BeeHive Series

Universal Switch-Mode

Battery Chargers & Power Supplies  

• Advanced Design with NASA developed Switch-Mode Circuitry and High Performance Industrial Specifications.
• Suitable for all Lead-Acid Batteries,  the German Sonnenschein Dryfit & other sealed & Gel type Batteries.
• Robust Industrial Quality with AS3193 / AS3696-14 Australian Standards & C-Tick Approval
• Unbeatable Power & Value for Money - less for quantities!.
• Extremely Small, Lightweight & Compact. Perfect for Mobile, Marine, Solar/Generator or Workshop applications.
• Ideal for Marine, 4WD, Electric Vehicles, Caravans, UPS, Medical, Solar/Generator, deep-cycling/cranking Batteries!
• Exceptionally Flexible Input Voltage Ranges: Including 90-260VAC & 150-350DC on some models!
• Travellers, Aviators & Mariners can use many models including the 1208 & 2404 Chargers anywhere Overseas!
• Buy with Confidence - Now, fully guaranteed for up to 2 Years!

  Please Note: Evolutionary product development means specifications can change without notice! Check with us for up-to-date specifications.

  Standard Switch-mode CHARGERS (larger units also available)			MODEL Number	Maximum recommended battery Amphour capacities* per charger use		Dimensions in mm:			Weight in Kg
  Volts	Amps	Watts		Normal	Light	L	W	H
  12	2.25	32	BH-1202	6Ah	12Ah	console/plugpack			.4
  	4	58	BH-3T-1204	25Ah	50Ah	Metal case 150 x 110 x 40			.9
  	8	100	BH-2S-1208	50Ah	100Ah	120	205	55	1.1
  	14	200	BH-3T-1214	80Ah	160Ah	168	205	55	1.6
  	25	325	BH-DP-1225	135Ah	270Ah	285	238	70	3.0
  	45	750	BH-DP-1245	240Ah	480Ah	325	230	102	5.1
  24	1.3	36	BH-2-24013	6Ah	12Ah	console/plugpack			.3
  	2.5	70	BH-3T-2403	12Ah	25Ah	Metal case 150 x 110 x 40			.9
  	4	100	BH-2S-2404	16Ah	30Ah	120	205	55	1.1
  	7	200	BH-3T-2407	35Ah	50Ah	168	205	55	1.6
  	15	325	BH-DP-2415	60Ah	100Ah	285	238	70	3.0
  	25	720	BH-DP-2425	165Ah	100Ah	325	230	102	5.1

Remember when choosing correct and appropriate batteries and battery chargers that;
 "The Laws of Physics always trump the Laws of Wishful Thinking"

In modern typical, and everyday deep-cycling applications, the minimum recommended charger would be around about 20% (not 10%) of the battery or battery bank's capacity. For example, a 100Ah battery is ideally charged with a 20Amp charger although a smaller 14Amp charger can be used if time is not a problem. (Incidentally, from a professional engineering point of view, smaller "10%" chargers are only used for charge maintence of batteries employed in float, standby or cranking applications.)

A larger charger WILL ALWAYS be necessary for charging from a generator, or for charging in a shorter time, or for charging while the batteries are being drained by other equipment like fridges, lights, etc.

It IS important to make sure you have the right type and size of charger for your particular battery and application, because..."The Laws of Physics will always trump the Laws of Wishful Thinking".

The following rule-of-thumb formulas are used by engineers and technicans to quickly calculate the approximate size of a battery charger needed to fully recharge batteries (to 100%) within a minimum available time period:

  8 hours charging time available - equals the Amphours to be replaced divided by 4
10 hours charging time available - equals the Amphours to be replaced divided by 5
12 hours charging time available - equals the Amphours to be replaced divided by 5.5

Say for example you had a 100 Amphour (Ah) battery from which you regularly took 80Ah, and you needed to replace those 80Ah in 8 hours, then 80 divided by 4 equals approximately a 20 Amp charger for charging to 100% full in 8 hours.

If you had 10 hours available, this would work out at 80 Amphours divided by 5, which equals about a 16 Amp charger.

12 hours available to replace 80Ah would need about a 14 Amp charger.

Charging times WILL vary relative to the age and condition of the battery, ambient temperature and specific electrical characteristics designed into the various types of lead-acid batteries. All battery sellers, on request, should be able to supply you with their products exact charging requirements!

Remembering again that, "The Laws of Physics will always trump the Laws of Wishful Thinking", there are extremely good technical reasons why a 4 Amp battery charger from K-Mart will never charge a very big battery in a very few hours - if ever. 

