I’m off grid and have 2 systems - one 24v/200Ah and one 48v/300Ah with LiFePo4 batteries. Occasionally I may run low on power during extended overcast days. I have a backup generator, but can’t seem to find battery chargers up to the task,
I’ve tried LiFePo4 specific chargers, but they seem too small and light to handle the size of my battery banks. I recently got a heavy duty golf cart charger, but that also doesn’t seem to move the needle much.
Since I love the Victron 150/45s and they do such a good job charging, I’m wondering about getting another one specifically for charging from my generator. I’m thinking of using a 110v A/C to 48v DC power supply, plug in to the generator and output 48v to the 150/45.
Will that work? Would the 150/45 take that 48v as if it were coming from a solar panel and effectively charge the batteries?
I’m also open to other ideas if anyone has some.
Thanks,
~Rod
You will need at least a 60V DC input into the 150 and 56.5x45A is nealy 2600w. You will need to drop the charge current of the MPPT significantly. I dont think you will find components large enough and cheap enough.
The only thing I have seen that is good is called an EG4 Chargeverter GC 100A 48V charger for generator input.
Thanks, I’ll look into the chargeverter
Are you using a multiplus? What do you have connected to the battery. The 48V DC 120V and 24V 120V multiplus have a built in charger. They are pretty cheap chargers and inverter as well.
I’m not using a multiplus. Typically I prefer components that do one thing very well rather than components that do multiple things. It makes thing easier to diagnose and cheaper to replace in case something fails. For example: products like the Jackery are the battery, charge controller and inverter all in one. So it’s pretty, neat, and uncomplicated. But if it fails, you’ve lost everything, rather than just needing to replace a charge controller.
I’m a big fan of redundancy, so that if you do have a component failure, you still have power until you can get a replacement. That’s why when I added on to my cabin and built a shop, I left the 24v system as is and added a 48v system for the new power needs. Both systems have 2 - 150/45s so that if one fails, half my panels are still giving me power from the second one.
I’m using AIMS POWER inverters from their industrial/commercial line. The 24v one is 5000w and has been without issue for 5+ years. The 48v one is 6000w and was installed 2+ years ago. 3200w of panels for the 24v system and 4400w of panels for the 48v system. I have TimeUSB LiFePo4 batteries in the banks. They were a low price entry when I decided to upgrade from lead acid, but have been very reliable and much more stable than the lead acid.
I’m completely off grid. My home was originally a hunting cabin with no power lines connected. It’s been a 7 year learn as I go project on solar power. But I retired here last year and now live here full time. I had some really junky cheap components when I first started with a 12v system to see if it was even feasable to be 100% solar. But I’ve learned to spend a little more on quality components like the Victron charge controllers for better function and reliability.
I run a fridge, microwave, TV, water heater, UV water purifier, water pump (my water supply is rainwater collection) and 2 minisplit HVACs - one off the 24v and one off the 48v system. The HVACs are mostly used for Air conditioning, or heat when it’s not cold enough to use the wood stove. The 48v system also powers my shop with a table saw and power tools. During the summer I generate more power than I can use even running both ACs and running the saws and tools all day.
During the winter I can go 3+ days of heavy overcast where I’m getting little to nothing from the sun, and it’s been rare to have periods longer than that. But I’ve had 3 or 4 days in the last year where one or the other battery bank was nearly depleted. The chargers I have are enough to run things off the generator for the day, but do little in the way of fully recharging the batteries.
So I’m looking for something that will actually charge my battery banks from a generator. I don’t want to replace my whole system(s), or spend thousands on a solution that I only need 3 or 4 days out of the year.
The EG4 Chargeverter you mentioned is about half the price of the multiplus at first glance, and appears to be a good solution, though I’m still researching it. It says it will do 50A at 120Vac, 3040W at 120Vac. 100A/5120W at 240Vac. The generator I have here only has the 120V option. I think the other one I have may have 240V but I’d have to check and go get it from my brother.
And that’s probably TMI, but at least there will be no question about what I have and what I’m trying to do. 