Might have found charging spec's for GC2's

BFL13 I revisited Randy's site and took a look at the Boondocker Converters and see they do 14.6 bulk mode. Cool. I also see they post a link to the owners manual and can't see what conditions will put the unit into bulk mode? If my trimetric is stating 65% I want bulk mode.

Unyalli wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
There is the "home front" PowerMax PM4s with the stated specs as above (which might be out of date or wrong, perhaps referring to the PM3s)

I posted a link to their site directly. If it's out of date and woefully lacking as their entire web site seems to be then there's yer sign.

BFL13 wrote:
Randy at bestconverters, who is a PM dealer, but also makes/modifies his own versions of the PowerMax line, has his- called PM4Bs- that go to 14.6 instead of 14.4 like the older version PM3s

I believe Randy is a fine upstanding individual and deserves the high respect afforded him. But you sir, quoting custom modified specs without stating this?

I am not quoting anything but I can link to whatever you want if it is there. Randy has his specs on his site. The PowerMax folks are also upstanding, if not very adept at web info--eg they don't publish an owner's manual like some other's do. Randy's manual on his site is one he did up himself AFAIK. It gets confusing.

I suggest asking pointy questions to any dealer to make sure just which version of PM you are getting from him. eg, boatandrv sells PM3s but says they have specs like a PM4. Got to pin them down on that.

BFL13 wrote:
There is the "home front" PowerMax PM4s with the stated specs as above (which might be out of date or wrong, perhaps referring to the PM3s)

I posted a link to their site directly. If it's out of date and woefully lacking as their entire web site seems to be then there's yer sign.

BFL13 wrote:
Randy at bestconverters, who is a PM dealer, but also makes/modifies his own versions of the PowerMax line, has his- called PM4Bs- that go to 14.6 instead of 14.4 like the older version PM3s

I believe Randy is a fine upstanding individual and deserves the high respect afforded him. But you sir, quoting custom modified specs without stating this?

There is the "home front" PowerMax PM4s with the stated specs as above (which might be out of date or wrong, perhaps referring to the PM3s) while Randy at bestconverters, who is a PM dealer, but also makes/modifies his own versions of the PowerMax line, has his- called PM4Bs- that go to 14.6 instead of 14.4 like the older version PM3s

I can't say what the "real" specs are for a PowerMax PM4 and a Randy PM4B if they are different.

No, PowerMax does not want to have a remote gizmo like the Charge Wizard or IQ4. It does what it does. It (PM4s and PM4Bs) does go into boost first at whatever battery SOC and stays there for 15 minutes. If battery voltage is then still below 14.2, then it will continue in boost until 14.6v. If it is over that 14.2, it will drop to Absorption at 13.6 and do the rest of the recharge at the 'gentle rate' they believe most customers (or at least their RV makers they hope to be the original provider for instead of WFCO etc) want.

It seems the RV makers have their own ideas of what the customer needs and that is what the converter maker has to provide, never mind what the customers really want (if the customers have ever even been asked)

PM believes we who want high amp fast charging and none of this gentle stuff for the Absorption Stage are in the minority and looking at their bottom line, figure if we are that desparate, we will buy one of their adjustable voltage units they make. I did! Love it! Crank the knob to anything you like when you like! Wheee! :)

64thunderbolt wrote:
my powermax is floating @ 13.2 Bulk is around 14.8

Curious, according to their spec's they only do 14.4.


Can you force them into bulk like the progressive dynamics?

Jeff

my powermax is floating @ 13.2 Bulk is around 14.8

BFL13 wrote:
That's pretty much the same as the rest of the 6s out there. eg

http://pdf.wholesalesolar.com/battery-folder/charging_instruction_2011_2.pdf

The trick is to find a charger that will do that, when most converters only go to 14.4v. I use a VEC1093DBD which does normal charging to 14.8 and Equalizes at 15.7 all voltages temp compensated based on 77F as nominal

That document states 14.4 bulk, not enough but far better then WFCO's 13.6.

Thanks for posting.
I'm planning on using the Mexduocharge, using the Harbor freight charger and a variac. I hope they haven't changed the construction of the charger recently.

That's pretty much the same as the rest of the 6s out there. eg

http://pdf.wholesalesolar.com/battery-folder/charging_instruction_2011_2.pdf

The trick is to find a charger that will do that, when most converters only go to 14.4v. I use a VEC1093DBD which does normal charging to 14.8 and Equalizes at 15.7 all voltages temp compensated based on 77F as nominal