Hi Folks,What a two years it has been reading this forum! Thanks to all for the excellent advice I have received in that time. So to start, here is my situation:This Tuesday will begin 6 days boondocking at a bluegrass fest in Vt. In the 5th wheel, I have rigged 2 Marine 12v Exides ( I know! but they're cheap ) permanently in the basement. I have my trusty digital voltmeter for my readings. New Champion 2000watt inverter gen is arriving tomorrow. Energy draws should be something like this:1. RV lights (incandescents) used lightly2. Water pump for dishes, showers, etc3. fridge on propane4. 300 watt inverter for a small LCD tv a few hours a day5. Usual phantom draws from CO detector, etcRV has WFCO 55 amp converter. I have a Schumacher 20 amp 3 stage. I will probably run both bats down to 50 percent every day or so. I of course, want to charge quickly, with as little gen time as possible. I did a test at home, running the bats down to about 60 percent, plugged into house, and only read 13.5 or so at the battery from the converter. Obviously not the 14. 4(?) required for bulk. The Schumacher otoh, did read 15V and climbing a few minutes in. I am assuming the 20 amp Schumacher will be quicker then the WFCO. But can anyone guess how much? Also, the owners manual for the WFCO states that the converter only goes to bulk when bat capacity is below 50%. Is this why the PD converters have the ability to manually choose modes? 6v gc bats and a better converter are probably in my future ( along with bigger gauge wire, UGH) but not this year. Any advice greatly appreciatedLarry

the owners manual for the WFCO states that the converter only goes to bulk when bat capacity is below 50%.That's a marketing generalization that is close to meaningless. The following factors determine whether or not the WFCO converter will go into bulk mode:- Size of the battery bank with respect to the converter size.- Condition of the battery.- Discharge level of the battery.- Ambient temperature.- Other DC loads running in the RV.- Resistance of the wiring between the converter and battery.Based on the forum posts from WFCO users it's a reasonable conclusion that very few ever go into bulk mode during their entire lifetime. Based on statistics, you should assume that yours won't.

If you are using 100 Ah per day you will need to run the generator 4 to 5 hours per day.Start the Schumacher direct on the battery then plug in the RV. This may not be necessary but will prevent the portable from possibly getting confused. I would run the generator one hour after battery hits ~14.6 volts.If the WFCO worked as expected it would cut the time in half.If you are parked in the sun consider solar when the charging upgrade is considered.

I suggest you go pick up a Black n Decker VEC1093DBD 40 AMp smart mode portable battery charger. This will re-charge your two batteries to their 90% charge state in as little as three hours time if discharged down to around 50% charge.I have NOT had any luck trying to get a WFCO 8900 series converter charger to ever go into BULK CHARGE mode no matter what I tried to do.Since you could not get it done from your test run at the house there will be no way you will get it done at your FEST LOCATION.To re-charge your batteries I think you must come with 14.4VDC with a capacity of around 40AMPS to quickly re-charge your two deep cycle batteries.About the only place that can get a you something like the VEC1093DBD charger by next Tuesday might be AMAZON with their two day service.You may be able to connect a single DEEP CYCLE Battery to your TRUCK BATTERY terminals using jumper cables and run your truck for a few hours. If you can't locate a VEC1093DBD then purchase the PD9260C Smart Mode Converter/charger for about the same price and use that as a portable hookup.Maybe others on here will know a trick -Roy Ken

RoyB wrote:I suggest you go pick up a Black n Decker VEC1093DBD 40 AMp smart mode portable battery charger.X2

Ok so WFCO works as expected....it doesn't. Have been reading about the BD charger, but I want to leave TUE AM so even Amazon won't get it here in time. So I am stuck with Schumacher for now. Any other decent chargers I can pick up locally this weekend? Also, if I have to run the gen 4 or 5 hrs if I use 100AH, can any of that end time be w/ the gen on ECON setting? or will it be drawing too much current

6 days boondock, worried about the WFCO converter

Wayne_Dohnal
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
the owners manual for the WFCO states that the converter only goes to bulk when bat capacity is below 50%.
That's a marketing generalization that is close to meaningless. The following factors determine whether or not the WFCO converter will go into bulk mode:

- Size of the battery bank with respect to the converter size.
- Condition of the battery.
- Discharge level of the battery.
- Ambient temperature.
- Other DC loads running in the RV.
- Resistance of the wiring between the converter and battery.

