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azrving's avatar
azrving
Explorer
Aug 17, 2014

Converter vs Battery charger

In this corner we have the Progressive Dynamics 55 amp PD4655 weighing in at 10 lbs, running through 15 feet of 4 gauge cable. The owners manual said that the PD's boost feature should only be used to test the converter so it was left in normal mode.

In the other corner we have the Quick Charge 55 amp weighing in at 36 lbs and running through 8 feet of 8 gauge cable.

The batteries were run down equally as a set to about 12.10 and allowed to recover to 12.29 and 12.30 and separated for charging

start time 4:00 PM
Things are not lining up and I'm not good at spread sheets etc so its a time column and batt 1 column and batt 2 column and the Progressive Ind stated ac amp draw




Batt 1 Batt 2
4:00 12.29 12.30
4:42 13.32 13.99 16 amps ac
5:20 13.35 14.49 12 amps
5:48 13.39 15.05 14 amps
6:12 13.41 15.60 9 amps

Battery bank 2 (Quick charge ) is giving off a slight body odor but per the heat gun is reading 80 degrees
Bank 1 is reading 74 degrees with the ambient being about 73 or 74.

6:17 13.42 15.57
6:30 13.43 15.55 10 amps
6:53 13.46 15.52 5 amps

Starting SG was about 1.237 when starting.
Bank 1 is still close to that and bank 2 is just over 1.250 maybe 1.255
I broke my good glass hydrometer when moving recently so unfortunately this is the cheesy model.

7:04 13.47 15.51 8 amps
8:15 13.52 15.50 7 amps
8:25 13.54 13.56 3 amps

sg 1.245 sg 1.265 3 amps
8:35 13.54 13.51
8:41 13.55 13.46
9:15 13.56 13.36
9:40 13.58 13.30
switched quick charge to bank 1
9:41 13.72
10:03 15.52

30 Replies

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  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2014
    smkettner wrote:
    OK maybe PD55 needs two batteries to initiate boost.
    Second test might be to come back in a week and see where they are at.


    Interesting point. I'm topping off bank 1 with the quick charge now. When both packs are equal I'll start running them down again and check what you are saying first.

    My neighbor says "why are you always messing with that stuff"
    I said didn't you play in the sandbox as a kid!
    Because we like it!!!!
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 18, 2014
    OK maybe PD55 needs two batteries to initiate boost.
    Second test might be to come back in a week and see where they are at.
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2014
    Let me change that last sentence to "just bought one". I dont even have time for 14.4 and watching to keep boosting it. I'll use a timer as you guys said and get the hang of what it takes to run the power supply. As you said Niner, I have enough generator, use it.
    Thanks to all
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2014
    NinerBikes wrote:
    If you were camping at an RV park, plugged in 24/7, which is what all PD charge controllers are designed for, it would be a non issue.

    Boost is not recommended if you are plugged into a power pedestal, the charge controllers assumption that all of us pay to hang out at RV parks. Some of us don't do that, so our parameters are a bit different when off the grid.

    When you are dry camping or boondocking... all the parameters change. So should the instructions. Charge in Bulk mode, always, on the generator. Time = gas burned = money going out the exhaust at $4 a gallon, or thereabouts. Buying replacement batteries a little bit sooner and running boost charge is cheaper that turning gas into heat and not maximizing the boost feature when charging to make amps. Battery life lost is insignificant compared to fuel expenses running a generator at an inefficient charge rate. Bump that voltage up, charge in boost mode or bulk mode, the batteries will take it, easily.


    Battery 2, for sure, is at the kind of numbers you want to see for SG. Wish you had a real glass hydrometer. Battery 2, tomorrow, if it's never been done, is ready for Equalization process at 16V, to really clean up the Specific Gravity across all the cells. Keep charging until you get a 16.0v reading. or until your Vabs stops climbing, and then turn off the device that can get you to 16.0V. Take a SG reading then, the battery acid should be thoroughly stirred after equalization, and ready for measurement.


