How bad are converters on batteries?
I'm finishing up my first trip out and about to put the trailer into storage for the next 4-5 months. I have indoor climate controlled storage with power available. My question is how bad will a moder...
Forum Discussion
Well.. you stated a modern 3-stage converter.
A good 3-stage will baby your batteries and not damage them at all.
HOWEVFER, that said yes, there are failure modes.. The most COMMON failure mode for the converter most likely to fail is "Wont' go into Bulk (or Boost) mode,, This will not damage your batteries.. Just takes forever to re-dcharge when you are using the RV.
There are other failure modes however
NO CHARGE, period, total failure of converter.. This Short term, won't hurt anything but the batteries over time will run down
And the other failure mode which is very rare is over voltage (Leaky pass transistor for examnple) this will boil the batteries dry over time, and if allowed to continue can, in theory, cause a minor explosion and a major fire.
But,,,, in 12 years of cursing the forums.. I have NEVER heard of that from a modern 3 stage converter. Only from one that was discontinued last century and then no fires.. Just dry batteries.
A good 3-stage will baby your batteries and not damage them at all.
HOWEVFER, that said yes, there are failure modes.. The most COMMON failure mode for the converter most likely to fail is "Wont' go into Bulk (or Boost) mode,, This will not damage your batteries.. Just takes forever to re-dcharge when you are using the RV.
There are other failure modes however
NO CHARGE, period, total failure of converter.. This Short term, won't hurt anything but the batteries over time will run down
And the other failure mode which is very rare is over voltage (Leaky pass transistor for examnple) this will boil the batteries dry over time, and if allowed to continue can, in theory, cause a minor explosion and a major fire.
But,,,, in 12 years of cursing the forums.. I have NEVER heard of that from a modern 3 stage converter. Only from one that was discontinued last century and then no fires.. Just dry batteries.
