Parallax Converter
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 Progress...
Forum Discussion
My rig's previous two 12 volt AGM deep cycle batteries were branded as Interstates - but of course Interstate doesn't actually manufacture batteries. Interstate calls the particular battery that I used - a deep cycle 12V AGM battery, model DCM0100 - a "wheelchair" battery:
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/m/category/mobility/mobility-product-line
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/p/gaymar-retec-hirider-dcm0100?dsNav=N~2147384796-2147384903
I believe that C&D Technologies made the battery that I used previously and branded it for Interstate. Here's some links on the C&D Technologies "equivalent" AGM model (DCS-100HIT) - note in the 2nd link below that the specified Cycle Service Charging voltage is 14.4 to 14.8 volts (again, no mention of this as "maximum" or "required") and that the specified float voltage is 13.5 to 13.8 volts:
http://www.cdtechno.com/product/vrla/deep_cycle.html
http://www.batteryplex.com/sheets/DCS%2D100HIT.pdf
Here's a very interesting C&D technical paper (that is my go-to authority on how I take care of my RV's AGM battereis) on charging VRLA ("AGM") batteries. Especially note Figures 14, 15, and 16 on Pages 18 and 19, along with all the text talking about them. The verbage here and elsewhere in the paper seems to imply/support that charging exclusively at the lower value of 13.8 volts is no big deal - just maybe taking longer. But since AGMs charge faster anyway at all applied charging voltages, I've chosen to live with an otherwise perfectly good Parallax 7345 and instead put my money into AGM batteries that are designed to be safely floated at around 13.6 volts:
http://www.cdtechno.com/pdf/ref/41_2128_0212.pdf
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/m/category/mobility/mobility-product-line
http://www.interstatebatteries.com/p/gaymar-retec-hirider-dcm0100?dsNav=N~2147384796-2147384903
I believe that C&D Technologies made the battery that I used previously and branded it for Interstate. Here's some links on the C&D Technologies "equivalent" AGM model (DCS-100HIT) - note in the 2nd link below that the specified Cycle Service Charging voltage is 14.4 to 14.8 volts (again, no mention of this as "maximum" or "required") and that the specified float voltage is 13.5 to 13.8 volts:
http://www.cdtechno.com/product/vrla/deep_cycle.html
http://www.batteryplex.com/sheets/DCS%2D100HIT.pdf
Here's a very interesting C&D technical paper (that is my go-to authority on how I take care of my RV's AGM battereis) on charging VRLA ("AGM") batteries. Especially note Figures 14, 15, and 16 on Pages 18 and 19, along with all the text talking about them. The verbage here and elsewhere in the paper seems to imply/support that charging exclusively at the lower value of 13.8 volts is no big deal - just maybe taking longer. But since AGMs charge faster anyway at all applied charging voltages, I've chosen to live with an otherwise perfectly good Parallax 7345 and instead put my money into AGM batteries that are designed to be safely floated at around 13.6 volts:
http://www.cdtechno.com/pdf/ref/41_2128_0212.pdf
