest (and it takes a minute or so for them to bounce back) before you get an accurate voltage reading.

[aramb]

Great write up, Slyster!

I do have a couple of questions.

What gauge wire are you using between the batteries (to wire them together)? Also, you mentioned you have six foot cables from the batteries to your charger. What gauge are these wires?

[Slyster]

I just bought a jumper cable and cut around 2 feet and used battery clamps from an auto store to connect them. But really.. they don't need to be much larger than 10 gauge or so.

My 6 foot extensions for my charger are 10 gauge wire from my LHS. They carry really nice, flexible, silicone covered wire. I'll double check on that later.

The wires barley get warm at 24V... but if I use one deep cycle (or my home 12v PSU) they can get quite hot so I just make sure they aren't coiled up. More voltage less amps.

I just use large alligator clamps to attach the charger to the deep cycles and i just keep the negative side clamped on all the time. With the deck I built in my van, it completely hides all this so I don't worry so much about theft.

[EclipseSL94]

After the 12-13 charges with those 5000mah packs what does that usually leave you with on the marine battery?

[Slyster]

20-30% or so... the charger errors out due to low voltage. I think it's not great to go that low TOO often.

[Lighty]

when clamping on with the positive lead it gives a large spark, this normal and ok?

[Slyster]

yes... big pop! actually melts a tiny bit of lead... the clamp sticks

[newtek007]

I'm new to this charging stuff. So let me ask a nieve question. I'm assuming an AC power supply is not being used. So..... could you use a power inverter hooked to the batteries and then the chargers? Or is hooking the chargers to the batteries the best option?

Sent from my Atari 2600

[Lighty]

Straight to the deep cycles!

[newtek007]

Straight to the batteries.

Ok. So for multi chargers at the same time would one build some type of bus terminal made out of thick copper pipe or something. I hope that makes sense. I have 2 bantam and 1 icharger I would like to use.

Sent from my Atari 2600

[Slyster]

You can be do some really cool stuff.... but I just clamp them on the terminals with alligator clamps, and if a friends needs power he just clamps on too.. a third charger?.. just clamp on to the clamps. But you could do cool things will bullet connectors and wiring and banana plugs etc.

[Slyster]

I should add to this thread (since I cannot edit the first post) that the Noco chargers are cheap on Amazon.

$117 for the Noco Gen2. The Gen2 chargers two deep cycles independently at 10A each.

The Gen 1 (if you only want one deep cycle) is cheaper at $84.

http://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GEN2-Geni...0351715&sr=8-1

[Lighty]

Originally Posted by Slyster

I should add to this thread (since I cannot edit the first post) that the Noco chargers are cheap on Amazon.

$117 for the Noco Gen2. The Gen2 chargers two deep cycles independently at 10A each.

The Gen 1 (if you only want one deep cycle) is cheaper at $84.

http://www.amazon.com/NOCO-GEN2-Geni...0351715&sr=8-1

I would loved to get these but living in Aus these aren't available, so I use my ichargers to charge the DC's.

[Spoto]

Lighty ~ can you share your charge settings you use for the icharger? I'm trying to figure out what charge and trickle rate (amps) to set my 306b to?

[Lighty]

Hey mate

I set it on PB / 10 amps / 12v / trickle is set at 100 - I think... It takes 8-10 hrs to charge a 105mah Deep cycle. Whilst charging it will hit 14.4v there abouts and then tapper out after some hours.

As I use the DC's often they din't sit on trickle unless they finish charging before I wake up. Once complete the batteries will read about 12.5-12.6 volts.

hope this helps

[Spoto]

Perfect lighty, just what I needed. 10A charge and 100ma trickle, and the charger will taie care of the rest

[xspare]

Originally Posted by Slyster

You can be do some really cool stuff.... but I just clamp them on the terminals with alligator clamps, and if a friends needs power he just clamps on too.. a third charger?.. just clamp on to the clamps. But you could do cool things will bullet connectors and wiring and banana plugs etc.

It's not that costly to add proper (DC-rated, ignition-protected) battery switches, breakers, fuses, busbars, etc.

http://us.binnacle.com/Electrical-Ba...duct_info.html

[KingJoe]

I did a 24v install with marine charging system

Completed System Pic's & Specs

http://rc.runryder.com/helicopter/t6.../?p=5688674#RR

Thanks for everybodys help

[Slyster]

A photos of my charging system I finally got around to taking

[Alignnitro]

That looks awesome !!! I am thinking about what I wanna do with mine wether it be a setup like this in my truck or just a Honda generator. I have a 2500 duramax. Got a carpeted liner and a flat cap perfect for heli setup.

My truck has two batteries installed in it from the factory. Is there a way to run these batteries into the truck system so they charge off the truck when it running. Also have a disconnect for the batteries so when your using them for charging u can disconnect them.