At 09:34 PM 4/20/2010, Alistair Bell wrote: >As for rate of charge, correct me if I am mistaken but if voltage >fixed, then current is self limiting. I have a hard copy of a very With fixed voltage, charge current is limited by the lesser of supply capacity or the acceptance of the battery. With a discharged battery acceptance is very high -- a three-stage regulator will charge at full alternator output until a specific voltage is achieved, then hold that voltage while the battery acceptance declines toward zero, then reduce the voltage below gassing levels. An automotive regulator OTOH will simply reduce output as the battery voltage rises toward the regulator set point, eventually getting to zero output when the set point is reached. This is perfectly adequate for replenishing a starting battery which only loses a few per cent of charge in starting; but for a house battery that is deep-cycle it's an extremely inefficient way to do it. Yrs, d |
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