Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Battery Chargers-AGM

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Battery Chargers-AGM

    Just fitted a 100a/h AGM and have been thinking about charging it when at home and in campgrounds.

    There is lots of info about but the more i read the worse it gets!

    I will only be running the fridge, radio and the odd bits and pieces from the battery. We will only (probably) spend 1 or 2 days away from 240v.
    I am wondering if its worth the time and money to fit a charger to the car?
    The Ctek 7000 looks like the go but do i really need one? The fridge can run off 240 when parked so its only a matter of will the altenator charge the AGM properly or will it damage by not giving it a full and complete charge..

    Any thoughts?
    [b]2005 GXL[/b] With most of the fruit!
    Our travels; [url]www.anotherbeautifulstretch.com[/url]

  • #2
    Strahan,
    I am a new member and am waiting for delivery of new Prado.

    In previous vehicle (L/C) had an AGM fitted, for running Waeco in vehicle, and used a Ctek7000 for charging of battery when 240v available.

    Also use the charger for AGM in van , and to charge boat batteries at home.
    They are really good though I changed the connecting plugs to heavier than the standard ones they had.
    Mine is 2 years old and I will be using the Ctek for same purpose when Prado arrives.
    Will also be placing Anderson Plugs in the wiring (charger/anderson plug/existing connecting plugs) to make it easier to charge the van battery and the auxilliary battery in Prado.

    Pedro
    Pedro

    2007 D4D Auto

    Comment


    • #3
      I'll second the Ctek 7000 also. Probably the "smartest" of all the smart chargers on the market.

      Your AGM will love you for it.

      Cheers ...... Geoff
      It's not the destination..... it's the journey!

      Comment


      • #4
        Sounds like the go. Do you leave it connected all the time? I see that it comes with eye terminals to connect it to battery and leave there all the time.
        Along the same lines, how does everyone connect their accessories up to their second battery? After connecting several things- fridge, invertor, radio the terminal connection starts to get a bit crowded! I guess running a cable to a distribution block would be the go.
        Anyone got pics on how they did theirs?
        [b]2005 GXL[/b] With most of the fruit!
        Our travels; [url]www.anotherbeautifulstretch.com[/url]

        Comment


        • #5
          Bryce,

          Given that your new battery is 100Ah and you are only spending at most 2 nights in one spot, do you really need the charger? I guess it depends how much driving you are doing. Need and want are two different things though, I know all about that. :lol:

          100Ah is a big battery. Where did you mount it?

          Drew.
          2005 Toyota LandCruiser GRJ120R Prado "Pilbara" (GX+) Petrol V6 5 Speed Auto, ARB AirLocker rear diff locker, Safari Snorkel, Bilstein Shocks, OME 2" Lifted Springs, PolyAir airbags, bash plates, Icom HF Transceiver, Uniden UHF CB, HID and LED lights, Black Duck seat covers, Tekonsha Prodigy trailer brake controller, Redarc Dual Battery Controller, ATS4X4 Side Steps/Rock Sliders.

          Comment


          • #6
            must have gadgets!!!
            No i don't think i need it either.
            will just keep checking that the AGM is charging! Get nervous about that....
            [b]2005 GXL[/b] With most of the fruit!
            Our travels; [url]www.anotherbeautifulstretch.com[/url]

            Comment


            • #7
              Hey Strahan ..... sorry it took so long to get back to you, but we just got back from our Easter break.

              "Do you leave it connected all the time?" ..... I don't because I use it to top up the battery in the camper trailer (105 A/H gel) and also my boat battery (80 A/H wet cell).

              "how does everyone connect their accessories up to their second battery?" .... I use a junction block/fuse block. I ran a cable from the aux battery to the block, then out to the various accessories.

              One goes to the Prodigy Brake Controller
              One to the fridge outlet (40 L Engel)
              One to the driving lights
              One to the spike suppressor

              I also have another separate cable going to a 50 Amp Anderson plug which connects to the camper that is protected by a 50 Amp circuit breaker.

              Attached are some pics of my set up.


              The junction block is mounted on top of the existing fuse box behind the main battery.


              It has room for 6 circuits, but I'm only using 4 at the present time.


              This is what it looks like with the cover off.

              Hope this is of some help.

              Cheers ..... Geoff
              It's not the destination..... it's the journey!

