DC Power 185 EOM overkill?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
all i've got is my experience, and what i've observed with meters.
and what i've found on the net..... this is the charge profile for
oddesy batteries, an AGM battery. this is how the oddesy chargers
do the deal. i have a 50 amp single bank one, and i've measured
it during it's charge cycle, and it does what the graph says.
it's a $300 charger. it works.
now, with the brand new van, and oem alternator, the oem batteries
lasted 18 months. i replaced them with a pair of oddesy batteries,
and those lasted 18 months with the oem alternator, and the
thing always cranked over weakly. sometimes i'd put a charger on it,
just to top off the batteries.
here's my observation on batteries, both industrial battery room
lead acid batteries, ganged in series for 120 volt dc, each battery
weighing 275 lbs, and having two volts, and auto batteries.
you are transferring energy from one place to another. there has
to be a delta to cause current flow. if you charge a battery with
a 12.5 volt source, it will never reach 12.5 volts static charge.
and when i was charging my batteries at 13.2 volts with oem
alternators, the resting voltage never exceeded 11.6 volts on
the batteries.
my batteries, measured right now with a fluke DMM are 12.55.
when i start up the van, the system voltage goes up after about
15 seconds to 14.6~14.8.
check how many people on this forum are running DC power
alternators.
now, how many are posting how their batteries are toasted?
and what i've found on the net..... this is the charge profile for
oddesy batteries, an AGM battery. this is how the oddesy chargers
do the deal. i have a 50 amp single bank one, and i've measured
it during it's charge cycle, and it does what the graph says.
it's a $300 charger. it works.
now, with the brand new van, and oem alternator, the oem batteries
lasted 18 months. i replaced them with a pair of oddesy batteries,
and those lasted 18 months with the oem alternator, and the
thing always cranked over weakly. sometimes i'd put a charger on it,
just to top off the batteries.
here's my observation on batteries, both industrial battery room
lead acid batteries, ganged in series for 120 volt dc, each battery
weighing 275 lbs, and having two volts, and auto batteries.
you are transferring energy from one place to another. there has
to be a delta to cause current flow. if you charge a battery with
a 12.5 volt source, it will never reach 12.5 volts static charge.
and when i was charging my batteries at 13.2 volts with oem
alternators, the resting voltage never exceeded 11.6 volts on
the batteries.
my batteries, measured right now with a fluke DMM are 12.55.
when i start up the van, the system voltage goes up after about
15 seconds to 14.6~14.8.
check how many people on this forum are running DC power
alternators.
now, how many are posting how their batteries are toasted?
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
Agreed but I've had the same experience with the wet lead acid batterys. The big diff. is the wet batterys didn't keep the float charge as long. All other stats were app. the same. We can debate this till the cows come home. The basics are solid it's your truck and your batterys. I haven't had a problem with my still original alt. that never puts out more than 13.9 volts. Sometimes as low as 12.7.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,950
Likes: 510
From: Foothills, CA
Agreed but I've had the same experience with the wet lead acid batterys. The big diff. is the wet batterys didn't keep the float charge as long. All other stats were app. the same. We can debate this till the cows come home. The basics are solid it's your truck and your batterys. I haven't had a problem with my still original alt. that never puts out more than 13.9 volts. Sometimes as low as 12.7.
It is interesting comparing sophisticated 4 stage, etc. static chargers -- temperature compensated and all that, with the basic alternator that runs in your basic vehicle.... Temperature Compensation? Float Charge? Bulk Charge? I really doubt our alternators are "thinking" about how best to charge the battery...
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
So which alt do you have, or came on your truck?
It is interesting comparing sophisticated 4 stage, etc. static chargers -- temperature compensated and all that, with the basic alternator that runs in your basic vehicle.... Temperature Compensation? Float Charge? Bulk Charge? I really doubt our alternators are "thinking" about how best to charge the battery...