Based on the forum posts from WFCO users it's a reasonable conclusion that very few ever go into bulk mode during their entire lifetime. Based on statistics, you should assume that yours won't.
time2roll
Nomad
Jun 20, 2014
If you are using 100 Ah per day you will need to run the generator 4 to 5 hours per day.

Start the Schumacher direct on the battery then plug in the RV. This may not be necessary but will prevent the portable from possibly getting confused. I would run the generator one hour after battery hits ~14.6 volts.

If the WFCO worked as expected it would cut the time in half.

If you are parked in the sun consider solar when the charging upgrade is considered.
RoyB
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2014
I suggest you go pick up a Black n Decker VEC1093DBD 40 AMp smart mode portable battery charger. This will re-charge your two batteries to their 90% charge state in as little as three hours time if discharged down to around 50% charge.

I have NOT had any luck trying to get a WFCO 8900 series converter charger to ever go into BULK CHARGE mode no matter what I tried to do.

Since you could not get it done from your test run at the house there will be no way you will get it done at your FEST LOCATION.

To re-charge your batteries I think you must come with 14.4VDC with a capacity of around 40AMPS to quickly re-charge your two deep cycle batteries.

About the only place that can get a you something like the VEC1093DBD charger by next Tuesday might be AMAZON with their two day service.

You may be able to connect a single DEEP CYCLE Battery to your TRUCK BATTERY terminals using jumper cables and run your truck for a few hours.

If you can't locate a VEC1093DBD then purchase the PD9260C Smart Mode Converter/charger for about the same price and use that as a portable hookup.

Maybe others on here will know a trick -

Roy Ken
mena661
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
RoyB wrote:
I suggest you go pick up a Black n Decker VEC1093DBD 40 AMp smart mode portable battery charger.
X2
bgrasspkr
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
Ok so WFCO works as expected....it doesn't. Have been reading about the BD charger, but I want to leave TUE AM so even Amazon won't get it here in time. So I am stuck with Schumacher for now. Any other decent chargers I can pick up locally this weekend? Also, if I have to run the gen 4 or 5 hrs if I use 100AH, can any of that end time be w/ the gen on ECON setting? or will it be drawing too much current
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 20, 2014
You should be good with your on-board WFCO converter. I doubt whether the portable charger will give you that much advantage. Your genset should be able to recharge reasonably in a couple hours. I would not run the genset in ECON. It could cycle on and off while converter is working.
I would run genset while making breakfast then again in evening while making dinner.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2014
Before you spend your money on another battery charger;
Google "desulfator"
You might also want to look for at a "Charge Wizard" to see if it is compatible with your charger. It can enable a desulfating voltage.

This document shows how much time it takes to charge a battery to a specific rate.
(It's a bit blurry, I scanned it from the instruction sheet included with some gear.)
And this document shows voltage and state-of-charge.
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Jun 20, 2014
If your batteries are in good condition and they must fully charged, you will be fine using the Schumacher and the generator a few hours a day. When the time comes you can get a couple of 6 volt GC batteries, a better converter, hardier wiring, and maybe some solar if the budget allows. The Black and Decker 40 Amper is a good investment, but with the proper connverter you will just use it for equalization routines more than anything else.

Just try to be frugal with your energy usage, especially having on too many incandescents for extended periods of time. The LED conversion we did 3 years ago using mostly LEDs from Ebay really cut our energy consumption down, almost felt like we added more battery capacity. Have a great time at the bluegrass fest!!!
bgrasspkr
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
thanks folks!! I think that will be the key this week, really watch our consumption and try to not get down to 50 percent. It will be an interesting test. Last year, with the same bats and the Schumacher at another festival, I was recharging after my brother used a CPAP machine all night with an inverter, and I was only a bit below 50, so I should be OK. Another 500 bucks into better equipment and next year I'll be good to go!

PS I almost went w/ 200 watts of solar instead of the gen, but man thats scary if there is rain in the forecast!!
bgrasspkr
Explorer
Jun 20, 2014
btw, what LEDs do you folks suggest? and have they come down any in price. Last time I checked, it would cost over 100 bucks to convert, thats when I just went and bought another battery