Battery Charge(Kontiki)
Description
To safely and efficiently charge five 9-amp hour batteries with one charger, ensure the charger's output current matches the batteries' combined capacity (45 amp-hours) and that the charger has sufficient voltage capacity for the batteries, and consider using a charger with a "bulk rate" and "constant voltage" charging profile.
Understanding Charging Rates:
A good rule of thumb is to use a charger that can provide 10-20% of the battery's total amp-hour capacity as its charging current.
With 5 batteries at 9Ah each (total 45Ah), a charger capable of 4.5-9 amps would be a good starting point.
Charger Voltage:
Ensure the charger's output voltage is compatible with the batteries. If you are charging 12V batteries, the charger should output 12V or slightly higher (e.g., 13.8V).
Charging Time:
The time it takes to charge depends on the charger's current output and the batteries state of charge. If the batteries are fully discharged, a 4.5 amp charger will take approximately 10 hours to fully charge the batteries (45Ah / 4.5A = 10 hours). A 9 amp charger would take about 5 hours.
Charging Profile:
Many battery chargers use a "bulk rate" constant current to charge the batteries to about 80% capacity, then switch to a "constant voltage" stage to finish the charge. Some chargers also have a "finishing" stage where the current is reduced to a minimum rate for a period to ensure a full charge.
Safety:
Never exceed the maximum charging current recommended by the battery manufacturer to prevent overheating and damage.
Monitoring:
Keep an eye on the batteries during charging to ensure they don't overheat or vent.
Battery Condition:
If the batteries are of different ages or conditions, they may not charge equally, and some may overcharge, potentially damaging the batteries and or the charging cables.
Batteries that are damaged should not be charged, these should be disposed of in the appropriate manner.
Batteries that are dead flat should only be charged 1 piece at a time , until such a time that all batteries are evenly charged.
Batteries should always be charged outdoors in a well ventilated area away from all other devices.
Do not leave chargers and batteries unattended whilst charging.
Even though this charger is capable of charging 5 batteries at a time , it is suggested that no more than 4 are charged at any one point in time,
Ensuring that the batteries are connected to to the closest charging terminals to the charger,.