It is interesting comparing sophisticated 4 stage, etc. static chargers -- temperature compensated and all that, with the basic alternator that runs in your basic vehicle.... Temperature Compensation? Float Charge? Bulk Charge? I really doubt our alternators are "thinking" about how best to charge the battery...
Wiser by FTE
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,837
Likes: 48
Time will tell if you should continuously charge your batteries at 14.7 volts, without problems.
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
Is everyone here thinking a constant 14.2-14.7 volts is a bad thing? That's what an automobile electrical system is designed for.
Want long term? How about countless OTR trucks that run 24/7?
Also keep in mind what is shown at the OBD port is going to be .2-.5 volts LESS than what the battery sees.
Josh
Want long term? How about countless OTR trucks that run 24/7?
Also keep in mind what is shown at the OBD port is going to be .2-.5 volts LESS than what the battery sees.
Josh
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 450
Likes: 1
That graph is what I was trying to say. If the regulator tappers the voltage down near the end of charging that is great. If it keeps going at 14.8v then it might not be great for long periods of time. I'll try to call DC tomorrow and see what the alternators do.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,950
Likes: 510
From: Foothills, CA
Temperature compensation would be very interesting to hear about...
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,950
Likes: 510
From: Foothills, CA
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 110
From: Lakeland, Fl
Is everyone here thinking a constant 14.2-14.7 volts is a bad thing? That's what an automobile electrical system is designed for.
Want long term? How about countless OTR trucks that run 24/7?
Also keep in mind what is shown at the OBD port is going to be .2-.5 volts LESS than what the battery sees.
Josh
Want long term? How about countless OTR trucks that run 24/7?
Also keep in mind what is shown at the OBD port is going to be .2-.5 volts LESS than what the battery sees.
Josh
Over 14.5 will boil the electrolyte, 14.2 is fine.
What you have to be aware of is what kind of battery you have. The above only applies to standard lead acid batteries. Glass mat, gel, or Odyssey are different and require different charge rates. This could be why the stock alternator is getting a bad rap, 13.5v will not charge a glass mat battery.
Certified Thread Hijacker
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 14,441
Likes: 59
14.5 volts isn't going to boil anything. Keep in mind the alternator is running a vehicle.
It would be a different story if the alternator was only attending to the battery and nothing else.
Josh
It would be a different story if the alternator was only attending to the battery and nothing else.
Josh
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 450
Likes: 1
Well the alternator finally came in. It was backordered for a couple weeks. I did talk to DC Power and like you would imagine, the alternator is only kicking out full voltage when the system needs it. I actually haven't seen 14.8v since I installed it, probably only 14.5 once in a while. Unit is very nice and install was a breeze with the necessary adapter. The only negative I have is that they don't return calls if you leave a message. Just keep calling back until you get a person. All in all I am quite pleased, especially considering the NAPA gold high output stock was $260 or so. This didn't cost much more for a far better unit. 
Now on to bigger and more expensive things, bring it in for the tranny rebuild tomorrow.
Now on to bigger and more expensive things, bring it in for the tranny rebuild tomorrow.
Hotshot
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 19,055
Likes: 235
From: Saratoga Springs,UT
Keep in mind the Voltage at the OBDII Port has Lost .1-.2 of a Volt then at Battery
So your 14.5 was really 14.7volts or So
Your good Enjoy
I know they take time to Get to customer But that time is for quality parts to come in
To many Companys anymore would throw cheap parts at it and push them out the Door
Your DC Unit will likely last for years to come
So your 14.5 was really 14.7volts or So
Your good Enjoy
I know they take time to Get to customer But that time is for quality parts to come in
To many Companys anymore would throw cheap parts at it and push them out the Door
Your DC Unit will likely last for years to come
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,777
Likes: 4
From: Des Moines, IA
My monitored voltage at the OBD-II port is usually .5 volt less than what's at the battery. With the new overdrive pulley and 140 amp 6G large case alternator I'm seeing consistent 14.0-14.5 now. System looked to be putting out 12.0 with glow plugs running whereas it was dipping down to 10 before.