PD converter and 6v battery help

[CentralCoastCam]

After cooking another set of 12v batteries with the WFCO 8855 converter, I've decided to replace the converter with a PD converter. My question I which one. The 4655V is the listed replacement,but the web site states this series can charge a battery to 90%. Should I go to th 9100 or 9200 series? They don't offer a 55 amp model in those series, so go to the 60 amp or 45 amp if I go to one of those?

Also which brand/model 6v batteries?

We only boondock once a year at the NASCAR race for 5 days. We run the parallel Honda 2000 when at the trailer except for quiet hours.

I tried reading through past posts, but got a I little overwhelmed/lost. Any advice or recommendations is appreciated.

[Bobbo]

I replaced my Parallax 7345 with a PD4655V and upgraded the wiring from the converter to the batteries from 8g to 4g. Works great. Goes into boost mode for a few hours, then drops to normal mode. After several more hours, drops to maintenance mode. Works like advertised. You will be happy with your 9260C

[Chopperbob]

They have two models of 6v gc batteries at
Sams Club in Oxnard. Best deal near you.
Bob

[mena661]

CentralCoastCampers wrote:


Thanks for the help. Ordered the 9260C today. Should be in Monday. Will get the Trojans next week. Are the T105's the best bet?

wa8yxm also just saw a post from you in another thread. Seems we share a profession.

T105's are great batteries.

[CentralCoastCam]

wa8yxm wrote:

And to the O/P.. 60 amp for the GC-2 batteries is the proper size. (Up to 70 but they don't make a 70)

Thanks for the help. Ordered the 9260C today. Should be in Monday. Will get the Trojans next week. Are the T105's the best bet?

wa8yxm also just saw a post from you in another thread. Seems we share a profession.

[wa8yxm]

RJsfishin wrote:
OP quote:
PD converter and 6v battery help
--------------------------------------
A PD converter just will not work w/ 6 volt !:)

RJ you forget here are no six volt batteries in RV's. they are only six volt batteries when you are carrying them to the RV from the battery store. Once they are properly installed they are two halves of a 2 piece 12 volt battery.

And to the O/P.. 60 amp for the GC-2 batteries is the proper size. (Up to 70 but they don't make a 70)

[SteveAE]

CentralCoastCampers,
It sounds like heat isn't that bad an issue, so agree with wa8yxm's post. I suspect you will appreciate the added capacity of two 6 volt batteries.
Steve

[RJsfishin]

OP quote:
PD converter and 6v battery help
--------------------------------------
A PD converter just will not work w/ 6 volt !:)

[wa8yxm]

Go with a 60 or 45 amp.... I will give you the talking points you decide.

Question: How much battery do you have?

Group 24, about 75 amp hours, 27 and 27 just below and over 100 respectively, Group 31 around 130, Pair of GC-2, Golf Car six volt, 230.

NOTE: as written these are all 12 volt batteries, "Pair of GC-2 (Six volt) = Big 12 volt)

If you have more than one 12 volt add 'em up. (IE two 24's 25+25=150)

Mutliply by 0.30 (30%)

(150*0.3=45)

And that is the size you want.

Now: From the battery's point of view, Smaller is better, that is charging at a max rate of 30% capacity is what Xantrex recommends, key word MAX (See lifeline note below) But charging at 10 percent is even better for battery life.

Of course that takes longer. (It is also what Trojan recommends).

Lifeline Note; Lifeline recommends 30 percent as the MINIMUM initial charge for their AGM batteries. Only company I have found to recommend a fast charge.

[CentralCoastCam]

SteveAE I'm in the Santa Ynez Valley near Solvang. We go to the Vegas race in March, so temps really vary from year to year ( was there the year is snowed and been there in the 90s).

I haven't put a volt meter on the WFCO, but suspect it isn't switching, as I understand that's a common occurrence with them. I will look at the wire gauge, and replace it if needed. The unit is about 5-6 feet from the batteries.

I know I probably don't "need" the 6v set up, but had it in my previous TC and was happy with it. Since I need to replace the batteries anyway, figured I would go that route.

[Pauljdav]

Either the 55 or the 60 will work great. As to all the questions regarding what the WFCO is doing to cook the batteries it was not going into float mode. I have had three different WFCO converters and none of them went into a proper float mode and cooked my batteries.

I have been very happy with the PD's I have replaced the WFCO models with.

Paul

[time2roll]

The 4655 and 9260 both charge at the same voltages and either will work beautifully with a pair of GC2.

Otherwise what was the 8855 doing to cook the batteries?

[CloudDriver]

Just last week I replaced the Parallax 7345 in our Minnie with the PD 4645 45 amp converter. The charger has 4 charging modes. The "boost mode" is supposed to bring the batteries to 90% charge in a few hours. The charger then switches to "normal mode" and continues to charge at a lower voltage. The third mode is "float", which maintains the full charge without boiling the batteries. The fourth mode is "desulfation". I bought the converter from Best Converter.

The only issue I had with the install was that the existing positive wire from the batteries to the converter was a few inches too short to reach the terminal on the new 12 volt distribution board. I had to do some rerouting of the wire under the cabinets to get it to reach.

My house batteries were already pretty well charged when I plugged in the shore power, so the new converter started off in normal mode, rather than boost mode. It took about 2 days before it went into float mode.

[SteveAE]

CentralCoastCampers,

I assume your boondocking at the NASCAR races is on asphalt in the summer? If so, I bet it is hot...and suspect your batteries are hot as well. I am not sure, but I don't think the PD converters have temperature compensation with a remote sensor (that can be mounted on one of the batteries). If they don't have this sensor, you really might be cooking your batteries. I recommend a charger (the RV world calls them converters) that has this feature.
In regards to how big a charger you should get, it might not really matter. Take a look at the wires between the existing charger and batteries. If they are small (like AWG 8 or smaller), then a bigger charger really isn't going to make much difference. With small wires, unless your charger is located within a few feet of your batteries, you will have significant voltage drop (which will help in the heat) and your batteries may never get properly charged. If your wire size is adequate, then the larger charger will charge the batteries faster (and make them even hotter).

Where on the Central Coast? Used to live in SLO.

Steve

[ScottG]

Go to the 9260 unless your battery cables are smaller than 6 wag or your charging while using a 1K watt genny or smaller.