Samlex Charger

[Jafo]

I have two, 200 AH LiFePO4 batteries for my battery bank at the yurt. During the spring and summer, the solar panels charge them pretty much 100% of the time. I never need a generator. They just have so much capacity that I can go 2-3 days without sun and that is unusual here.

However, fall and winter are totally different. We are East of lake Ontario and that basically means once those seasons arrive, it is cloudy 75% of the time.

For a while I only had a small 11amp charger and to charge my batteries from 50% would take 20 hours sometimes. I began looking for a better solution and came across Samlex chargers after a bunch of HAMs recommended them to me. Who knows this kind of stuff better than amateur radio operators right?

These are basically no-frills, simple chargers that are rock solid. You won't find them loaded up with blue-tooth connectivity, communication ports, apps, etc.. Just two basic analog volt/amp meters and two buttons. I just got my 80 amp one installed this week and I had to post here after using it for a few days because I am just super impressed.

First of all, extremely solid construction. It looks like it was built for a tank. All metal case with heat sinks along either side. When you turn this thing on, the generator knows it! It charges my bank now between 20-25% capacity PER HOUR. I can't tell you how much this eases my mind. I love working from my yurt, but as a developer I must have electricity to be able to function. Now that I have Starlink, this was the last piece of the puzzle that allows me to work without worry.

Anyway, just figured I would share:

https://amzn.to/3zIR0a0

[Bob Rowlands]

I read the reviews which are 82% positive. The two I read that raised a flag were about runaway charging leading to battery overheat. I know zip about electronics but I DO know overheat will definitely kill a battery. Battery overheat sensor might be good idea? Just sayin.

[Jafo]

It does come with a temperature probe, though my application doesn't need it. I think some of the earlier models did not.

I use it strictly as a bulk charger. Just to get the bank to 95% or so and that's it.

[Bob Rowlands]

Cool. Thanks for the link.