Lister Engine Forum

How to / DIY => Everything else => Topic started by: draganof on December 17, 2007, 01:00:54 AM

Title: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: draganof on December 17, 2007, 01:00:54 AM
Anyone know if you can charge a nicad battery bank using the alternator on the engine? I have 20ea.  170ah cells that I would like to run my 12v inverter from. My only nicad charger puts out 24vdc.

Title: Re: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: Doug on December 17, 2007, 01:15:02 AM
Get the charge specs from Saft ( or whoever ) and you can come up with a crge proceedure on your own.

I charge to stacks of air craft flooded wet sell Nicads with an ABB dc drive that follows a programe to bulk charge and recon based on the technical specks form Gia-Kiruna and Saft.
Title: Re: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: draganof on December 17, 2007, 01:38:59 AM
The cells I have are SAFT SPH 170's. I have all the PDF files on these with the charging requirements. I have a 12v 110amp Leece Nevil alternator that I will use for this. Thank you for your input.

John
Title: Re: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: mobile_bob on December 17, 2007, 01:52:04 AM
check out the balmar or other controllers, most all of which have programmable charge regimes for all the popular battery types
not sure about nicad, but you can alter the programming to handle them as well i would bet

bob g
Title: Re: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: jzeeff on December 17, 2007, 01:58:01 AM
They are supposed to be charged at a constant 1.41V per cell or 14.1V for 10 cells in series.   But they can be fast charged at 14.5V.   An automotive alternator should be right in that range - I'd check yours with a volt meter.



Title: Re: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: draganof on December 17, 2007, 01:58:41 AM
Thanks Bob. Is there a local source for those in this area?

I am still searching for that magical 195 starter!

John
Title: Re: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: mobile_bob on December 17, 2007, 02:04:45 AM
west marine sells the balmars and maybe even the amplepower and xantrex units,, although at retail prices
ebay has them frequently at better prices

bob g
Title: Re: Charging a 12v nicad bank with an engine driven alternator
Post by: draganof on December 17, 2007, 02:22:30 AM
I just did search on the net and they do ask a premium price for these. The specs sure are impressive. I'll check out the on-line auction place and see what i can find.