Parallax Converter

[pasusan]

Hi - we have a new(er) RV with a Parallax converter - series 7300.
Can I leave this plugged in (charging the battery) 24/7?

In our trailer we had a WFCO converter and I replaced it with a Progressive Dynamics and I leave it plugged in 24/7.

I'm hoping the Parallax is better than the WFCO and doesn't need to be replaced.

What say you?

[SoundGuy]

Snowman9000 wrote:
Sound Guy, your advice is probably good in most cases. But in a Class B, there is no extra room for anything. You take along a battery charger, you have to leave something home.

"Sorry Hon, but I guess no more camping for you." :W

The particular CTEK charger I'm using measures a mere 8.5" x 3.5" x 1.875" ... somehow I think I could find a way to make this work. 😛

[Snowman9000]

Sound Guy, your advice is probably good in most cases. But in a Class B, there is no extra room for anything. You take along a battery charger, you have to leave something home.

OP you will be glad you are the changing to the PD.

[BFL13]

pnichols wrote:
There is one situation in which your Parallax 73XX converter can be an all-right charger/maintainer for a certain kind of RV battery:

Keep the Parallax .... and instead use the money you would have spent to replace your battery with one that is specified to require the same voltage for storing (floating) it as the single fixed voltage Parallax puts out - and will also charge good enough for many camping styles(ies) using only the single fixed voltage as the Parallax puts out.

i.e. We have had only a Parallax 7345 converter in our RV for over 10 1/2 years. But we changed to AGM batteries that are specified to be stored (floated) on 13.5 to 13.8 volts. In addition, since AGM batteries have much lower internal resistance than liquid acid batteries - they will also charge fast enough (for some camping styles) using only the Parallax's output voltage.

It was a no-brainer in our case because we wanted to change to AGM batteries anyway, for other reasons. We just had to look for AGM battery models that could be stored months at a time on around 13.6 volts without being damaged. We move a lot on our RV trips, so the engine alternator brings them up to full charge in just a few hours between camping spots if we have not been on hookups or generator power long enough at the last camping spot for the Parallax to fully charge them.

Phil, based on your postings of this over the years 🙂 I recently grabbed a 7445 (deck mount version of a 7345) at a garage sale to run my new AGM in the truck camper.

Mex says don't fuss with temperature compensation for the AGM Float, so the fixed 13.7ish will do for when on shore power at home or when actually camping with shore power.

I don't have your alternator charging, so I will still use a portable charger that does 14.6ish if the AGM ever needs recharging from low SOC, and for the once a year zap at 15.5v it should get according to the tech at that AGM place.

[Clay_L]

When I replaced my 7345 with a Progressive smart charger I kept the 7345, added a 120 volt cord/ plug to it and used it as a 20 amp power supply for my macerator. Easier than running wires 20 feet or so from the battery big enough to handle the 20 amps plus start up surge.

[SoundGuy]

time2roll wrote:
Save the 7300 and reinstall before you trade again.

BFL13 wrote:
Good plan, but if the OP ordered a deck mount converter? Then IMO just leave the 7300 in place and put the deck mount as close to the batts as possible in the rig. Run a 120v receptacle to near there to plug in the deck mount converter.

SoundGuy wrote:
X2. There's no need at all to even touch the Parallax ... just leave it where it is and turn it off. sly keep the CTEK and simply turn the WFCO back on again ... a FAR better solution than physically replacing the converter. :B

pasusan wrote:
Yeah... But - this is for our class B - absolutely no extra room anywhere. Not to worry - we plan on keeping this RV for a very long time. 😉

Doesn't change my story 😉 ... apparently you've already purchased the PD so I guess you're stuck with it but in your shoes, because your current Parallax is otherwise working just fine, I would have just left it as it and instead invested in CTEK or NOCO portable charger, any of which will have a much smaller footprint than any converter/charger and which can be used anywhere at any time and not require any modification of the RV itself. JMO. 😉

[pasusan]

SoundGuy wrote:

time2roll wrote:
Save the 7300 and reinstall before you trade again.

BFL13 wrote:
Good plan, but if the OP ordered a deck mount converter? Then IMO just leave the 7300 in place and put the deck mount as close to the batts as possible in the rig. Run a 120v receptacle to near there to plug in the deck mount converter.

