map40
Florida
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Joined: 01/15/2005
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I am upgrading my battery bank to a hell of a lot of capacity (Around 1200 amps). I know that if this was a gasser, the alternator will die young if it has to charge the bank. How good is the alternator in the Caterpillar? Will it take sustain maximun capacity constant? Otherwise I need to find a way to regulate power or connect and disconnect the banlk ontermitently.
Thanks!
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Matt_Colie
Southeast Michigan
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Map40,
I wish I could help more, but I am currently still in the research phase for a client. There are available DC-DC chargers that both create the correct final voltage for charging LiFePo4 batteries and limit the charge current drawn from the source. It is a single unit. There also should be a BMS Battery Management System with the Li unit to keep it from hurting itself or others. As said, this is a study in process on my part.
Matt
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A sailor, his bride and their black dogs going to see some dry places that have Geocaches in a coach made the year we married.
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map40
Florida
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Matt_Colie wrote:Map40,
I wish I could help more, but I am currently still in the research phase for a client. There are available DC-DC chargers that both create the correct final voltage for charging LiFePo4 batteries and limit the charge current drawn from the source. It is a single unit. There also should be a BMS Battery Management System with the Li unit to keep it from hurting itself or others. As said, this is a study in process on my part.
Matt
Thanks for the reply Matt. I got that part covered. The batteries are managed by their own BMS which can charge them dirvectly from the alternator feed. All of that works and so far I have 340 amps installed and they work great. My concern is: Will the alternator take the workload? The old Lead acid setup was 300 amps to recharge in the worst case, but when you talk about 1200 amps, the alternator will NEVER rest. Wil it last?
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Lwiddis
Bishop area, California
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Running any vehicle alternator at max or near max for long periods won’t work IMO. Weren’t built for that level of service.
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2oldman
NM
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The charging rate will likely be determined by the size of the charging wire. Congrats on the 1200ah.
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CA Traveler
The Western States
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Not an expert but there have been prior posts that typically alternators will not sustian their maximum ratings without damage which is basically what you want with that amount of Ah.
But not sure what you mean by 1200A - Are you planning for 1200 Ah?
Suggest you get the model number and contact the mfg.
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Bob
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map40
Florida
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CA Traveler wrote:Not an expert but there have been prior posts that typically alternators will not sustian their maximum ratings without damage which is basically what you want with that amount of Ah.
But not sure what you mean by 1200A - Are you planning for 1200 Ah?
Suggest you get the model number and contact the mfg.
Well, by 1200 amps I meant 1200 usable amps. 6 280 amps batteries. 15kw in the 12v system. I also have 28kw in a 48V system to run all the 110-220 with a split phase.
This 12v battery bank will be for storing the solar and running the 12V side of the house. If needed, I can run 110V through the inverter (which I might be upgrading to a low frequency inverter so I can run ACs with the 12v batteries).
I have a 6kw inverter generator that I can use to recharge both banks at a 90% efficiency, if I ever need it, wich I don{t believe I ever will.
I am getting rid of my diesel generator. I am done with the smell, noise, maintenance and ineficiency. With what I get from selling the generators I can do all of this and more.
Now I have to find a way to control the flow from the alternator or install a timer on the batteries so the charge intermitently.
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2oldman
NM
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I think CA is referring to the designation of amp-hours, not amps. Running ACs with 12v is going to require some big cabling. I think I'd prefer doing that with the 48v side.
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MEXICOWANDERER
las peñas, michoacan, mexico
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6?" or 8?/¹?" alternators can sustain 100% load.
Google DELCO, MOTOROLA, LEECE NEVILLE IMAGES and state which one you have.
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SV K
Varied
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Is your alternator air or oil cooled?
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