Time for a new converter..

[TurnThePage]

My 11 year old WFCO 35 amp deck mount unit is checking out. Time for something new.

At one time, I was considering upgrading the wiring, etc., but my little solar set up has really taken pretty good care of the batteries. So.. I'm just looking to install another deck mount unit with perhaps a bit more power and a few more bells and whistles. I figure a 60 amp unit should be more than enough for my two T105s.

It will be about 3 feet from my bed, so I'm hoping for a fairly quiet unit that can quickly top off the batteries and take good care of them the rest of the time if needed.

I've window shopped bestconverter.com. A few good choices there. What would you select?

[BFL13]

You can leave the solar "on" the whole time regardless of what the converter is doing.

I like the adjustable voltage PowerMax units Randy sells. Range dial from about 12 to 15.5v. That way you can set your own preferred voltage and invent your own charging profile as to when to change the voltage from absorption to float.

That beats the Charge Wizard method which only has the three voltages to choose from, and the highest is 14.4v. You do need to be able to get at the adjustment knob but that is/can be easy with a deck mount installation.

You mentioned fan noise. With the higher amp converter you might get the fan more than you are used to with the old converter that never worked hard.

I don't have info on how much noise each brand of converter makes. There will be some fan noise when any of their fans come on, can't be helped. Keep in a well-ventilated place to reduce heat build up and so fan running time.

[landyacht318]

The powermaxes, once they get the battery to 14.6v, assuming short thick wiring, drop to 13.x something or other and the 85% to 100% stage takes probably 24 hours or more.

The PD9245 might not do Trojan's recommended 14.8v, but it will hold 14.4v for 4 hours when asked to do so. With the PM, one is powerless to hold higher voltages when desirable.

If generator charging day after day is in your schedule, the 4 hours of PD's 14.4v will return the battery to a higher SOC than the PM's 14.6v, and battery capacity will walk down less fast.

As far as combining with other charging sources, Once the battery voltage gets to the maximum abosrption voltage of one device, it will drop out as the other takes over and raises the battery voltage to its maximum.

Yes charging sources can confuse each other when batteries get in the 80% charged range or higher, but usually work together well below that state of charge.

[TurnThePage]

Randy at BestConverter is steering me toward the Boondocker PMB4 series, which have a 14.6v boost mode, which is closer to my T105s preferred 14.8v than most other converters, aside from that "PD9245C-14.8v" that doesn't actually seem to exist.

Anybody have experience combining these automatic charging devices with automatic solar charging devices? I also use a MorningStar Sunsaver MPPT. I wonder if one could ever confuse or interfere with the other, for instance when it goes into its automatic "conditioning" cycle.

[Bobbo]

The 4600 series matches the 9200 series for performance. The 9100 series needs the optional pendant to match the 4600 and 9200 series as they come.

The 9100 series needs the optional pendant.
The 9200 series comes with that functionality included.
The 4600 series comes with that functionality included, but the pendant's functions are moved to the 12v distribution circuit board. You can modify a 9100 style pendant to work with the 4600, but it is not necessary. I can see the need only if you can't bend down to see/operate the 12v distribution circuit board.

[dstr_59]

does the PD 4160 match the 9100 series for performance?
I'd like to toss one in place of the converter in my P-lax 7300.

[RJsfishin]

I don't know exactly what PD converters w/pendant do, but what ever they do, they do it right !
If you want fast charging, and hate checking battery levels every few months, and want your batteries to last 8-10 yrs, and want all that in one package, PD converters stand alone......IMO, and have for 20 yrs.

[TurnThePage]

Lots of great input! For what it's worth, my generator is a Yamaha EF2800i. Plenty of grunt for pretty much any converter. Typically I don't need it very often either. I'm more interested in a set it and forget it solution, especially when the snow is deep and blue sky rare. Though I have to admit that scenario has been rare itself lately. What about this PD9245C-14.8v converter with the pendant? For a lazy guy that's more interested in IPA IBUs than specific gravity...

[NinerBikes]

smkettner wrote:
I would go down to a 30 amp IOTA but I am crazy like that.

This /\, and a Honda Eu1000i, and their pendant.

[time2roll]

I would go down to a 30 amp IOTA but I am crazy like that.

[Bobbo]

The reason I upped mine from 45 amps to 55 amps when I went from a Parallax/Magnatek 7345 to a Progressive Dynamics PD4655 was to get the batteries up to the 85% SOC faster. For what it's worth, I also upped my wiring from 8g to 4g at the same time.

[pianotuna]

I would stay at 45 amps. After the Trojan's get to 85% state of charge they will only accept about 35 amps. From there on, the solar system can top up the jars.

Iota PD and Powermax would all be good.

[tenbear]

I installed a PD9260 in place of the old Magnetek in mine and replaced the converter to battery wire with #4. It was #8 before the change. I have never heard the fan in the 9260.

[sjturbo]

I had a WFCO35 that died also. I upgraded to a PD9270 (w/Charge Wizard) because I also upgraded to four Crown CR235's. The converter is about a foot from the batteries and all is in the basement so I never hear anything, (the fan is actually very quiet.! I use a Honda 3000 to keep them up. I would recommend going with what ever your generator can handle!

[Wet_Coast]

I just stuck a PD9160 in my unit this past summer. I have 4 6v batts and a Honda 2000 gennie. The 60 map unit with the Charge Wizard makes for some pretty fast top ups; keeping gennie run time down and the DW and neighbors happy!.