Batterys too cold to charge???

[mholman]

This summer I bought a new to me 5th wheel. it has a Xantrex prosine 2.0 charger/invert installed. I have always been particular on battery maintenance.
When I parked the trailer for the winter the battery's were fully charged and I left the charger OFF, I turned charger on when the battery voltage dropped to 12.4 volts. The charger said battery's too cold. Temperature has been in the 20s here. I have never had a temp sensor on battery's before and never had any trouble with battery's freezing. Has the charger just out smarted me.
Any thoughts?

[RJsfishin]

So much for a temp/comp smart charger that lets a battery sit 1/2 dead all winter at 20 degrees refusing to charge because the battery is too cold. Wasn't the whole idea of the hi tech charger to keep the battery full charged so it won't sulfate or freeze ?? Time to get a different charger ??

I saw 15 degrees a few mornings ago, gets to 20 here many times, and every time I check my PD, (no temp comp) its sitting full charged at 13.4. And I imagine it does it's 14+ volt thing now and then. Never a problem in 13 yrs,.... 12v batts 5 yrs old...... like new yet.

[pnichols]

mholman wrote:
The charger said battery's too cold. Temperature has been in the 20s here. I have never had a temp sensor on battery's before and never had any trouble with battery's freezing. Has the charger just out smarted me.
Any thoughts?

The colder a battery is when charging it the higher the voltages that must used for the various charging stages.

Perhaps what the charger was trying to tell you - based on the battery temperature readings that it was getting from the sensor - was that one or more of the proper stage voltages to use on the battery at the temperature it detected were too high (out of range) for what the charger was capable of. There are commonly available charts that show recommended battery charging voltages versus battery temperature.

In other words, perhaps what the charger really "should have told you" was ... "the battery is too cold for the charger to apply the required charging voltage".

[Old-Biscuit]

smkettner wrote:
Temperature sensor prevented the possibility of charging a frozen battery. After the required inspection feel free to make the needed adjustment to charge the battery.

A blind converter would not hesitate to charge a frozen battery.

Sensor/charger functioned just like they were designed.

Battery not frozen.........then disconnect sensor and charge

Or connect a portable charger. When temps come up inverter/charger will then charge.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Oooooo honorable integrated circuit smarter than owner. Do the rig's doors stay locked until you put on your coat? Honorable artificial disintelligenge has jumped the rails.

[time2roll]

Temperature sensor prevented the possibility of charging a frozen battery. After the required inspection feel free to make the needed adjustment to charge the battery.

A blind converter would not hesitate to charge a frozen battery.

[pianotuna]

Both of those ideas would work. I suspect the sensor may be toast. Some one else suggested disconnecting the sensor--probably a good idea in this case.

coolmom42 wrote:
So if the Prosine won't charge at that temp, for safety reasons..... is it a good idea to trick it into charging by warming the sensor? Or to use another charger?

[coolmom42]

So if the Prosine won't charge at that temp, for safety reasons..... is it a good idea to trick it into charging by warming the sensor? Or to use another charger?

[ksg5000]

Another example of I am glad I never threw out my old/cheap/reliable battery charger - comes in handy when my expensive charger says that it can't charge for whatever reason.

[time2roll]

As a safety item the sensor did work as designed.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

And a few of you keep wondering why I continue to diss stuff that does not work.

[time2roll]

MrWizard wrote:
IF his voltage is 12.4
the are not dead or frozen

he could unplug the temp probe from the Xantrex
or connect a battery charger

+1

[pianotuna]

I would warm up the sensor.

[MrWizard]

IF his voltage is 12.4
the are not dead or frozen

he could unplug the temp probe from the Xantrex
or connect a battery charger

[Trackrig]

If the battery cables weren't disconnected, or if there isn't a "real" disconnect switch installed, then they could have gone dead from all of the phantom loads and frozen. My MH will do that, I always pull the main cables even in non-freezing storage temps.

Bill

[mholman]

Update to original post.
Battery's are not frozen.