DC-DC chargers options for pick up 2nd battery

[123hotchef]

Ok so I would normally just bung in a split charge relay and be done with it.
But from reading up these GEL deep discharge bateries do not like being charged that way, it shortens the life of them considarably apparently.

So I was thinking about a DC to DC charger instead.
Does any one have any recomendations or shall I stick with my old school method like I have in my other pick up?

 

[Barking Mat]

Can you expand on that.

Do you mean AGM ? Batteries ?

 

[tom2207]

Stirling do lots of stuff that will no doubt suit ,,, lots of other folk do too , used a lot in the boating world ,,, but its not a 30 quid diode in a box type of fix.

 

[Barking Mat]

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Ok, got you.

No idea, I'd never heard of them, and can't help.

 

[m_c]

Biggest issue with Gel, is if they're allowed to go flat, they need a lot of volts to start accepting a charge again, and IIRC they're not quite as tolerant of high charging voltages.

Stirling seems to be what's fitted to our main customers Euro 6 vans now, and I've not had any problems that's related to the DCC charging. Everything else the bodybuilders have fitted on the other hand...

There are other options. Main thing will be something that has the option for Gel battery voltages.

 

[bert]

This any good?

CSB2 -

Dispositivo ricarica batteria auto

www.cbe.it

A mates got one on his motorhome and says its good

 

[carbon]

I have a agm battery that I use to power a night heater in my van. I used a Ctek dc - dc charger to keep it charged and haven’t experienced any problems in the last three years. It’s directly connected to the vehicle battery but only charges the agm battery when it senses the vehicle battery being charged

 

[Barking Mat]

I have a agm battery that I use to power a night heater in my van. I used a Ctek dc - dc charger to keep it charged and haven’t experienced any problems in the last three years. It’s directly connected to the vehicle battery but only charges the agm battery when it senses the vehicle battery being charged

AGM and gel batteries are not the same it would seem.

 

[tigdlo]

Victron stuff is good, the charge profiles can be changed to suit the battery being charged or used as a dcdc power supply if you want a fixed output voltage even when the vehicle is charging.

 

[Kayos]

I looked into it after being told my L200 had a "smart" alternator

Didn't bother and just used a split charge, no issues over 12 months

My 2019 VW Caddy did have a "smart" alternator, voltages went from 11-16v

 

[123hotchef]

I was looking at the ctek one actually, as they do one with a extra solar input.

I could just use a normal split charge relay I have a few here but was not sure if the talk about the batteries not lasting a long time was true or not.