Charging trailer deep cycle batteries
Hi all, I have a 2004 HR Alumascape which has given me 18 years of fun. We mostly dry camp. Usually I run the 2000W Yamaha generator every 2 or 3 days for a couple of hours to keep the batteries ch...
Forum Discussion
Parallax 7355 is a fixed voltage or single stage converter, it will be preset to around 13.6-13.8V. The charge current tapers quickly because of the fixed output voltage of the converter.
As the battery recharges the battery voltage rises, eventually it will get up to 13.6 or so volts and when that happens the charge current drops down to .5A or less..
If the converter had a higher output voltage then you would see a higher current.. But then you would have the issue of too high of voltage for normal use and the result is boiled to death batteries.
As it is with the fixed voltage if you left it plugged in 24/7/365 you would be burning up batteries constantly.
Your 10A charger may help some depending on the max output voltage but I doubt it will be enough to make it worth the hassle to hookup and disconnect every time you wanted to recharge.
Might be a good time to consider a multistage converter?
Something like a PD92xx with Charge Wizard.. With Charge wizard it can deliver 14.4V in bulk mode.. You can get PDs as a lower portion replacement (you pull out the old Parallax and the replacement fits in the same bay) or you can buy a deckmount version you can mount nearby to the breaker and fuse panel and disconnect the old converter.
The nice thing about modern multistage converters is they can go into storage mode (13.2V) when not in use, into a higher voltage 13.8V for in use or Bulk mode 14.4V as needed.. Storage mode saves a lot on water use, cuts down on boiled to death batteries.
As the battery recharges the battery voltage rises, eventually it will get up to 13.6 or so volts and when that happens the charge current drops down to .5A or less..
If the converter had a higher output voltage then you would see a higher current.. But then you would have the issue of too high of voltage for normal use and the result is boiled to death batteries.
As it is with the fixed voltage if you left it plugged in 24/7/365 you would be burning up batteries constantly.
Your 10A charger may help some depending on the max output voltage but I doubt it will be enough to make it worth the hassle to hookup and disconnect every time you wanted to recharge.
Might be a good time to consider a multistage converter?
Something like a PD92xx with Charge Wizard.. With Charge wizard it can deliver 14.4V in bulk mode.. You can get PDs as a lower portion replacement (you pull out the old Parallax and the replacement fits in the same bay) or you can buy a deckmount version you can mount nearby to the breaker and fuse panel and disconnect the old converter.
The nice thing about modern multistage converters is they can go into storage mode (13.2V) when not in use, into a higher voltage 13.8V for in use or Bulk mode 14.4V as needed.. Storage mode saves a lot on water use, cuts down on boiled to death batteries.
