My son has 2x GC2 batteries at 232AH and a WFCO 8955 charger and it’s about 20’ from the batteries. While he also has 160W of solar he wants faster charging with the charger and 2KW gen with reduced gen run time. So I’m thinking that he needs a decent 3 stage charger for C/5 or about 50A that is mounted next to the batteries in his 5er. The new charger doesn’t necessarily need remote temperature and voltage sense probes for his usage. I have a question about the PD9245C and PD9260C chargers. The manual shows bulk and float charging but no mention of absorb charging. Did I miss something?Or recommendations for a suitable charger.

Sounds like he needs a MPPT charge controller for his solar and mounted close to the batteries. My batteries are charged by noon every day.

To some extent the battery charging is controllable with the solar and the family but not really with a 3-4 day fishing excursion with some of his buddies. By the second day more extended gen charging is required with the WFCO and I'm not sure the batteries reach 80% SOC.

We have been unplugged for 6 weeks now and no generator use. We watch TV 4 hours every night, charge the phones, laptop, notepad, and use a hair drier on the inverter every morning and the batteries are full by noon. Solar works great if it is installed correctly.

If he has the roof restate I'd simply add another 160 watts of panels.

Your son needs about 240 Watts of solar panels, and and adjustable voltage PWM charge controller that he can adjust to get 14.8v measured at the battery posts when close to fully charged.

Faster Battery Charging | Good Sam Community

grizzzman
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
CA Traveler wrote:
My son has 2x GC2 batteries at 232AH and a WFCO 8955 charger and it’s about 20’ from the batteries. While he also has 160W of solar he wants faster charging with the charger and 2KW gen with reduced gen run time. So I’m thinking that he needs a decent 3 stage charger for C/5 or about 50A that is mounted next to the batteries in his 5er.

The new charger doesn’t necessarily need remote temperature and voltage sense probes for his usage. I have a question about the PD9245C and PD9260C chargers. The manual shows bulk and float charging but no mention of absorb charging. Did I miss something?

Or recommendations for a suitable charger.

Close to the batteries is a great idea. Large wire also. And to answer your question float is 13.20 (every 21hrs bumps it to 14.4 for 15 minutes) Adsorb (if you want to call it that) is 13.6 and bulk is 14.4.

(But there are faster ways to charge off a Genny)
Good luck with your project!
RJsfishin
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
The question was about charging w/ converter, not about solar !!!!
My 9245 works great, as Doug said above.
As to the technical parts as to how much time it spends in each mode, I don't know. When I actually need the charging, it is always in bulk, and gets shut down before it ever get out of that stage. The only time it goes thru all the stages, is at home, and I seldom look at it.
doughere
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
I have a PD 9260 (with pendant) located about 2 feet from 2 6V GC's. Cables between battery and charger are battery cables from AutoZone. When starting with a depleated battery, I consistently get near 60 Amps, decreasing as charge progresses.

My PWM solar controller is also right next to the battery.

The wire size and distance can make a HUGE difference in charging.

Doug
NinerBikes
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
Your son needs about 240 Watts of solar panels, and and adjustable voltage PWM charge controller that he can adjust to get 14.8v measured at the battery posts when close to fully charged.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 13, 2016
If he has the roof restate I'd simply add another 160 watts of panels.
corvettekent
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
We have been unplugged for 6 weeks now and no generator use. We watch TV 4 hours every night, charge the phones, laptop, notepad, and use a hair drier on the inverter every morning and the batteries are full by noon. Solar works great if it is installed correctly.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2016
To some extent the battery charging is controllable with the solar and the family but not really with a 3-4 day fishing excursion with some of his buddies.
By the second day more extended gen charging is required with the WFCO and I'm not sure the batteries reach 80% SOC.
corvettekent
Explorer
Mar 13, 2016
Sounds like he needs a MPPT charge controller for his solar and mounted close to the batteries. My batteries are charged by noon every day.

Forum Discussion

Faster Battery Charging

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Faster Landing Gear

Battery charging

Battery charging

battery charging

Battery charge versus remaining usable charge