Paralleling Chargers

[luvnlife]

Arild, I have a 10 golf cart battary bank connected to a Magnum 2812 inverter/charger rated at 125 amps. I want to parallel another smart charger to reduce charge times. Will I have a problem with the charge stages staying syncronized? I ask this because IOTA offers a IQ4/PAR device that is said to sync the stages when paralleling their chargers. This has me wondering?

Regards Frank

[elnav]

paralleing smart chargers is okaY DURING BULK and early stages if absorption it makes for a faster charge.

[krogenguy]

I have been using the same arrangement for several years now. In our case it's a Trace SW2512 and a 55 amp Iota charger (can't remember the model number). During the bulk and absorption phase the Iota puts out the rated amperage but as the voltage ramps up it ramps down and is mostly done when the voltage reaches 13.9. At that point I usually turn it off if I remember. Works great, but I wish I had a bigger version so I could reduce the charge time (12 GC's).

[capn chuck]

We have two Iota chargers. If the Iota you have has the "built in" smart charger there may very well be a problem paralleling them according to Iota. Chuck

[elnav]

Smart chargers have evolved over the past decade. Some designs impose a time limit and turn themselves off after a given interval. If you are in the habit of starting your recharge at a preset depth of discharge (DoD) take note of how long it typically take for the charger to reach end of bulk and go into absorption mode. It doesn't matter if you are ten or fifteen minutes of just get an approximate idea. Get one of the automatic timer you can buy almost any place selling home lighting security stuff.
wire the second charger so it is controlled by this timer. Instead of using in clock mode based on time opf day reset timer to noon each time you begin charging and let the device shut off the second charger after the preset interval needed for bulk charging. Let your best automatic charger continue the charger cycle to completion of float
Granted its a manual and there for not completely automatic method.
Automatic methods are available but at much greater cost.