Do I need a better converter?

If it's a WFCO converter they're notorious for not going into bulk charging mode. I have 2 GC batteries and an IOTA-55 converter for faster charging off a generator.

You did not state what type of batteries you got are they FLA or LifePO4?

mooky stinks wrote:
Just replaced original 80ah battery with 2 100ah batteries. When dry camping for 3 nights the batteries were steadily lower after each charging during the allowed generator times. 1st night when fully charged they dropped to 60%. 2nd night they started out at 85% and dropped to 50% then 3rd was about 70% to 30%. I never saw higher than 13.7 when plugged in to my 2000watt generator. Haven’t looked at what my converter is rated for yet but am I right in thinking it’s just not putting the charge back in fast enough? Would a stand alone commercial battery charger that I have work better in the few times a year I dry camp? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

need a little more context here, what kind of batteries, what is your converter now and how long are you running the generator for.

Steve

The short answer is TES !

Now would be a good time to upgrade to an inverter/charger/automatic transfer switch.

What is the charger and how long were you running the generator?

First morning 60% to 85%, is 25% of 200ah or 50ah. A 50amp charger should do that in around an hour.
Second morning 50% to 70%, is 20% of 200ah or 40ah. Should take 20% less charge time to get there.

Did you per chance run the generator for 1:15 the first time and 1:00 the second time?

You generally won't get to 100% charging with an hour or two on the generator (even if the charger puts out enough amps). Lead-Acid batteries start reducing the charge acceptance around 70%. At first it's a minor reduction. By the time you get to 80-90%, they accept far lower amperages, no matter how big the charger is.

If you will be boondocking another option is to get something like a 100w portable solar panel.
- Run the generator first thing in the morning to get up around 80-90% (an hour or two).
- The solar panel will peak around 8amps mid day but it will do so over several hours and top up the remaining storage.

Of course, if you do a lot of boondocking, a large permanently installed solar array is a nice option but it brings it's own set of costs/complications.

Probably your converter is a POS.
After having 2 campers with PD converters and not knowing or caring really "why" people said WFCOs are junk, we got a camper with a WFCO. Can confirm, it's a pile of doo doo.

Read up on bulk, absorb and float charging. The voltage should rise to 14.4V+.

Ok I’ll try to give some more info. They are regular lead acid. First night they were 100% because it had been parked in my driveway plugged in for 2 weeks. I was charging for 2 hrs in the morning and 3 hrs in the evening. I did periodically shut the converter off to run a microwave but that was very limited. Probably 15 minutes total per day. I’ll have to look but I know I have a WFCO 8930/50. Trailer is 50 amp. There is a breaker that says converter. Am I right in thinking it is a separate unit?

https://powermaxconverters.com/product/pm4-series-2/

I recommend the 35 or 45 amp with just two batteries.

https://www.bestconverter.com/PD-9260C-60-Amp-RV-ConverterCharger

PD is fine at 60 amps.

(edit to reflect WFCO 9800 posted after)

The percentage SOCs the OP is using could be off depending how his monitor works. He might also be seeing some Progressive Capacity Loss.

Weird that a 29ft 5er has a 30 amp converter. Is that 30 a typo?