X2. There's no need at all to even touch the Parallax ... just leave it where it is and turn it off. Since trailer batteries are most often mounted on the tongue the front pass through storage compartment that many trailers have is the perfect location for your new PD - out of the elements yet close to the batteries ... all you need is 120 vac to feed it and heavy gauge cable to run to the batteries. I'm doing precisely the same thing with my recently acquired CTEK Multi US 7002 charger which I'm using in place of the WFCO 8955 converter which never bulk charges as it should at 14.4 volts. I've just turned the WFCO off and use the CTEK instead ... when/if I sell the trailer I'll obviously keep the CTEK and simply turn the WFCO back on again ... a FAR better solution than physically replacing the converter. :B

Yeah... But - this is for our class B - absolutely no extra room anywhere. Not to worry - we plan on keeping this RV for a very long time. 😉

[SoundGuy]

time2roll wrote:
Save the 7300 and reinstall before you trade again.

BFL13 wrote:
Good plan, but if the OP ordered a deck mount converter? Then IMO just leave the 7300 in place and put the deck mount as close to the batts as possible in the rig. Run a 120v receptacle to near there to plug in the deck mount converter.

X2. There's no need at all to even touch the Parallax ... just leave it where it is and turn it off. Since trailer batteries are most often mounted on the tongue the front pass through storage compartment that many trailers have is the perfect location for your new PD - out of the elements yet close to the batteries ... all you need is 120 vac to feed it and heavy gauge cable to run to the batteries. I'm doing precisely the same thing with my recently acquired CTEK Multi US 7002 charger which I'm using in place of the WFCO 8955 converter which never bulk charges as it should at 14.4 volts. I've just turned the WFCO off and use the CTEK instead ... when/if I sell the trailer I'll obviously keep the CTEK and simply turn the WFCO back on again ... a FAR better solution than physically replacing the converter. :B

[pnichols]

There is one situation in which your Parallax 73XX converter can be an all-right charger/maintainer for a certain kind of RV battery:

Keep the Parallax .... and instead use the money you would have spent to replace your battery with one that is specified to require the same voltage for storing (floating) it as the single fixed voltage Parallax puts out - and will also charge good enough for many camping styles(ies) using only the single fixed voltage as the Parallax puts out.

i.e. We have had only a Parallax 7345 converter in our RV for over 10 1/2 years. But we changed to AGM batteries that are specified to be stored (floated) on 13.5 to 13.8 volts. In addition, since AGM batteries have much lower internal resistance than liquid acid batteries - they will also charge fast enough (for some camping styles) using only the Parallax's output voltage.

It was a no-brainer in our case because we wanted to change to AGM batteries anyway, for other reasons. We just had to look for AGM battery models that could be stored months at a time on around 13.6 volts without being damaged. We move a lot on our RV trips, so the engine alternator brings them up to full charge in just a few hours between camping spots if we have not been on hookups or generator power long enough at the last camping spot for the Parallax to fully charge them.

[BFL13]

time2roll wrote:
Save the 7300 and reinstall before you trade again.

Good plan, but if the OP ordered a deck mount converter? Then IMO just leave the 7300 in place and put the deck mount as close to the batts as possible in the rig. Run a 120v receptacle to near there to plug in the deck mount converter.

[time2roll]

Save the 7300 and reinstall before you trade again.

[westend]

One thing I hadn't thought of - all the things I will be doing (and spending money on) a second time

Sell the things you pull for replacement. The cost differential will be covered by increased battery longevity.

[pasusan]

OK... I ordered it. (sigh)

Since we will be boondocking and wanting to charge the battery faster...

Thanks everyone!


One thing I hadn't thought of - all the things I will be doing (and spending money on) a second time. :R

[midnightsadie]

replace it with the prog. it,ll work just fine 24,7

[time2roll]

7300 is a fixed 13.6 voltage converter. Fine in the Winter and mild days plugged in 24/7. Summer in TX you will need to check the water level more often. Also slow to charge if using a generator.

PD would be better in all conditions.

[BFL13]

The 7355 in our 2003 trailer still works just fine. It's 13.8v is good for a Float voltage except in hot weather. If hot out, just add water to the batts more often. No big deal.

If you want automatic temperature compensated Floating, you need a different sort of maintenance charger.

If you are off grid and want a fast recharge to keep generator time to a minimum, the 7355 won't do. You need a charger that will do over 14v ( 14.8v is best). I have a separate charger for that job, and use the 7355 for leaving the trailer plugged in at home.