Electrical - Install second battery charger

[smr547]

Proposal

Our portable genset can output 2.2kW but we have only one 40A charger (rated at about 0.6kW). A second battery charger would increase our charging capacity to 80A or very nearly the output of the main engine alternator. 1.2kW of charge capacity gives just over 50% utilisation of the portable genset)

• Second Enerdrive 40A unit

Benefits

• reduced usage of the main engine for charging
• redundancy for battery charging

Cost/Payback

• budget=$800 installed for 40A

• Assuming $25/hr to use main engine, payback time is 32 hours of main engine usage.

Proposal should be considered as part of an 12V electrical upgrade which includes solar panels (see #83)

I'd be interested in @pcbaston comments

[pcbaston]

Depends on how the Portable Genset is used/to be used. It was bought for an emergency and use is sporadic at best due to the requirement to de-store it, set it up and operate with petrol. Far easier to start the engine! If it was permanently installed, with just a changeover switch to operate, I expect it would be used more frequently.