Question?

[DSteiner51]

I bought a Cougar 5th wheel a year ago February and this last weekend the 50 amp converter died but I didn't realize it until Sunday evening. Last nite I bought a Schumacher 8 amp battery charger to recharge the batteries as they were down to 11.6 volts and after installing this charger it brought it up immediately to12.4 volts. This morning the batteries were at 13.2 volts. This $30 charger is a smart charger which goes to a maintenance setting when the batteries are fully charged.

My question... why do I need an expensive 50 amp converter if this battery charger can do the same thing? The batteries run the slides, water pump, fridge and furnace controls, everything when boon docking just fine so all I need is to keep the batteries charged? Am I missing something?

[DSteiner51]

allen8106 wrote:
scratched my idea

Still interested in your idea. Someone may learn something... myself included.

[allen8106]

scratched my idea

[DSteiner51]

My Progressive Dynamics 9260 got installed several days ago. The "optional" manual control was included but not having a good place to mount it I placed it in the "parts" box for the camper.

Been debating... add a Micro Air Easy Start to my 15k btu air conditioner, buy a 13.5k btu for the bedroom vent, or replace my 2800 watt Subaru/Robin inverter generator for a 3100> watt generator.

Decided to try try the Micro Air that several here recommended. When it arrived and I looked into installing it, it looked confusing so decided to take pictures and study them along with the wiring schematic.

Discovering the factory schematic didn't fit the factory color coding but tracing wires from point A to B made it look simple I climbed back up and from hood removal to hood replacement took 30 minutes max. It works! First I tried it with generator eco throttle off and no sweat starting so tried it with eco throttle on and converter running lights, etc. works!

My 12 year 2000 hour old 2800 watt inverter genny missed retirement for hopefully many years as it still starts good and burns no oil.

[DSteiner51]

RoyB wrote:
Just keep in mind that the converter/charger units most have a 120VAC cable and will plug into a wall socket and the connections to your Power Distribution Center will only be a POS cable, a NEG Cable, and a GROUND cable.. My older unit was hard wired into the distribution panel so I added a separate 120VAC receptacle just for the converter/charger unit...

Hopefully the new converter/charger unit will fit in the same spot as the old converter/charger unit... If not you can mount the new unit stand alone some where close by where the battery cables are running past them...

This is the front panel of my PD9260C 60A smart mode charger unit... The small panel you see here will let you force the charger unit into any of the smart modes by just pushing the button. The charger unit will automatically do what it is suppose to without pushing any buttons...

You can see the DC out cables have DUAL lug connections...



Google images

This is not a very extensive install that one would need to take back to the mfg to have done...

Randy at BESTCONVERTERS will have all of the install info you will need to do it yourself...

Roy ken

This is what I ordered minus the little box. As long as it works I see no need for the manual control box. I'm not into fixing things that aren't broke so "auto" should serve me well.

[DSteiner51]

Update on converter. Finally had the chance to pull the converter this morning. Took it to my workshop to test it, no output voltage at all. While handling the converter a small screw fell out of a cooling slot. Something inside apparently fell apart but the case is riveted shut so I called the warranty phone number as it has a two year warranty.

Calling the warranty phone number there is no chance of talking to a person. There is a recording of a long email address that I would have had to replay numerous times to copy it down. One is instructed to fill out an online form after which one may get a return authorization number, then must box it, wait until someone confirms it is defective and then get a replacement.

May take nearly a month till all is said and done. In my opinion the warranty is nearly worthless considering all the time plus shipping costs involved.

More hassle then I care for. A simple phone call will have a Progressive 9260 at my door step Friday sometime. Made in America instead of China.

[Camreal]

Carefully clean all your battery and associated electrical connections. I had the same type problem replaced the converter and still had the problem. Turned out to be corrosion and rust on the exposed battery and electrical connections but a least I have a new converter and a spare..

[firemedic08]

If it were my 5er, I would replace the Inverter. I did one for a friend this weekend. It was 2 screws, and 5 wires to replace. Super Simple, and well worth the $240 she spent on it.

[RoyB]

Just keep in mind that the converter/charger units most have a 120VAC cable and will plug into a wall socket and the connections to your Power Distribution Center will only be a POS cable, a NEG Cable, and a GROUND cable.. My older unit was hard wired into the distribution panel so I added a separate 120VAC receptacle just for the converter/charger unit...

Hopefully the new converter/charger unit will fit in the same spot as the old converter/charger unit... If not you can mount the new unit stand alone some where close by where the battery cables are running past them...

This is the front panel of my PD9260C 60A smart mode charger unit... The small panel you see here will let you force the charger unit into any of the smart modes by just pushing the button. The charger unit will automatically do what it is suppose to without pushing any buttons...

You can see the DC out cables have DUAL lug connections...



Google images

This is not a very extensive install that one would need to take back to the mfg to have done...

Randy at BESTCONVERTERS will have all of the install info you will need to do it yourself...

Roy ken

[Artum_Snowbird]

There can be a lot of reasons why converters do not charge. One of the most common is that the converter is putting out full power, but the positive or the negative heavy duty wires to the battery are not solidly connected. Before you abandon the converter, please check the power output right at the converter output terminals. My batteries went dead after 4 days of being plugged in, and had I paid attention to the idiot lights I would have caught it sooner. We arrived after driving, battery fully charged 3/4 lights on. Once I plug in I get 4/4 usually. Next day down to 2/4 then 1/4. Battery voltage way down. Converter output 13.6 on the terminals. I found the negative feed to the battery was loose in it's screw terminal.

When they remove your converter, they always tighten the terminals too. I often wonder how many converters have been changed out because of faulty wiring.

[Allworth]

You will end up paying a lot more for replacement batteries than you would for a good PD multi stage converter.

[RollandB]

A good opportunity to upgrade your converter to a Progressive Dynamics multi-stage unit and do your batteries a big favor.

[2oldman]

DSteiner51 wrote:
. why do I need an expensive 50 amp converter if this battery charger can do the same thing?

Answer: It can, but at a mere 8 amps it just takes forever. And if you boondock you'll be running your generator all the time.

What you're missing is the fact not all chargers are the same.

[DutchmenSport]

Short term, and for an immediate solution, yes ... it will work. Hope you look at the long term picture though.

[rhagfo]

Just replace with a better slightly larger Progressive Dynamics unit.