Thread: Honda or Christie

If I look here CTEK Battery Charger a 25amp CTEK will only draw 2.9A @ 240V (what's that, about 700W ??). I know I've run my 16A Jaycar MB3620 charger happily off a cheap non-invertor repco 850W generator with a 100W lightbulb as load to help smooth the load.

A generator/240V charger combo would be more versatile than a Christie. Yamaha inverter models seem to be flavour of the month with keener pricing than honda and cheaper repairs should they be needed

Yes - I don't think the Engel generators are sine wave and therefore may ruin some gear.

I know the Christie can put out more current than most 240V chargers, but even with AGMs, how many batteries can take 55A continuously before the current tapers off as voltage rises ? Anyone got any real-life figures ?

We take a Christie Battery charger on holidays each year and use it a lot, especially when camped by a remote river or beach. We also use two Odyssey batteries which can handle the charge (one always on and one isolated). The charger we use is the smallest of the range with a 55 Amp output. If the battery is run down it will take maximum current for a few minutes and then the current tapers off gradually. We normally run the charger for about 1/2 - 1 hour each day (after the 3rd day of camping).

It all depends on how much warm beer and fresh fish goes into the Trailblaza each day.

Les Christie, who makes the Christie Battery Chargers is my brother-in-law, however that aside, I would use these regardless.

Erich

Some years ago I built my own 12v. charger, a 4.5hp. Honda belt driving a Denso alt. (engine runs at ~2700rpm)
I chose the Denso as it was external regulated. This allowed the use of a Bosch 55 electronic regulator which can be adjusted to 14.7v. This charges the battery to 90+% charge compared to a standard regulator ~70% charge.
I think the Christie unit uses a conventional internal regulated Bosch which will not charge above ~70%.
With our new van, which has more requirement for 240v. I bought a Honda eu10i gen. and a 240v., 3stage 20a. charger. This does an excellent job of getting the batteries to 100% charge and runs barely above the "eco throttle" speed. Interestingly, fuel consumption of both is almost identical, ~ 0.6l/hr.
We mostly remote bush camp, but with the 240v. gen. mounted under a canopy in the back of the truck it is difficult to hear it running from 60m. away. The home made one (I made a muffler from 2 oil filter cases welded together) is a little louder, but at lower revs is also not intrusive.
If you reqire more info. on the home built unit (or pics.) I can email to you.
llandro