    Bank 2 (quick charge) as you see up above went to 15.60. It wont go any higher, in fact I usually see 15.54 max with it. The sg comes up good with the quick charge. The manual for the quick charge say do back to back charges for equalization about every month. This is about the 10 th to 12th cycle on this set of new batteries and the sg comes up real good.

    I understand the need to bump the PD into boost but when it comes right down to reading the manual they seem to contradict themselves. I realize the pd is never going to be able to do what a battery charger will do. I understand the converter is the converter. I almost bought the power supply that mex has recommended so I can have 2 sources of 15 plus volts. For $60.00 I should get one.
  • NinerBikes's avatar
    NinerBikes
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2014
    If you were camping at an RV park, plugged in 24/7, which is what all PD charge controllers are designed for, it would be a non issue.

    Boost is not recommended if you are plugged into a power pedestal, the charge controllers assumption that all of us pay to hang out at RV parks. Some of us don't do that, so our parameters are a bit different when off the grid.

    When you are dry camping or boondocking... all the parameters change. So should the instructions. Charge in Bulk mode, always, on the generator. Time = gas burned = money going out the exhaust at $4 a gallon, or thereabouts. Buying replacement batteries a little bit sooner and running boost charge is cheaper that turning gas into heat and not maximizing the boost feature when charging to make amps. Battery life lost is insignificant compared to fuel expenses running a generator at an inefficient charge rate. Bump that voltage up, charge in boost mode or bulk mode, the batteries will take it, easily.


    Battery 2, for sure, is at the kind of numbers you want to see for SG. Wish you had a real glass hydrometer. Battery 2, tomorrow, if it's never been done, is ready for Equalization process at 16V, to really clean up the Specific Gravity across all the cells. Keep charging until you get a 16.0v reading. or until your Vabs stops climbing, and then turn off the device that can get you to 16.0V. Take a SG reading then, the battery acid should be thoroughly stirred after equalization, and ready for measurement.
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Aug 18, 2014
    BFL13 wrote:
    You are supposed to add, after "Not recommended..." "...when on shore power and you have lots of time."

    You should also add after that, "When on generator and you want fast charging, always use the boost button- that is what it is for."


    Ok I wonder why they say that in the manual. They say what the boost does in the first sentence but later say its not recommended. Maybe I'm not understanding it correctly. I'll check into it more.

    I agree with you and I have used the boost button before but I figured this test would be just as it sits if I told my wife to turn it on with no special instructions or babysitting.

    Next test will be with boost function from the beginning.
    Thanks, all input is appreciated.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Aug 18, 2014
    You are supposed to add, after "Not recommended..." "...when on shore power and you have lots of time."

    You should also add after that, "When on generator and you want fast charging, always use the boost button- that is what it is for."
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2014
    When I bought the converter I was told I could use the boost button to speed up the charge by forcing it to 14.4 v and people on here say you can do that. I have said it and done it too but this is what the owners manual says:

    In the first line it says
    BOOST MODE- Indicated by green LED remaining on. The output voltage is 14.4 vdc to rapidly recharge the battery up to 90% of full charge.

    Further down the page it says
    WIZARD MODE BUTTON- The manual button has been provided to allow the operator to temporarily override the converter (NOT RECOMMENDED) or to verify the converter is operating properly. For manual operation, press and hold the button. The indicator light will soon remain "ON" indicating Boost Mode. Continue to hold the button and the light will blink rapidly indicating the converter is in the Normal Mode.
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Aug 17, 2014
    smkettner wrote:
    rjxj wrote:
    The owner said that the PD's boost feature should only be used to test the converter so it was left in normal mode.
    Why not leave the PD to choose?


    Sorry if I made it confusing.
    That's what I meant. I didn't push the boost button, just turned it on and it's doing the normal flash.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Aug 17, 2014
    rjxj wrote:
    The owner said that the PD's boost feature should only be used to test the converter so it was left in normal mode.
    Why not leave the PD to choose?

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