SAILOR CH4656: GMDSS 24 V/10 A charger and its seat on the ship

The GMDSS complex has an unsightly but critical detail: as long as the marine network is alive, the emergency batteries must be fully ready for the moment the network disappears. This work is performed on many ships. SAILOR CH4656 Industrial charger Thrane & Thrane Cobham, designed for this mode: for years to keep the reserve recharged, without requiring attention.

What is the device?

The CH4656 is a steel marine appliance powered by a 230V AC onboard network with an allowable range of 176–264V at 50/60Hz, which is important for ships with unstable generator voltage. The output voltage is regulated in the range of 26.8-28.8 V DC, the total current is up to 10 A. The device charges both open and sealed lead batteries, and under the lid there is a potentiometer of accurate adjustment of the output. Passport of the device - in PDF on the product card.

Why four exits?

The CH4656 has four separate lines. Corporate guidance describes their application for power supply connected equipment in a UPS configuration with a battery. These are not four independent chargers for arbitrary battery packs. Load distribution, protection and operation in case of malfunction are checked according to the documentation and scheme of a particular installation.

Stress under the lid: how to set the right

The CH4656 maintenance voltage is adjusted to 26.8-28.8 V as required by the battery manufacturer. The position of the regulator is determined by documentation and control by a specialist. The words AGM, GEL, or “open battery” alone are not enough to assign an exact value; the regulator is located under the cover.

Where the device is in the reserve circuit

The guide provides for the use of a battery charger in the UPS configuration. The behavior of the entire installation during the disappearance and restoration of the network depends on its circuitry, battery and loads; universal transition without pauses is not guaranteed here. The location, attachment, access to connections and operating conditions are selected according to the applicable documentation.

Three typical editing errors that are expensive to fix. The first is a thin or long wire to the batteries: voltage is lost on it, and the terminals receive less than what the device shows. The second is the common terminals with a power load: start-ups and throws of another consumer “pump” the charge voltage. The third is unmarked lines: after a couple of years of shifts, no one remembers which fuse is responsible for what, and any diagnosis turns into excavations.

What to check at reception and navigation

A short checklist that covers most inspection and common sense matters. First, the voltage at each of the four exits under load - it must correspond to the exposed mode. Secondly, the condition of all fuses and spares in return - on the ship they should lie nearby, not on the base. Third, the date and condition of the batteries themselves: the charger does not treat a degraded battery, and the inspector distinguishes this. Finally, line marking: each exit is signed, where it goes - in an emergency, this saves hours.

How to order

Write the ship, the type of batteries and a list of appliances that should be hanging on reserve - confirm completeness, availability in stock and the time before shipment. CH4656 is now available, and Navtex SAILOR 6390 with panel and antenna Positions from the adjacent Bridge Reserve Regiment.

Practical materials: CH4656: Network alarm and battery control · Replacement CH4656: what to agree on before sending

SAILOR CH4656 with Marine Power Supply

For a vessel with a repair station in Kaliningrad, the CH4656 charger is included in the list together with the existing battery equipment and the load connected. It is useful to keep the full designations, diagram and list of changing parts. This information allows you to agree on a specific set and required documents.

When receiving equipment in Svetloi for work in the Baltic, spread the supply of the device, the necessary connections and the envisaged work. For several sides, keep separate lines for each set. So the decision can be reproduced in the further purchase, while maintaining the binding of equipment to the marine system.