Charging battery with external charger
So we're about to take a trip and I just determined that out on-board charger isn't charging. It's a WFCO that's going in the trash as soon as we get home. This is the second failure on a 2012 trailer...
Forum Discussion
Some Smart chargers easily get confused when there are loads on the battery, as they are expecting the amperage to keep declining when in the constant voltage phase.
I used to use my Schumacher sc2500a as a converter, but it would only work, meaning not shut itself off flashing the error message, on the 12 amp setting.
On the 2 or 25 amp setting, the first time the compressor fridge turned on or off it would give up and flash error messages.
On the 12 amp setting, the compressor fridge turning off would have the voltage skyrocket into the mid 15's and take about 35 seconds to lower back to 13.6. When compresor fridge would turn back on voltage would lower into the high 12's, the smart charger would ramp up current, get it back up into the mid to high 14's.
This voltage Yoyo would continue the whole time, and the compressor fridge is only 2.7 amps. If I shut off the TV at the same time as the compressor shut off then voltage would exceed 16v and the charger would shut off and flash the error message.
I, and my battery, and 12v DC loads, are so Much happier with manual voltage control of my adjustable voltage power supply.
So your external charger might do the same as my Schumancher, and it might not just be a set it and forget it while whispering " just fine' over and over.
I used to use my Schumacher sc2500a as a converter, but it would only work, meaning not shut itself off flashing the error message, on the 12 amp setting.
On the 2 or 25 amp setting, the first time the compressor fridge turned on or off it would give up and flash error messages.
On the 12 amp setting, the compressor fridge turning off would have the voltage skyrocket into the mid 15's and take about 35 seconds to lower back to 13.6. When compresor fridge would turn back on voltage would lower into the high 12's, the smart charger would ramp up current, get it back up into the mid to high 14's.
This voltage Yoyo would continue the whole time, and the compressor fridge is only 2.7 amps. If I shut off the TV at the same time as the compressor shut off then voltage would exceed 16v and the charger would shut off and flash the error message.
I, and my battery, and 12v DC loads, are so Much happier with manual voltage control of my adjustable voltage power supply.
So your external charger might do the same as my Schumancher, and it might not just be a set it and forget it while whispering " just fine' over and over.
