is the convertor supposed to charge the batteries?

The OP has a problem somewhere, but it's not the 7300 causing it.

The 7300 is a switch mode that does not need the battery as filter like the dreaded 6300s. The 7300 is an excellent converter, single stage 13.8v. Ours in the 2003 trailer is still going strong. I have had it doing 56 amps when used as a straight power supply. It does not buzz and it has a quiet fan that comes on only when needed.

The 7300 isn't a good charger for batteries that need 14v+ of course, so one option is to keep the 7300 for when on shore power as your converter, but use another charger for battery charging. EG you can add a deck mount converter up front close to the batteries, or use a portable charger such as the VEC1093DBD. You don't need to yank the 7300 from under the fridge or wherever they stuck it if you are putting a deck mount up front. You can have both.

Converters come in basically 3 or 3.1 flavors

Worst: Magnetek 6300 is a Ferroresonate converter very poor voltage regulation, designed for 110 or 115 volt input with today's 120 volt line voltages it will boil your batteries dry fairly fast in most cases.. no longer made, sold out to...

Parallex, the 7300 is a single stage converter (see note next paragraph) Which has decent regulation, now depending on the precise setting this unit may well never bring your batteries to full charge, it can not, no single stage can.

The Point one is the Parallex 7300T (Song title: Tea for Two) this is a 2 stage timer controlled converter.. It might hit full, might not.

Finally we have 3-stage converters. WFCO (cheap product of China) IOTA with IQ-4 (Rated best or #2 depending on the user) and the Progressive Dynamics Charge Wizard these can be #1 or #2 depending on options. The 9200, for example, by itself (And all the other lines with built in charge wizard) is the same as the IQ-4,, add the optional DONGLE to make it better for users who know how to use the dongle. (If you do not know how to use the dongle, forget it).

I have a 9180 with wizard (same as a 9280 with dongle) none better made.

Note: Models in this "Best" line are examples only, there are several (Too many to list) that I can think of and several I've likely never heard of, any good 3-stage converter will fit in the 1,2 or 3 rating.

What makes a 1 or 2 or 3?

Any 3-stage converter is by default a #3 or better rating
Add an additional feature (other than manual equalize) such as temperature compensation. (My Xantrex prosine) or auto equalize) the Charge Wizard) and you move to #2 or better,, Add full manual control (The dongle) and you hit #1.

To answer your question, in most installations the converter is used to provide the 12v power to the accessories and lights in the RV and to charge the house battery. If there is no 120VAC power available, the house battery supplies the 12V power. If there is 120VAC available the converter turns on, supplies the power and charges the battery.

I side with those who recommend replacing the old transformer style Parallax with a modern multi-stage converter. The small separate charger can be a good idea for keeping a float charge on the batteries but it's normally too small to achieve the rapid recharge that you want in an RV that may only have power for a couple of hours a day.

Brian

smkettner wrote:
Verify 120vac in and 13.6vdc out.

If it works you have an open circuit to the battery.

If it fails to provide 13.6vdc out then replace with Progressive Dynamics 4645.



Actually just replace the lousy 7300 working or not. :B

X2

If it's only to be used as a converter, wouldn't a switching power supply work well for this application? And how many amps max are needed at any given time?

http://www.12voltpowersupplies.us/

Anon, are your batteries and converter close to one another, or far apart like with so many factory installs?

If they're far apart, may I recommend using a power supply as a converter. Charging from the other end of the rig means needing long heavy cable between converter and batts.

Verify 120vac in and 13.6vdc out.

If it works you have an open circuit to the battery.

If it fails to provide 13.6vdc out then replace with Progressive Dynamics 4645.



Actually just replace the lousy 7300 working or not. :B

Uhh, Parallax Converter was formed out of the sale of BW Magnetek years and years ago. See my post about the old Magnetek converters, below.

Somebody either neutered your converter (if it's the old style)or the 50 watt ceramic resistor blew. It it were my rig I would fall to my knees and bless the heavens that the unit is inoperative and never has had the chance to have it's way with the batteries.

A CONVERTER changes 120volts to 12volts (charges batteries)

An INVERTER changes 12volts to 120volts (and really drains batteries)