Iota DLS-55-X Experience
As part of my upcoming solar install I'll be adding a new converter/charger closer to the batteries. My WFCO power center is in the rear of the trailer and the batteries are in the front. After readi...
Forum Discussion
14.4 versus 14.8 -- either good enough if enough power pedestal time is available. Time spent at absorbsion limit is just as important.
On grid versus length of time spent off grid. All the difference in the world.
"Works For Me" is about as absurd a term as any in existence if qualifying conditions are not clearly spelled out. A rig that hops from pedestal to pedestal is as different as one that serves as weekend warrior duty is from a true long term off-grid hermit rig.
So simply stating my "Mother Fletcher Do It Itself (with dingle dongle) is perfect! Couldn't ask for a better charger!"
Is useless because it does not define the environment in which it is used. Nor does it qualify the gizmo as being able to fully charge the batteries in the environment in which it is used.
Not flattening the batteries in six days use is a far cry from guaranteeing that used with a generator the charger can fully recharge the batteries without running the generator into the early morning hours.
Only the battery itself can accurately reveal if it's charged or not.
Most folks on this forum seem to be weekend warriors. Yet for the high percentage of non-critical durability in time off-grid there sure seems to be a lot of complaints. What is missing and is needed are reports of the state of charge of the battery just before the converter gets to suckle on a power pedestal. It ain't too cool to return home with battery voltage at 11.40 volts. Despite the fact the converter spent time being charged by a generator. All this information is lacking in some of these recollections and opinions.
"Well the lights didn't go out this time" does not get high marks for determining how long a battery is going to last. When I camped overnight or for a weekend on a tourist beach down here, I used to grimace at seeing rigs totally blacked out at 8:00PM until a generator was jump started. When asked to join in a community beach campfire I could predict what a majority of gossip time would be spent on.
I never gave these folks the slightest hint as to what my profession was. I would retire to my rig and open a thick paperback.
On grid versus length of time spent off grid. All the difference in the world.
"Works For Me" is about as absurd a term as any in existence if qualifying conditions are not clearly spelled out. A rig that hops from pedestal to pedestal is as different as one that serves as weekend warrior duty is from a true long term off-grid hermit rig.
So simply stating my "Mother Fletcher Do It Itself (with dingle dongle) is perfect! Couldn't ask for a better charger!"
Is useless because it does not define the environment in which it is used. Nor does it qualify the gizmo as being able to fully charge the batteries in the environment in which it is used.
Not flattening the batteries in six days use is a far cry from guaranteeing that used with a generator the charger can fully recharge the batteries without running the generator into the early morning hours.
Only the battery itself can accurately reveal if it's charged or not.
Most folks on this forum seem to be weekend warriors. Yet for the high percentage of non-critical durability in time off-grid there sure seems to be a lot of complaints. What is missing and is needed are reports of the state of charge of the battery just before the converter gets to suckle on a power pedestal. It ain't too cool to return home with battery voltage at 11.40 volts. Despite the fact the converter spent time being charged by a generator. All this information is lacking in some of these recollections and opinions.
"Well the lights didn't go out this time" does not get high marks for determining how long a battery is going to last. When I camped overnight or for a weekend on a tourist beach down here, I used to grimace at seeing rigs totally blacked out at 8:00PM until a generator was jump started. When asked to join in a community beach campfire I could predict what a majority of gossip time would be spent on.
I never gave these folks the slightest hint as to what my profession was. I would retire to my rig and open a thick paperback.
