If your EBL only charges for one hour then it must be a very old one and should be binned anyway.
It is the standard EBL99. Original equipment on my late 2010 Globecar Globescout. I don't consider it old. It was a popular unit, and must still be giving reliable service in thousands of vans.
Of course there have been continuing product improvements since then, but I've studied the block diagrams of the latest versions and little has actually changed, the original architecture was well thought out.
I am an electronics engineer, but specialised in a different field. I'd not troubled to learn about this stuff previously, just assumed that Globecar/Dethleffs/Schaudt knew what they were doing and it was as good as it gets. Assuming that it "just works" Seems not.
The chargers have become more sophisticated, as expected, just as
battery technology has moved on, together with knowledge of how best to use lead acid technology, and the deficiencies of AGM have become apparent. At the time they were supposed to be the best thing, but that seems to have turned out to be hype.
The integral charger is the LAS 1216, rated at 16A. It starts off charging at full current, or at least as much as the batteries can accept, until 14.3 V is reached, then it either does a 1 hour "equalisation charge" at 14.3 V (standard setting), or for 8 hours (gel setting). It can only charge up to 14.3V This is adequate for wet cells, but not ideal for gel, or AGM, which really need higher voltages to charge them properly. After that fixed time it drops back to 13.8V float, which is a maintenance level but not enough to put in any more significant charge.
Sorry if I was unclear.
The 1 hour vs. 8 is the period during which final percentage of charge goes into the
battery once it has reached 14.3V. As soon as the voltage falls back to 13.8V, little additional charging will happen. From some things I have read, 1 hour at 14.3V isn't long enough to top up a
battery completely. Hence my query.
Just as 14.3V is not high enough to properly charge AGMs, which should never have been fitted originally. They are not compatible, even on the 8 hour gel setting. The gel setting is also not really compatible with gel cells, they also need a higher charging voltage. All the setting does is extend the charge to 8 hours, which might squeeze some more in, but never fully charge them. I suspect it was bodged on. To my mind the charger is only really suitable for wet cells, which I have now. I'm hoping that it will do a better job with these.
My query is whether my new Varta LFD90 batteries (wet cell), or other such things, would be damaged by regular exposure to 8 hours at 14.3 V. I don't see why they should, this is similar to what they will be getting from the alternator, for as many hours as the engine runs, just as the starter
battery does. They are dual use, rated as a good starter
battery (actually I also replaced my nine year old one (not complaining at that) with the same Varta, standardisation, so it's been an expensive £300 month). Hence why I want to maintain them as best I can.
The Vartas are claimed to have a unique gallery with catalyst, together with lead metallurgy that eliminates gassing under all normal usage, basically sealed, so suitable for un vented installation, essential for my van where they are fitted beneath the driver's seat. No venting tubes (unless I drilled holes in the floor). Nevertheless they came with both gas ports plugged, and a stern warning that one should be removed before use. For backside protection I guess, in case things go wrong.
Installing them requires taking the seat off, including disconnecting the wiring to the seatbelt tensioner pyrotechnics , then the seat swivel, so they have to be fit-and-forget. Slightly worrying when putting it all back together, Re-connecting the seatbelt wiring particularly. It's a big job that requires some non-standard wrenches to fit into very restricted access, that I'm not looking forward having to do again. Goodness knows what a dealer would charge to do it.
Interestingly the OEM starter
battery has no obvious venting arrangement, and is a traditional wet one with screw plugs that allow you to inspect electrolyte levels and top up if necessary. Still, it's fitted in a semi-sealed well, albeit inside the van. Fiat must think that's good enough. Would still have preferred to see a vent tube going outside the van.
I realise that there are more sophisticated chargers nowadays, but I would prefer not to have to buy one to add on to the existing Electroblock even though it is already set up with the connections for it. If I can make do with what I've got and not abuse my new batteries I'll be happy. My EBL is working just well as the day I bought the van. It's just that I now know more about its strengths and weaknesses now. I'm certainly not going to bin it.
Succinctly, should I select the gel setting in preference to the standard setting to ensure a full charge with my modern wet cell batteries ? Would there be any downside to this ? Or would it really be worth the cost of adding a more sophisticated charger (an easy job, the EBL has a socket to just plug one in). Bearing in mind that my new batteries cost £200 for two, even if they don't last quite as long on the EBL charger, how many years would it take to break even and recoup the (I'm guessing steep) costs of adding a new charger, rather than just changing the batteries a little sooner ?
FYI, these are the characteristics of the LAS 1216 charger:
Battery charging ...
... on mains supply
camping
battery:
charging characteristic * IUoU
maximum charging voltage * 14.3V
charging current * 16A within mains supply range, electronically limited
floating voltage * 13.8V (automatic change-over)
new charging cycle
(change-over to boost-charge) * if
battery voltage < approx. 13.8V (approx. 5 sec delay)
3-phase characteristic:
* boost-charge at 16A
(arithmetic mean, electronically limited)
up to maximum charging voltage,
* then equalize-charge at constant 14.3V
(selectable: 1h duration for lead-acid,
8h duration for lead-gel batteries),
* then automatic change-over to float-charge at 13.8V
If due to high loads the 13.8V floating voltage can't be provided the
battery charger switches
over from float- to boost-charge after a delay of approx. 5 sec.
...
starter
battery:
charging current * trickle-charge of starter
battery with max. 2A
