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kp_utah's avatar
kp_utah
Explorer
Sep 28, 2016

Trojan T105 Batteries - Need a charger

I just replaced my 12V batteries for 2 6v T105 225AmpHour deep cycle batteries run in series to make 12v.

I have a schumacher charger that does 2/6/8 Amps. It takes forever to charge! The battery vendor says I need to use a charger whose amp rating is 10-13 percent of the AmpHours of the battery and that I need to charge it to 14.8V. That means a charger at 23Amps or more. I called the battery vendor, he wouldn't give me brand names, but said even a 20amp charger would be fine.

Ok, what charger can do that? Anything reasonable? Like under $100? I see some fancier ones (Pro-logix, Iota, Genius, etc), but they are all upwards of 199-300 and more. I am not against going there, but I was hoping to find a decent portable smart charger I could use for everything. Truck, ATVs, RV, boat, etc. Or is it best to just get one I install and leave in the system.

I plan to get a hydrometer to test the specific gravity. I read that its the best way to measure the charge.

Back the topic... A recommended charger for charging 2 Trojan T105 225AH batteries?

I have a 29.5 5th wheel - 2004 Mckenzie.

Thanks a ton in advance

16 Replies

  • This is all great stuff. Thank you so much.

    Hm... I do have two 100W Renogy panels on my roof with the Tracer 2210RN charge controller, but it is NOT doing the job (I think). So, it sounds like I might be able to upgrade my solar charge controller and solve the problem that way too. Honestly, i was thinking about the external charger to band-aid my solar defficiency.

    The tracer 2210RN proclaims to charge to 14.8V, but I am not getting that (I think). Frankly, I am not impressed. Limtied ability to control much. It is a very low end controller. What solar charge controllers would you recommend to replace this to charge effectively my Trojan T105's.

    I believe my previous 12v deep cycles were damaged by the solar charge controller, but i can't prove that.
  • RoyB wrote:
    The Progressive Dynamics PD9260C-14.8V 60 AMP model does this...

    This is a converter/charger unit that will go along with your 120VAC/12VDC Distribution Panel and is a "real" multi-voltage SMART MODE charger that works... Contact Randy at BEST CONVERTERS... The higher DC current Capacity of the PD9260C-14.8 Converter/charger will be there when you add a second group of two 6VDC GC2 batteries later on... There is no benefit of using a separate Battery charger for your new GC2 batteries. Charge them using 12V as if the two 6VDC in series are one larger 12VDC battery. Let the on-board COnverter/Charger unit do it for you...

    If you have the WFCO 8900 series Power Distribution center this PD9260C-14.8V model should fit in the bottom compartment with minimum modifications or you can mount it stand alone closer to the battery bank inside your trailer compartments... You will NOTneed to replace the Distribution Panels (Breakers and FUses)

    A typical 12VDC batteries wants to demand 17-20AMPS DC Current when hit with the smart mode BOOST 14.4-14-8 DC Voltages... Two 6VDC batteries in series would be considered a single 12VDC battery is this case...

    Most folks have been using 14.4VDC charging mode for the two GC2 6VDC batteries in series and it just takes a little more time to reach the 90% or 100% charge states...

    Just my thoughts here... I am just now changing over as well to the GC2 6V batteries and will be using my existing PD9260C-14.4VDC mode smart mode charger for my setup.

    The battery experts on here will probably have a better explaination for you...

    Roy Ken




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  • I agree on the Progressive Dynamics units. I have my 5er plugged in most of the year now. My old unit would have boiled the batteries into a melt down. With the PD I check the water every 2-3 months and top them off. Batts are 4 yrs old now and good as new.
  • For best results replace your existing converter with 55 to 70 amp PD or IOTA converter.
    Upgrade the wire if needed.

    If you get much sun... 100 to 400 watts solar would fit nicely.
    A good solar controller is very programmable to meet the specs required.
  • We use a Black & Decker 40 amp portable smart charger we purchased several years ago for occasionally equalizing our pair of 6 volt GC2 batteries. This particular model is no longer produced by B&D, Schumacher among other brands offer comparable units although I can't speak to their durability.

    We use our onboard Iota IQ4 converter to handle our battery bank's charging requirements and only use our B&D portable for charging routines outlined above. It would serve better to invest in a high quality smart converter, batteries just last so much longer when properly maintained.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    The Progressive Dynamics PD9260C-14.8V 60 AMP model does this...

    This is a converter/charger unit that will go along with your 120VAC/12VDC Distribution Panel and is a "real" multi-voltage SMART MODE charger that works... Contact Randy at BEST CONVERTERS... The higher DC current Capacity of the PD9260C-14.8 Converter/charger will be there when you add a second group of two 6VDC GC2 batteries later on... There is no benefit of using a separate Battery charger for your new GC2 batteries. Charge them using 12V as if the two 6VDC in series are one larger 12VDC battery. Let the on-board COnverter/Charger unit do it for you...

    If you have the WFCO 8900 series Power Distribution center this PD9260C-14.8V model should fit in the bottom compartment with minimum modifications or you can mount it stand alone closer to the battery bank inside your trailer compartments... You will NOTneed to replace the Distribution Panels (Breakers and FUses)

    A typical 12VDC batteries wants to demand 17-20AMPS DC Current when hit with the smart mode BOOST 14.4-14-8 DC Voltages... Two 6VDC batteries in series would be considered a single 12VDC battery is this case...

    Most folks have been using 14.4VDC charging mode for the two GC2 6VDC batteries in series and it just takes a little more time to reach the 90% or 100% charge states...

    Just my thoughts here... I am just now changing over as well to the GC2 6V batteries and will be using my existing PD9260C-14.4VDC mode smart mode charger for my setup.

    The battery experts on here will probably have a better explaination for you...

    Roy Ken