Trojan Batteries And Chargers

[George Lowry]

James,

Your evaluation on the batteries is quite right. There is another
Trojan which is even taller - the L-16 - which has 395 AH capacity but
because of the height, needs to be designed for. It is also quite heavy
and expensive (around $175 ea). The T-105's seem to give the most bang
for the buck. You can often find them at Sam's Club for around $50 each
and they fit into the space where the designer built for them.

As to the charger: The older chargers/converters were, indeed, a single
stage affair. Wet lead acid batteries tend to boil or gas at 13.8 volts
on a standard 70 degree day. Hotter and they will gas at a lower voltage
and colder and it takes a higher voltage. The best charging system
available today is a three stage charging system with temperature
sensing. This is available on most inverter/charging systems and there
are some straight chargers that will take all of these parameters into
consideration. There is also a system (Link 2000R) along with a Heart
inverter/charger (Now owned by Xantrax) that has a voltage regulator
that turns you alternator into a three stage charging system.
Improvements are being made every day. And of course, there are cheaper
systems out there.

A single stage system will only charge a battery to approximately 85% of
its capacity. Since you should limit the discharge to 50% of capacity,
you have lost 30% of usable capacity off the top. The three stage
charger will charge a battery to capacity without gassing. With this
system your batteries last longer and you get more usable capacity out
of them. As I have often said, everything is a compromise. You have to
look at everything and make your own decision. Check out
<http://www.amplepower.com> A lot of good information available there.

George Lowry
'06 Alpine Apex Former owner of '95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD

orbitalsolutions wrote:

>I just finished looking at the Trojan Web Site. There are three models
>that I want to talk about -- T-105, T-125, T-145.
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>These are all identical in dimensions with the only exception being that
>the T-145 is slightly less than an inch taller.
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>Here are the 20hr rates -- T-105 = 225AH, T-125 = 240AH, T-145 = 260AH.
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>The only other difference is their weight -- T-105 = 60lbs, T-125 =
>66lbs, T-145 = 72lbs.
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>Seems like the heavier models have larger plates and should have
>greater durability, I suppose, more Amp Hours for sure. So I am
>wondering why everyone uses the T-105's? Is there a problem with using
>the higher reated models?
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>If any one has any input on a new charge/converter to replace the
>original I would appreciate it. the original charger/converter works
>fine but I have been told that it will boil the batteries. In fact, the
>previous owner of my bus has a timer in line with the charger to prevent
>it from running full time when the bus is "pluged in." This actually
>works fine but I'm assuming that it is a one stage charger and was
>wondering if it would make sense to replace it with a modern 3 stage
>job.
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>Also it appears that the charger and the converter are two seperate
>units that were originally mounted next to each other in a road side
>bay. I have no problems with the converter at all. Are all newer units
>combo charger/converters? Would it make sense to only up grade the
>charger? Is that even possible? Whats the best type of charger to use?
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>Thanks in advance.
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>-James
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>78FC33SB -- LasVegas NV
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>Yahoo! Groups Links
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