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CapnCampn's avatar
CapnCampn
Explorer III
May 12, 2020

PD Charge Wizard Pendant

I recently replaced my old magnatek buzzbox converter with a PD9245, and have a quick question about the Charge Wizard pendant.

Is the LED supposed to be illuminated when the trailer is not plugged in - i.e. no 120v to the converter, only running on battery?

My Charge Wizard light is on in this case, and I would think that if it's not plugged in, the light would be off. (and this would be my preference!)

Just wondering what someone else with this unit sees.

Thanks!
CC
  • Thanks for all the comments, It makes sense that the light is acting as a voltmeter - I think that's a good way to look at it.

    Although, I'd rather not look at it at all when I'm not plugged in!

    Yes, I have read the manual several times, and it never addresses the pendant behavior when power is not applied to the converter.

    I guess I'll have to rethink the pendant placement; I hate lights on - especially blinking ones! - when I'm trying to sleep.

    Thanks again!
    CC
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    The owner's manual is written by technical writers (Oh I might add this applies to dang near all owner's manuals) who may or may not be engineers but who are not the end users.... They sometimes forget little things like "The light runs off the battery not shore power" part.

    As an engineer who specializes in technical translation (Re-writing the thing in plain language).... Well.....

    It helps that I have one too.

    I have several manuals I've re-written where folks say "oh that's way too hard" after reading the official manual and then they read what I write and WOW was that easy... So far I've only one manual (Icom ID-880H) where I have not been able to do that..
  • Lwiddis wrote:
    I’m very surprised the owner’s manual doesn’t discuss LED lights and their functions.


    It does, however the owner has to read it.
  • I’m very surprised the owner’s manual doesn’t discuss LED lights and their functions.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    CapnCampn wrote:
    Is the LED supposed to be illuminated when the trailer is not plugged in - i.e. no 120v to the converter, only running on battery?


    Short answer is YES. the LED is basically a volt meter so if battery voltage is present it will either burn steady of flash.. Very low power draw. But it's always one.
  • Yes, it stays lit, and will stay solid, slow flash or fast flash depending on the charge level required for the battery(ies) even if NOT plugged into 120AC. That Wizard pendant LED takes about a mouse phart of electricity, turn it sideways if the blinking bothers you.