WFCO & Trojan Batteries

tenbear wrote:
I can't speak for the WFCO or the PowerMax, but over the winter I turn off my PD9260 converter and use a Battery Minder. I noticed the Battery Minder draws much less power than the PD. I do use the battery disconnect switch. No reason to have the propane and CO monitors on, no one would hear them anyway.

Now there's a thought! I could just run the extension to the Battery Minder as I don't need any 110 volt at all. Great idea, thanks.

The only issue for me is that I don't know how to turn off my converter.

If I never plan to go in the RV during the winter, I should use the battery disconnect. However, I do like to check on things and sometimes even run the furnace and camp out. If I don't use the disconnect, does the Battery Minder affect the charger/converter in any way?

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Personally I can think of a couple dozen good reasons to disconnect the battery bank when in storage and not a single reason in favor of leaving them connected.

Mex,

Knowing your history with batteries, would you elaborate on you comment. I am one of those that leaves his batteries connected to a 3 stage converter all winter.
Always willing to learn more from a professional.

Thanks
Richard

NO converter has charging voltages that match Trojan specs.

If you charge from a generator I recommend IOTA or Progressive Dynamics. These two converters hold a higher voltage for the absorption charge.

Powermax drops voltage to 13.6 at the end of the bulk charging phase at about 70% charged. This makes for an extended period in absorption. For mostly plugged in Powermax works fine by the posts I read. I would go smaller at 35 amps or 45 amps to extend the bulk charging to a higher % charge.

Any of these will be far better than the WFCO.

If you expect to keep the batteries on a float charge I believe your switch must be on.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Personally I can think of a couple dozen good reasons to disconnect the battery bank when in storage and not a single reason in favor of leaving them connected.

I knew I could count on you! How is the mescaline down there? :)
So do you think to disconnect most of the time, but maybe connect for a day every so often to top off the charge? Just looking for more details on your answer. The "storage" is my back yard in northern Vermont if that changes anything, but leaving it plugged in is because I was told a charged battery doesn't freeze. Thanks.

I can't speak for the WFCO or the PowerMax, but over the winter I turn off my PD9260 converter and use a Battery Minder. I noticed the Battery Minder draws much less power than the PD. I do use the battery disconnect switch. No reason to have the propane and CO monitors on, no one would hear them anyway.

Personally I can think of a couple dozen good reasons to disconnect the battery bank when in storage and not a single reason in favor of leaving them connected.

We leave our dual Interstate 6 volt batteries plugged into shorepower year round when stored in our backyard and our Iota does a great job keeping them fully charged.

The Powermax Boondocker will be a huge improvement over the WFCO, your Trojan batteries will definitely be happier with the changeout. We don't use our battery cut-off switch as it would not allow our Iota to charge our battery bank if implemented.

We routinely check battery bank fluid levels, ensure connections are tight and corrosion free, and normally top-off once a year as there is very little fluid loss even when hooked up during summer months. We have 4 years thus far on our Interstate GC batteries from SamsClub and they are performing well.

My T105's stay in my rig all winter while plugged into shore power. They are disconnected (with switch). About once a month I will check the voltage (and water) and if necessary I will connect the switch for a 24-hour period. Last winter I did not need to charge at all. My converter seems to overcharge so this process works fine.