Hi all,well, I need new batteries.they are tired.The question is, I am going camping this weekend.Can I upgrade to AGM batteries now,and then after this trip look into whether I need to update charger/inverter to something better for charging them ?We tend to boondock about 50% of time, and tha tis what this first trip will be. so I expect to run the generator a bit.

You can do that. You would need to check the mnfg specs but often times an agm will want a Max voltage of 14.4. A wet cell like a Trojan will need 14.8 volts. Often times a oem converter will only put out 13.6 v so upgrading to something like a progressive dynamics may work well. I wouldn't buy an wfco. You could have very long generator run time with only 13.6 vs 14.4. when the battery is charged it will cut back to about 13.2

azrving wrote:You can do that. You would need to check the mnfg specs but often times an agm will want a Max voltage of 14.4. A wet cell like a Trojan will need 14.8 volts. Often times a oem converter will only put out 13.6 v so upgrading to something like a progressive dynamics may work well. I wouldn't buy an wfco. You could have very long generator run time with only 13.6 vs 14.4. when the battery is charged it will cut back to about 13.2just trying not to buy batteries twice, wanting to upgrade, but also wanting to go this weekend...

get the batteries, and a charger that puts out the right power to charge them ,run the charger off the gen set.

bbaley wrote:Can I upgrade to AGM batteries now,and then after this trip look into whether I need to update charger/inverter to something better for charging them ?YES.And while checking out your converter/charger is probably a good idea, in 99% of the most common applications, an AGM is a "drop in" replacement for a wet cell battery......with NO modifications.

bbaley wrote:I am going camping this weekend.Can I upgrade to AGM batteries now,and then after this trip look into whether I need to update charger/inverter to something better for charging them ?Arguably the majority of owners here on the forum are running a WFCO converter in their trailer and probably none can honestly report that their WFCO ever delivers a proper 14.4 volt bulk charge to their battery (or batteries), ever. Instead the most we usually see is ~ 13.7 volts which is nowhere near acceptable for proper recharging of a deep cycle battery. One weekend certainly isn't going to kill your new AGMs but you would want to budget for replacing your converter that will in fact deliver a 14.4 volt bulk charge to the batteries. One exception to this I can think of are Trojan batteries which are spec'd by the manufacturer to require a 14.8 volt bulk charge which most converters are just not capable of. Progressive Dynamics does offer a model which is capable of this bulk charging voltage and would be a good match for a new set of Trojan batteries, flooded or AGM.

new batteries for trailer | Good Sam Community

Snomas
Explorer
Apr 14, 2019
I bought Costco 4-6V deep cycle golf cart batteries for my DP. Paid $89 ea . I replaced 10 yr old Interstates but didn't dry camp. I think the Costco batteries could be replaced twice for the cost of AGM's. My new TT has only 1-12 V deep cycle and I plan to add a second one. I won't be dry camping much still.
I haven't had a chance to find where my converter is located yet, but I think it is under the dinette seat. Does anyone know? (Flagstaff micro mini 21DS)
bbaley
Explorer
Apr 15, 2019
when referring to "WFCO" - the brand of the cheap standard converter/charger/power panels installed in most trailers,

do you say;
1. "WF co" (double you eff koh)
2. "WF see oh" (double you eff see oh")
3. "wiff co"
4. some other pronunciation

just curious - for the purpose of calling mfg's and the like and discussing
azrving
Explorer
Apr 15, 2019
bbaley wrote:
when referring to "WFCO" - the brand of the cheap standard converter/charger/power panels installed in most trailers,

do you say;
1. "WF co" (double you eff koh)
2. "WF see oh" (double you eff see oh")
3. "wiff co"
4. some other pronunciation

just curious - for the purpose of calling mfg's and the like and discussing

Early on Best converter sold me one when I explained that I would be dry camping on generator. It came with bare wires etc so I returned it. Im not interested in world friendship, I'm interested in charging batteries.
philh
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2019
azrving wrote:
Early on Best converter sold me one when I explained that I would be dry camping on generator. It came with bare wires etc so I returned it. Im not interested in world friendship, I'm interested in charging batteries.

What was your solution.
GrandpaKip
Explorer II
Apr 16, 2019
bbaley wrote:
when referring to "WFCO" - the brand of the cheap standard converter/charger/power panels installed in most trailers,

do you say;
1. "WF co" (double you eff koh)
2. "WF see oh" (double you eff see oh")
3. "wiff co"
4. some other pronunciation

just curious - for the purpose of calling mfg's and the like and discussing

Always heard #3

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