Suspected Converter Problem
Hey guys, back again. Hoping to gain some insight into an ongoing problem we've had this summer. RV is a 2004 Fleetwood Terry Quantum AX6 365FLTS. The rv came with a factory installed WFCO 8855 ...
Forum Discussion
The AGMs are out of danger and that was my concern
Words mean things :) so please read below with care. Each statement is conditional...
I had to partially SHORT CIRCUIT the WFCO output to get it into boost mode then if amperage did not stay above 21 amps at 14.4, the unit dropped back to 13.6 The unit never did drop to float voltage even when powering a 3 ampere hour battery.
Large vertical ceramic power resistors were stacked less than one inch distant from 85c electrolytic capacitors. This is like running an exhaust pipe under the gas tank. The only fan was placed on the opposite end of the circuit board with large transformers blocking cooling air. The power rectifier heat sink was more than a quarter inch thick with far too few cooling fins.
This is sixth-grade lab class engineering level tech. Meaning hysterical laughter and absurd conclusions. A beautiful piece of architecture for a Junior College level dissertation about "What is NOT wrong with this power supply design?" Heavens I am not even touching the control circuitry.
With Lifeline batteries the ideal generator charging is to stuff as many amperes into the batteries as 14.4 volts will allow. My one small XT31 accepts 107 AMPERES to start off with. The two story will accept 133 amperes. This of course applies when charging with a generator. With shore power just keep individual battery amperage above 20% when cycling the battery.
I've not found a single error in the downloadable Concorde Lifeline PDF manual. I highly recommend studying it. And believe it when they say violating a protocol will lead to steadily diminishing battery capacity and eventual failure. They joke not about the 14.4 volt finish voltage and significance of fully charged amperage. What they do not emphasize enough is the relationship of battery fill percentage to capacity degradation. Filling to 90% every third day for a maximum of say a three week vacation will not permanently degrade capacity one full cycle at 14.4 volts will reverse the 1-2% loss.
Words mean things :) so please read below with care. Each statement is conditional...
- The 20% recharging amperage rule applies more and more as batteries get cycled to 50% depth of discharge
- If an AGM actually needs a boost starting voltage of 14.8 volts, something's amiss
- Check at least six manufacturers and see if that value is universal. Someone is boosting Ca percentage in the plate and that is used to advantage in high temperature operation to the detriment of cycle life and plate impedance
- What next? hybrid plates?
- 14.4 volts is ideal. The battery absorbsion voltage limit is 14.4, it ends at 14.4 and you know the battery is utterly charged when amperage tapers to point five percent of amp hour capacity. One-half ampere per 100 amp hours capacity
- In the case here it's x 2 or 1.0 amp finish.
I had to partially SHORT CIRCUIT the WFCO output to get it into boost mode then if amperage did not stay above 21 amps at 14.4, the unit dropped back to 13.6 The unit never did drop to float voltage even when powering a 3 ampere hour battery.
Large vertical ceramic power resistors were stacked less than one inch distant from 85c electrolytic capacitors. This is like running an exhaust pipe under the gas tank. The only fan was placed on the opposite end of the circuit board with large transformers blocking cooling air. The power rectifier heat sink was more than a quarter inch thick with far too few cooling fins.
This is sixth-grade lab class engineering level tech. Meaning hysterical laughter and absurd conclusions. A beautiful piece of architecture for a Junior College level dissertation about "What is NOT wrong with this power supply design?" Heavens I am not even touching the control circuitry.
With Lifeline batteries the ideal generator charging is to stuff as many amperes into the batteries as 14.4 volts will allow. My one small XT31 accepts 107 AMPERES to start off with. The two story will accept 133 amperes. This of course applies when charging with a generator. With shore power just keep individual battery amperage above 20% when cycling the battery.
I've not found a single error in the downloadable Concorde Lifeline PDF manual. I highly recommend studying it. And believe it when they say violating a protocol will lead to steadily diminishing battery capacity and eventual failure. They joke not about the 14.4 volt finish voltage and significance of fully charged amperage. What they do not emphasize enough is the relationship of battery fill percentage to capacity degradation. Filling to 90% every third day for a maximum of say a three week vacation will not permanently degrade capacity one full cycle at 14.4 volts will reverse the 1-2% loss.
