Boondocker converter setting
Maybe this is a silly question, but heck, i’ve asked my share, so... I have a Boondocker converter (the modified one with the adjustable voltage dial). Question is, what voltage do I set it at - th...
Forum Discussion
Basically the batteries call the shots, not the charger. Read the Rolls & Surrette user manual. Study it.
A real battery like a Rolls reacts differently to different lifestyles. The milder and less frequent the discharges the less aggressive you must be about charging.
Do you have a Francis Freas hydrometer? It is a must so you can measure accurately the state of charge of the battery. You do not need to use it every time you charge. You need it to find the correct settings for the boondocker. There is no alternative to this. Any other way is guesswork.
Set the charger to 14.8 volts.
Let the boondocker do it's thing
If the battery cells are bubbling too vigorously at the end of the charge the voltage setting is too high. Back it down to 14.4 the next charge. Light bubbling at the end of the Bulk + absorbsion cycles indicates full charge. Test one cell. Is it indicating full charge.
Back the voltage setting down a tenth of a volt at a time until the light bubbling minimizes but the batteries indicate full charge. Whatever it takes. No smart charger on the face of the earth can do what you are doing.
If the batteries bubble lightly but the hydrometer indicates say 1.265 volts, back the voltage down .2 volt but INcrease the length of time spent charging my 20 minutes.
Does the hydrometer agree that the batteries are fully charged?
You need to test a single cell for this.
When you find the formula you are finished with the hydrometer for a long while. Put it away.
Then enjoy a good converter and a superb battery. When people are fumbling buying another set of "the low-priced-spread" batteries, you will be relaxing... :)
A real battery like a Rolls reacts differently to different lifestyles. The milder and less frequent the discharges the less aggressive you must be about charging.
Do you have a Francis Freas hydrometer? It is a must so you can measure accurately the state of charge of the battery. You do not need to use it every time you charge. You need it to find the correct settings for the boondocker. There is no alternative to this. Any other way is guesswork.
Set the charger to 14.8 volts.
Let the boondocker do it's thing
If the battery cells are bubbling too vigorously at the end of the charge the voltage setting is too high. Back it down to 14.4 the next charge. Light bubbling at the end of the Bulk + absorbsion cycles indicates full charge. Test one cell. Is it indicating full charge.
Back the voltage setting down a tenth of a volt at a time until the light bubbling minimizes but the batteries indicate full charge. Whatever it takes. No smart charger on the face of the earth can do what you are doing.
If the batteries bubble lightly but the hydrometer indicates say 1.265 volts, back the voltage down .2 volt but INcrease the length of time spent charging my 20 minutes.
Does the hydrometer agree that the batteries are fully charged?
You need to test a single cell for this.
When you find the formula you are finished with the hydrometer for a long while. Put it away.
Then enjoy a good converter and a superb battery. When people are fumbling buying another set of "the low-priced-spread" batteries, you will be relaxing... :)
