Charge wizard with Lithium upgrade to Converter charger?

SFVdave wrote:
I upgraded my PD4560 converter charger with the PD4560Licsv which is designed for Lithium batteries. I noticed that the charge wizard light still flashes and can be changed to the different modes. Is that purely visual and nothing is actually taking place like voltage changes to storage, normal and boost?

Was the charge wizard original equipment with the PD4560?

I don't see it referenced with the PD4560Licsv. It should not be needed, since the lithium charge is just one constant voltage. KEN

The charge wizard button is located on the original panel containing the fuses and circuit breakers. It wasn’t changed out, only the circuitry board and fan. It does say that it’s no longer used. So why is it lighting up?

Check the voltage on the battery. 14.6 is OK for fast charging. 13.2 is better once charged or off.

Give Progressive Dynamics a call and see what's up.

I'm interested in this conversion - following this thread.

Thanks

I replaced the jumper used to change between lead acid & lithium with a single pole, double throw switch. When in the lithium position, the converter produces 14.6V, fine for charging, but too high for float. My PD converter does not drop the voltage from 14.6V even after a full day of charging.

I can use the switch to change back to lead acid and the Charge Wizard to switch to 13.2V for float after the lithium batteries are full and balanced. When in the lithium position, the Charge Wizard does not change the voltage from 14.6V.

SFVdave wrote:
I upgraded my PD4560 converter charger with the PD4560Licsv which is designed for Lithium battereis. I noticed that the charge wizard light still flashes and can be changed to the different modes. Is that purely visual and nothing is actually taking palce like voltage changes to storage, normal and boost?

Odds are very high that you have a single-stage Progressive Dynamic 14.6v lithium converter. The only way to be sure is to measure the voltage on the converter output as you switch through the functions on the Charge Wizard. If the voltage remains the same (as you switch through the various LED display functions on the Charge Wizard) then you have the single-stage model.

Progressive Dynamic has just started to roll-out a very limited selection of multi-stage lithium converters. This is no doubt due to Battleborn batteries recommendation that their LifePo4 batteries not be floated at 14.6v for longer than 2 weeks with a single-stage converter/charger.

FWIW, We purchased the single-stage PD4045LICSV lithium converter last year with the intention of replacing the 3-stage PD4045 converter in our truck camper. We've since decided the 3-stage PD4045 (13.2v/13.6v/14.4v) is actually a safer, better charger for LifePo4 batteries than the PD4045LICSV and sold our PD4045LICSV lithium converter on eBay. LifePo4 batteries don't do well sitting at a high state-of-charge for long periods of time. A PD4045LICSV converter, if left on and connected to LifePo4 batteries for long periods of time would do just that---constantly keep them at 100% SOC. This may be good for a lead-cell battery, but bad for a LifePo4. With our 3-stage PD4045 converter (and a Charge Wizard) we can leave it on and connected to LifePo4 batteries indefinitely at 13.2v or 13.6v with zero worries about overcharging our LifePo4's. Might even get away with leaving it floating at 14.4v, since technically you can only charge a LifePo4 to 99% at 14.4v.

Note: vermilye's post refers to a particular model of Progressive Dynamic converter that can be switched for use with lead cell and LifePo4 chemistries. There is no lead-cell/LifePo4 option (switch) on a "standard" Progressive Dynamic multi-stage converter.

otrfun wrote:

SFVdave wrote:
I upgraded my PD4560 converter charger with the PD4560Licsv which is designed for Lithium battereis. I noticed that the charge wizard light still flashes and can be changed to the different modes. Is that purely visual and nothing is actually taking palce like voltage changes to storage, normal and boost?

Odds are very high that you have a single-stage Progressive Dynamic 14.6v lithium converter. The only way to be sure is to measure the voltage on the converter output as you switch through the functions on the Charge Wizard. If the voltage remains the same (as you switch through the various LED display functions on the Charge Wizard) then you have the single-stage model.

Progressive Dynamic has just started to roll-out a very limited selection of multi-stage lithium converters. This is no doubt due to Battleborn batteries recommendation that their LifePo4 batteries not be floated at 14.6v for longer than 2 weeks with a single-stage converter/charger.

FWIW, We purchased the single-stage PD4045LICSV lithium converter last year with the intention of replacing the 3-stage PD4045 converter in our truck camper. We've since decided the 3-stage PD4045 (13.2v/13.6v/14.4v) is actually a safer, better charger for LifePo4 batteries than the PD4045LICSV and sold our PD4045LICSV lithium converter on eBay. LifePo4 batteries don't do well sitting at a high state-of-charge for long periods of time. A PD4045LICSV converter, if left on and connected to LifePo4 batteries for long periods of time would do just that---constantly keep them at 100% SOC. This may be good for a lead-cell battery, but bad for a LifePo4. With our 3-stage PD4045 converter (and a Charge Wizard) we can leave it on and connected to LifePo4 batteries indefinitely at 13.2v or 13.6v with zero worries about overcharging our LifePo4's. Might even get away with leaving it floating at 14.4v, since technically you can only charge a LifePo4 to 99% at 14.4v.

Note: vermilye's post refers to a particular model of Progressive Dynamic converter that can be switched for use with lead cell and LifePo4 chemistries. There is no lead-cell/LifePo4 option (switch) on a "standard" Progressive Dynamic multi-stage converter.

So it conituously charges at 14.6v all the time?

SFVdave wrote:
So it conituously charges at 14.6v all the time?

If your PD lithium converter is a single-stage unit, yes, it does. In addition to the LifePo4 float issues, there also those who feel a continuous application of 14.6v may not bode well for the long-term health of some 12vdc appliances in your camper, too.

otrfun wrote:

SFVdave wrote:
So it conituously charges at 14.6v all the time?

If your PD lithium converter is a single-stage unit, yes, it does. In addition to the LifePo4 float issues, there also those who feel a continuous application of 14.6v may not bode well for the long-term health of some 12vdc appliances in your camper, too.

That's my concern too about 14.6v continuously. With the original converter, I could charge the engine battery while at home and use the the bussman resetable fuse next to the engine battery to isolate it while driving and camping. then rest it while at home.

SFVdave wrote:

That's my concern too about 14.6v continuously. With the original converter, I could charge the engine battery while at home and use the the bussman resetable fuse next to the engine battery to isolate it while driving and camping. then rest it while at home.

There is no lithium battery that wants 14.6V constant all the time. Over the long term this will likely impact battery life.

I wonder if you contacted Progressive Dynamics if they would either switch it out for their supposed new version which drops the voltage, or better yet, refund your money and you can buy a real configurable charger. It is totally irresponsible for them to be selling this thing as 'lithium specific' converter.