The Sterling Power Battery Chemistry Module is a unique device that allows a single battery charger to maintain batteries of different types (chemistries) at the same time; for example, a single charger can be used to maintain a flooded battery and a gel, AGM, or even an LFP battery.
With very few exceptions, multi-output battery chargers apply the same charging profile to all of the outputs. The outputs are isolated to protect against batteries discharging each other when the charger is off, but all are charged together. Normally, if different types of batteries are installed, they would need to have their own chargers. To accommodate this, Sterling has essentially taken the output section of a battery charger (the brains of the operation) and packaged it as a separate unit. It uses the main charger as the power supply, and applies any of 8 charging profiles, including LiFePO4 - plus a de-sulphation cycle. This saves the cost of a separate power supply, and allows up to 60A (at 12V) of charging current to the attached battery.
This is also useful where a battery is located a long distance from the main charger, as with a bow thruster or windlass bank. The long cables can result in a voltage drop at the battery, which will impact its charging efficiency. The Battery Chemistry Module, placed near the battery, will take the lower input voltage (as low as 11V), and boost it to the proper charging level.
The Battery Chemistry Module can also convert 12V to 24V.
Battery temperature compensation and a high temperature cutout are built in, as with any high quality charger. 6 LEDs indicate status and errors, and a remote display is available. Remote sensing of battery voltage to compensate for voltage drop on the feed cable is supported.
Note that this module can only be used on chargers up to 60A at 12V (or 30A at 24V), as it does not limit current. For applications where there is greater input, as with high-output alternators or large inverter-chargers, a Battery-to-Battery Charger is recommended.
