Batteries or Converter-Charger

BFL13 wrote:


Here in BC, we also need those higher voltages though. I like my adjustable voltage PowerMax unit, which lets me pick whatever voltage I want for charging or floating depending on the prevailing temps at the time.

OK, how 'aboot' North of the 45th Parallel.

I don't need to 'pick' Voltages because my chargers are automatic temp-compensationg. That is why I say I have no problem leaving them unattended. I would leave them unattended N of the 45th and in LA. This means 365/24/7, not for a few hours before needing to recheck and reset or disconnect the charger.

This in conjuction with AGM batteries makes for an undeniable, irrefutable LOW maintenance situation that maximizes the R in RV.

HTH;
John

full_mosey wrote:


Oh please get a proper temperature conpensating charger for the LA climate. The charger(s) that have been recommended will dry out your batteries because they use EXCESSIVE Volts for your location. A proper charger will monitor the actual battery temperature and use the correct Volts to prevent excessive bubbling during charging.

I recommend, and continue to recommend, the Multistage 55 Amp Parallax ParaMode converter charger with Temperature Compensation.

Warm(er) batteries do not have a longer life with High Voltage chargers like the Powermax Boondocker type of charger which boosts voltage.

My AGMs charge just fine when they are 110F with Volts in the low 13s.

Many posters are from the Pacific NorthWest where temps soar up to 90F for a few minutes daily after July 4th. That is not going to result in a warm battery like you will experience in LA. They need those 14.6V, you do not.

HTH;
John

Makes sense for those who live down south in the PNW! (Which is in the USA--although not Alaska for some strange reason)

Here in BC, we also need those higher voltages though. I like my adjustable voltage PowerMax unit, which lets me pick whatever voltage I want for charging or floating depending on the prevailing temps at the time.

Unyalli wrote:
The whole RV converter topic is so dismal. The only way I can find to properly care for your batteries is a quality solar charge controller with temperature compensation or a quality inverter/charger with temperature compensation. The paramode is so close but they cap the voltage at 14.4. Uuugg!!! Why!!

I agree completely about the outperformance of solar controllers over converter/chargers. It is easy to explain when you consider that converters are primarily purposed as a power supply to provide 13.6V when connected to shore power, or a generator. Any charging function is simply a flimsy tack-on.

A solar controller is primarily a charger and is less concerned with the power supply function and could care less about the standard 13.6V found in the typical converter. There is NO correct fixed voltage for proper battery charging across a range of battery temperatures, but 14.4V certainly beats out 13.6V for a cold battery.

Since you are posting with a WY based account, I can see how you feel 14.4V is too low. FYI, my MS TS-45 PWM recorded 15.45V charging the morning we experienced 6F overnight in OKC.

For the OP in LA(Louisiana), a 14.6V fixed Voltage might be totally inappropriate for longer battery life. I wouldn't leave that charger unattended like I do with my solar controller. I would have no problem leaving the charger I recommended unattended anywhere.

HTH;
John

The whole RV converter topic is so dismal. The only way I can find to properly care for your batteries is a quality solar charge controller with temperature compensation or a quality inverter/charger with temperature compensation. The paramode is so close but they cap the voltage at 14.4. Uuugg!!! Why!!

markbrown47 wrote:
I have two 6V batteries and a WFCO 9855 55 Amp Converter-Charger. The Converter-Charger was bought on 2/3/2011. My converter-charger is kicking in and out causing the lights to dim and the heater to kick off. The batteries load tested good with an Actron Battery 100 amp load tester bought from NAPA. Do ya'll think this could be a bad converter-charger already? Tomorrow when its daylight again I am going to check all connections and look for any breakers in the DC line. Any and all thoughts are welcome.

Thanks
Mark Brown

Oh please get a proper temperature conpensating charger for the LA climate. The charger(s) that have been recommended will dry out your batteries because they use EXCESSIVE Volts for your location. A proper charger will monitor the actual battery temperature and use the correct Volts to prevent excessive bubbling during charging.

I recommend, and continue to recommend, the Multistage 55 Amp Parallax ParaMode converter charger with Temperature Compensation.

Warm(er) batteries do not have a longer life with High Voltage chargers like the Powermax Boondocker type of charger which boosts voltage.

My AGMs charge just fine when they are 110F with Volts in the low 13s.

Many posters are from the Pacific NorthWest where temps soar up to 90F for a few minutes daily after July 4th. That is not going to result in a warm battery like you will experience in LA. They need those 14.6V, you do not.

HTH;
John

markbrown47 wrote:
I have two 6V batteries and a WFCO 9855 55 Amp Converter-Charger. The Converter-Charger was bought on 2/3/2011. My converter-charger is kicking in and out causing the lights to dim and the heater to kick off. The batteries load tested good with an Actron Battery 100 amp load tester bought from NAPA. Do ya'll think this could be a bad converter-charger already? Tomorrow when its daylight again I am going to check all connections and look for any breakers in the DC line. Any and all thoughts are welcome.

Thanks
Mark Brown

Oh please get a proper temperature conpensating charger for the LA climate. The charger(s) that have been recommended will dry out your batteries because they use EXCESSIVE Volts for your location. A proper charger will monitor the actual battery temperature and use the correct Volts to prevent excessive bubbling during charging.

I recommend, and continue to recommend, the Multistage 55 Amp Parallax ParaMode converter charger with Temperature Compensation.

Warm(er) batteries do not have a longer life with High Voltage chargers like the Powermax Boondocker type of charger which boosts voltage.

My AGMs charge just fine when they are 110F with Volts in the low 13s.

Many posters are from the Pacific NortWest where temps soar up to 90F for a few minutes daily after July 4th. That is not going to result in a warm battery like you will experience in LA. They need those 14.6V, you do not.

HTH;
John

Which exact model did you get? You were talking about a 60amper (like the deck mount or the entire power centre version) but the lower portion only is a 55 amper.

Any installation hiccups? One poster said he had to file something down to get the one he bought in.

Mark,
If you take a close look inside
Suspect you will find a few capacitors not looking to healthy

My offer stands if anyone wants to get rid of their defective converters, inverters, etc..

I am happy to pay the shipping charges to get them here for spare parts

I did the plug and play replacement of my WFCO with a PD4655. It has the same features of the PD92xx series, and I didn't have to rewire anything.

There are benefits to rewiring, but I eventually moved my batteries and now have less than 3' of wire.

If I where to do a deck mount I would look at the PD92xx or Boondocker series.

markbrown47 wrote:
I guess something inside it is getting ready to go out completely though. Any thoughts?

Mark Brown

Hopefully KJ will chime in as he takes these apart routinely.