Incidentally, Car, 4WD, truck and marine alternator/regulators are usually set to about 14.4Volts. Check that they have a large enough current output (Amps), to charge an extra battery plus supply whatever other power  is needed  at the same time (heaters, air-cond, driving lights, windscreen wipers, EFI, music, etc). Some people fit larger alternators if necessary, even if it's only temporarily while they are traveling.

An Important Money-Saving Note about Charging:
All Lead Acid technology batteries need to be kept fully charged as much as possible. They must not be deliberately flattened or left uncharged or under-charged. They must be charged as soon as possible after use and kept charged with a correct type and size charger. However, if you are feeling wealhy, you can do as you please!

   

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Battery & Charger Looms &  SB-50 quick-release connector kit & high current switches

for portable deep-cycling applications including trolling motors, etc. 

 This page is currently being updated please contact us on 1300 888 320 
for  up-to-date specifications and Sales Information or check back later.

Some larger BH-1225, 1245, 2415 & 2425 models are available with Dual Outputs for charging two seperate batteries or battery banks at the same time.

Suitable for automatically charging just about all lead-acid, wet or sealed, deep-cycle or cranking batteries, they are especially recommended for high-specification, recombinant electrolyte, sealed lead-acid, gel and AGM batteries like the German Sonnenschein Dryfits, HAZE Gels and Ultimate AGMs, etc.

Their DC (Direct Current) voltage output is very clean with virtually no residual AC (Alternating Current) ripple (100-200 mV (milliVolts)). The outputs of most models are also electronically protected against, or resistant to, short circuit, reverse-polarity connection &extremely deeply discharged batteries. Ask us for details.

BeeHive BH-3T-1214  12Volt 14Amp Battery Charger

In the 2-stage models, the current sensing circuit switches the charger into the higher voltage "Boost Mode" and turns the Boost Charging Indicator LED on, when the batteries are low and hence drawing higher current. As the battery fills and the current drops below a pre-set level, the Boost Indicator LED goes out and the charger will automatically switch to the normal lower voltage "Float or Trickle Mode". This will stop the battery from "cooking" or "gassing" and prevent damage. Effectively, this means  batteries that are known to be good, can be left connected to the charger indefinitely. That is, as long as they are not being 'loaded', or in other words, not being used to power equipment like a fridge, lights, bilge pumps, etc or other equipment on a continual basis.

In some 'loading' applications it is necessary to disable the "Auto-Boost Mode" to allow the charger to also be used as a PSU (Power Supply Unit). This is an inexpensive custom modification. Also, most models can be fitted with a keyswitch to quickly change from the "Boost & Float Mode" to the "Float & Power Supply Mode" and back again." see text below

   

BeeHive Series DP 3-Stage Chargers

BeeHive DP Series 3-Stage Battery Chargers use a tri-colour LED to indicate which mode they are operating in at any given time. 

They also feature dual outputs, programable boost voltage time-out timers and programable boost voltages. 

An optional Remote Control/Mimic Panel Assy can be connected to the front panel via a supplied Cat 5 Cable with a RJ45 connector .

BASIC  OPERATION

1ST STAGE: When the LED is RED, the charger is in the initial, Constant Current (Bulk) Stage. The rear-mounted ventilation fan automatically begins. While in this mode the batteries are being charged at the charger's maximum available current. The charger remains in this mode until the charging current drops to approx 80% of it's rated current, and the charging voltage has risen to approx  2.4V or 2.45V per cell (depending on the front panel switch setting). At this point, the charger moves on to the next charging stage which is the Constant Voltage Boost (Absorption) Mode: LED = YELLOW.

2ND STAGE: When the LED has changed to YELLOW, the charger is in the Constant Voltage Boost (Absorption) Stage. The rear-mounted ventilation fan continues automatically. This boost voltage stage will automatically time-out after either 4 or 8 hours (depending on the front panel switch setting) to prevent any possibility of battery damage through 'cooking' or 'gassing'. 

While in this stage the charger will maintain a constant boost voltage of either 2.4V or 2.45V per cell (depending on the front panel switch setting. The boost can also be turned off - if required - using this switch). The charger remains in this higher voltage boosting stage until the charging current drops to approx 10% of the charger's rated current. Or, until it times out, which ever is first - the time-out can also be set to 0 hours. At this point, the charger moves on to the next charging stage which is the Constant Voltage Float (Trickle or Normal): LED = GREEN.

Ask us for details.