These are typically used in certain telecommunication and off-grid applications. Which one do I need?Ī standard converter is applicable in situations where you want to power 12V devices directly, without the use of a battery. Using a charger that is not designed to recharge a loaded battery can damage the battery. I recommend contacting to the manufacturer of the charger if there is any doubt. In my research I have found that most multi-stage chargers are converter/chargers, even if not labeled as such. Not all multi-stage battery chargers are designed to charge a battery that is being drawn from at the same time. What is a converter/charger?Ī converter/charger is designed to safely and fully recharge your batteries while maintaining your DC loads simultaneously. Overcharging or leaving your batteries undercharged is detrimental to the longevity of the battery. This multi-stage process is crucial to not only fully charge your batteries, but to prevent overcharging. This stage is designed to output a constant low voltage at a low amperage. The Float stage is the final charging stage. This stage will output constant voltage with the amperage decreasing until the battery reaches full charge. The second stage of charging is Absorption. This stage will output full amperage with increasing voltage until the batteries hit a set voltage threshold. The Bulk stage is the first stage of charging. Most multi-stage chargers on the market go through three stages. During this multi-stage algorithm, the charging voltage and amperage output will vary depending on the state of charge of the battery. What is a charger?Ī charger is essentially a converter with a sophisticated multi-stage charging algorithm. This flat voltage is just enough to sustain your 12V batteries and the DC devices that run off them, but this can be a recipe for shortened battery life. For example, 12V converters typically output a flat 13.5VDC. A standard converter outputs a single voltage, up to its specified amperage rating. These 12VDC devices are advantageous because there is less of a power draw compared to their 120VAC counterparts. We need this DC voltage to power various 12VDC devices such as lighting, fans, refrigerators, etc. In most RV, marine, and off-grid applications we are going from 120VAC to 12VDC. Simply stated, a converter takes AC voltage and converts it to DC voltage. In some cases more than one option will work for you, while in others there is a clear choice. I am going to go over the differences and similarities between them. Are you having trouble understanding the differences between converters, battery chargers, and converter/chargers? Well, you are not alone.
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