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Echo Charger with standby battery bank

3K views 11 replies 3 participants last post by  sstuller 
#1 ·
Can you use an Echo Charger to charge and maintain a standby battery bank that has the same capacity as the primary bank (100 AH @ 24 volts)? Am using a solar panel for charging which is idle once the primary bank is charged. Thanks. Steve S.
 
#3 ·
Well, yes and no. So long as the EchoCharge is sensing more than 13.0V on the main bank, including a "float level" of 13.2V or more, it will continue to pass some current to the auxiliary bank.

So, the answer to the OP's question is, YES, it will maintain the standby battery just fine.

Bill
 
#5 ·
I'm using a Steca controller that has a float stage. One of the questions I have about the Echo is the statement that it will provide 15 amps to the auxiliary battery bank if the voltage differential is 1.5 volts between the banks. Since the solar panel doesn't come close to that output, is the Echo output limited to the solar panel's output? Thanks.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Let's not make this more complicated than it is.

If there's a charging voltage on the main battery -- and a float voltage of 13.2-13.6VDC qualifies as a charging voltage -- then the EchoCharge will pass thru some current to the auxiliary battery.

If the main battery voltage falls below about 13VDC, as it would if all charging sources were removed, then the EchoCharge will cut off.

A solar panel has plenty of potential to keep the voltage above 13VDC, so long as there is light. When there is no light or very low light and the voltage falls below 13.0, then the EchoCharge will cut off.

Whether or not this is sufficient to your needs would depend on your setup...type/size of batteries, size of solar panel, type of controller, other charging sources, how you use the boat, etc.

BTW, your original post said 24V. Is this a 24V system? Details, please.

Bill
 
#7 ·
It is a 24 volt 100 AH system for a Torqeedo 801. There is a 24 volt 130 watt solar panel (35 vmp) for charging. The 100 AH battery capacity is plenty for daysailing. For cruising I would like to add extra battery capacity for the occasional long day but don't need the extra weight for daysailing. Thanks.
 
#9 ·
OK, you have a 24V system. All my comments (and Maine Sail comments above) were predicated on a 12V system, but it shouldn't make any difference to you because the EchoCharge works with both 12V and 24V systems.

The following is from the Xantrex EchoCharge manual:

QUOTE
When the input voltage is 13.0/25.5 volts DC or higher, echo-charge
automatically switches ON. The LED glows a steady green. When the
input voltage is lower than 13.0/25.5 volts, the echo-charge automatically
switches OFF, and the LED blinks green.

The output voltage of echocharge is limited to 14.4/28.8 volts. When it reaches 14.4/28.8 volts, the charge current will decrease, maintaining a float condition. The starter battery will be fully charged without overcharging.
No load current drain on the house bank is less than 50 milli-amps.

If the input voltage is above 14.4 volts (or 28.8), output will be limited to a
maximum of 14.4/28.8 volts.
UNQUOTE

Bill
 
#11 · (Edited)
It can "potentially" for a short while if the bank voltages are quite unequal but that would soon come to an end as the banks voltages would get closer and closer.. With the Ech always connected and not "switched" on you will likely never see that. the solar panel at 4A max would not be able to keep the house voltage up high enough to support the Echo's potential of 15A for very long. If your Echo regularly feeds a start bank 15A it is probably the wrong device for the task.
 
#12 ·
It is safe to say then that the house bank would make up the amp difference between the charger's output and the Echo's demand of 15 amps until the house battery's voltage drops below 13 volts (26 volts in a 24 volt system). That's OK. I was just curious about how the Echo works. That's why it's considered a B2B charger. Thanks.
 
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