On Wed, 02 Jun 2004 13:43:14 -0000, Larry W4CSC
wrote:
Unless you're all using submarine 6250AH cells, I doubt you'll ever see
100A coming out of a 100A charger, especially these new computerized-charge
models. If the battery is THAT dead, there's no sense charging it.

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Larry, with all due respect, that's total BS and you of all people
should know better.

It is safe in the bulk charge phase (below 80% of full charge) to
recharge at 25% of the battery banks Amp-hour capacity. That means
that any run of the mill battery combination that yields 400AH of
capacity can safely accept a 100 amp charge rate. My old boat had 4
golf cart batts in series-parallel equaling 440AH of capacity. My 3
phase Heart Interface charger routinely recharged at 100+ amps during
the bulk charge phase with no heating or excessive electrolyte
consumption (the generator was straining however). The batteries were
routinely recharged this way 50 or 60 times a year over a 4 year
period. The battery bank was still in excellent condition when I sold
the boat.