features for dc to DC chargers

My main concern was amperage. Enough to run my slides. But, mine's just a converter.. I'm not sure I'm talking about what you're talking about.

Been some threads on this. One thing that came up was to have one that is buck/boost where some new charging systems let the starting batt run too low at 12.x and at times it is too high at 15.x.

They are programmable, so the first thing is to know what you need yours to do, then see if a particular model will do that.

BFL13 wrote:
One thing that came up was to have one that is buck/boost where some new charging systems let the starting batt run too low at 12.x and at times it is too high at 15.x.

If a DC-DC charger can NOT boost a voltage from <13V then it is useless ! Protection from overvoltage is a bonus as is discharge of the RV battery.

pianotuna wrote:
What features should one look for in such a device?

• Wide input voltage range (maybe 11.0V - 15.0V)
• Programable for multiple battery types (flooded lead acid, AGM, LiFePO4 and ?)


Bonus (low priority) would be a way to use the RV battery to boost the engine start battery, but that would have to go through the fuse in the vehicle so that would be the limitation.

2oldman wrote:
My main concern was amperage. Enough to run my slides.

The power to run your slides is going to come from the RV batteries. If you do not have a RV battery, I doubt that these chargers would be able to run the slides.

If the batteries are heavily discharged, you will have to run the vehicle engine for some time (15-30 minutes ?) to charge those batteries and operate the slides.

Primary feature is amp rating. JMHO. Bigger is not always better and watch the input amps. The rating is output.

Interesting video !

"It is possible to damage your AGM or LiFePO4 batteries charging them from an engine alternator."

Renogy DC-DC Battery Charger Review: "Smart" Alternator Charging

theoldwizard1 wrote:

2oldman wrote:
My main concern was amperage. Enough to run my slides.

The power to run your slides is going to come from the RV batteries.

Sorry... OP knows I have a 48v battery.

2oldman,

Yes I knew you have a 48 volt battery.

Does your existing converter allow you to run the slides? I'm assuming you are running the converter from an inverter?

pianotuna wrote:
Does your existing converter allow you to run the slides? I'm assuming you are running the converter from an inverter?

Yes, it's a 30a 48->12 'buck' converter. No. I think we're talking about two different animals.