Adjustable Voltage Boondocker Converter Question

jrnymn7 wrote:
Do Randy's new adjustable boondocker converters have the initial 15 minute boost feature?

thanxx!

I dont believe they work that way but why dont you just call Randy?
You know horses mouth type answer.

Thanks, Grizzzman,

Yeah, I'm actually rather curious which model of PM Randy modded for his bpcm units? So I guess a phone call would be in order.

I just emailed him asking for selectable time at voltage limit. Default, one hour and two hour. Vamos a ver...

A built in timer would be a nice feature, for sure.

jrnymn7 wrote:
Do Randy's new adjustable boondocker converters have the initial 15 minute boost feature?

thanxx!

I understand the question where it applies to the regular converter with its internal pot and what happened there with the model that has the 15 minute thing.

However, I doubt it applies in this case, since the PowerMax PMBC (not Randy's version) has either the "stages" like a converter OR the optional external pot knob.

Since Randy has his own version of this charger, I agree he should be asked about this in some detail. He may not be familiar with the 15 minute effect on the normal ones when you adjust the internal pot.

We still don't know how to buy an older PM3 that does not have the 15 minute thing while later PM3s do seem to have it. The only reason to want one without the 15 min thing is if you intend to adjust the internal pot. Without that 15 min thing it will not go into boost unless your batts are very low. It has the same trigger for that as the WFCO. The 15 min thing came from Iota's idea, which means the ones with that (later PM3s and all PM4s) go into boost first no matter what the battery SOC is, which is what you want.

If you adjust the internal pot on a 15 min type to say 14.8 and that adjusts all voltages, then you don't want 15 min of 16 something volts until it goes to the 14.8! Without the 15 min thing the older PM3 (I have one that does this) just gets the batteries to the 14.8 you set and it stays at 14.8 forever. (So you have to shut it off once the batteries are charged up and use a different charger for a Float)

Landyacht had some problems getting the right model from those guys, same as the OP did, which is all very peculiar IMO. Most folks have no trouble with that it seems. If ordering, be very specific.

If I have to kiss a battery charger's --- to get it to charge, it's gonna get a severe case of lead poisoning before playing the part of tire wedgee behind a rear wheel. "Press this six time and whistle the theme to Exodus, to get it to do anything but sit there and grin, doesn't cut it".

Thanks BFL,

Yes, the possibility of a 16+V boost for 15 minutes is a real pain for me. In fact, I just did a 15+v top charge this past Sunday, and had to re-adjust the pot after 15 minutes, to avoid the unit going up over 16v. I've been looking for someone to install a knob on mine, for easier adjusting, seeing as the little blue pot is hard to access when the charger is inside the storage compartment. I wouldn't mind having to do the adjustment if it was easier.

And even normal charging, at say 14.8Vabs, often results in a 15.8v boost, even at an soc as low as 75%.

One thing I did discover though... it appears my modded pm4b still goes into float mode. The bank had sat for 5 weeks, and was at 12.49 ocv. That would be about 75% normally, but the amount of current accepted from the get go would indicate soc was higher than 75%. Anyhoo, I charged at 15vabs for 8 hrs on Saturday, and then drove for two hours with the gennie and charger running. At some point during that two hour drive, voltage dropped to 14.6.

The factory settings were 14.6 bulk, 13.6 abs, and 13.2 float. I had abs set at 15v, and voltage dropped 0.4v... the same spread between factory abs and float. So it appears float still functions.

It's to bad no one makes a converter to charge batteries per the battery manufacture's specifications.