              Comment


              • #8
                Yep that looks exactly like the sort of thing I am after. Where did you get it from? Do you know what amperage it can handle? I will drawing 25+ amp for a radio and don't want it to melt!
                :shock:
                [b]2005 GXL[/b] With most of the fruit!
                Our travels; [url]www.anotherbeautifulstretch.com[/url]

                Comment


                • #9
                  Got the Alzone box from Northside 4x4 in Caboolture, Qld. Their number is and was less than $50.00.

                  Total amperage is either 70 or 100 amps ..... can't remember for sure right now, but would be sufficient for just about anything we can throw at it, short of a winch.

                  Later ...... Geoff
                  It's not the destination..... it's the journey!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    I have a similar fuse box type of thing. I had it pics in the dual battery topic I posted but my ISP recently lost my data so it may take a day or two to come back online.
                    2005 VX Turbo Diesel + a heap of add-ons.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Sorry about their missing phone number ..... it is 07 5495 5519.

                      Geoff
                      It's not the destination..... it's the journey!

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Thanks Geoff, I will see if I can find a dsitributor here
                        [b]2005 GXL[/b] With most of the fruit!
                        Our travels; [url]www.anotherbeautifulstretch.com[/url]

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I use a Ctek 700 and have my 2nd battery in cargo area.
                          Wiring is such that 2nd battery is also connected to Anderson plug which is at rear of vehicle and is normally used for connecting to van battery for charging whilst travelling.

                          By modifying the ctek wiring I can now charge the 2nd battery by plugging into the rear anderson plug, and run fridge off battery at the same time .

                          Cut main wires and had 2 anderson plugs as connectors attached.
                          When connected the normal ctek charging aparatus is there but if I disconnect one anderson plug i can insert this directly into.

                          This picture shows the ctek connected to rear anderson plug.



                          And this one shows the set up if I wanted to charge a battery using the clips



                          This is the add ons that are now connected to unit via anderson plug



                          The beauty of this set up is that I can keep 2nd battery charged in car without running leads into vehicle , and also run fridge off battery.

                          Can use the same procedure for charging the battery in van if needed.
                          Pedro

                          2007 D4D Auto

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            This has been a helpful thread. I have another comment to make about the way I set up at the present time to enable me to charge the second battery as well as keep the fridge going overnight.

                            Firstly the reason for doing it. On another thread it has been shared that the alternator for the Prado does not charge the batteries up more than 80%. As the deep cycle shouldn't drop below 50%, that only leaves 30% for general use. I had problems getting enough charge into the deep cycle while driving 300 kms or less per day. Solution is the purchase of a Ctek 7000. Marvelous!

                            Practice. Drive during the day and stop and stay at a caravan park. Most people plug in the fridge to 240v. Good practise as it saves the 2nd battery, but it doesn't put more juice into it and get it up to 100%.

                            Solution. Plug the 240v into the Ctek and charge the battery and have the fridge remain on 12v. The result is a battery at 100% in the morning and the fridge working perfectly all night. It means that the times when we are away from 240v start with a fully charged battery.

                            I will be also looking at adding in an inverter to more efficiently charge the deep cycle while travelling via the 240v charger. Suggested on another thread.

                            Regards,

                            Martin
                            Dirttracker, (Martin)
                            Prado GXL '05 Diesel.
                            [url="http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor"]http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor[/url]
                            [img]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa48/dirttracker123/DSCF5442-1.jpg[/img]

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Another vote here for the Ctek 7000, I dont disconnect mine untill I leave home. Wouldnt have an AGM without a Ctek ... brilliant stuff.
                              LES
                              [url=http://www.brisbane4wdclub.org/index1.htm]Brisbane 4Wd Club Inc[/url]
                              [url=http://www.brisbane4wdclub.org/images/avatars/mystuff.htm]MY STUFF[/url]

                              Comment

                              canli bahis siteleri bahis siteleri ecebet.net
                              mencisport.com
                              antalya escort
                              tsyd.org deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              gaziantep escort
                              gaziantep escort
                              asyabahis maltcasino olabahis olabahis
                              erotik film izle Rus escort gaziantep rus escort
                              atasehir escort tuzla escort
                              sikis sex hatti
                              en iyi casino siteleri
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              casibom
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              deneme bonusu veren siteler
                              betticket istanbulbahis
                              Working...
                              X