โJul-19-2014 11:24 PM
โJul-26-2014 03:39 AM
โJul-25-2014 09:45 PM
โJul-25-2014 08:45 PM
โJul-25-2014 08:41 PM
โJul-21-2014 10:08 AM
Fortkentdad wrote:
Is the PD really worth twice the money?
โJul-21-2014 09:11 AM
RJsfishin wrote:
To answer some of the questions,.....hook them in parallel,.....less chance you will run them down beyond the 50% rule.
If you use more power than 50%, charge them,...one way or another, even if connecting jumper cables from TV.
โJul-21-2014 09:00 AM
โJul-20-2014 05:34 PM
Fortkentdad wrote:
Gotta figure out which bulbs to order off of eBay. Any recommendations?
โJul-20-2014 05:08 PM
โJul-20-2014 05:01 PM
tenbear wrote:
Lots of good advice re batteries. You might also consider reducing your battery power drain. If you haven't already switched over to LED lighting you might consider that. Switching to LEDs can reduce your lighting power drain by about 80%.
โJul-20-2014 04:57 PM
โJul-20-2014 04:42 PM
wa8yxm wrote:
I have seen many people yammer about the need for all batteries in a bank to be IDENTICAL (Same age, size, make, model Bla Bla Bla) . . . . . .
But for batteries in parallel.. You can mix and match so long as they are the same voltage and chemistry.
Mixing AGM, Flooded wet and Maintenance Free, .. Well, I have done it, with no problems but I can not recommend it (or against it)
But mixing two maintenance free (older and newer or bigger and smaller) no problem.
โJul-20-2014 04:34 PM
westend wrote:
My take: Connect both batteries together in parallel, having a master disconnect switch that interrupts the batteries from any 12V except for the break-away system.
OK - No idea how I would do that but I'm sure there is a Youtube on it.
. . .
If you have solar, connect it and leave it connected for storage considerations.
Gotcha - two panels to one controller - one connection to the parallel bank of two batteries.
....
Replacing the converter would obviate the use of a trickle charger as the newer converters will have the same function. The converter will also offer the capability of charging the batteries in a shorter time, something that is very important to those with generators. About the only thing "wicked" with the Genius charger is that the "boost" function operates at 16V (how many amps is unknown). That would be helpful to equalize an untended battery.
EXcept I got the "GENmini" which does not have the Boost feature - it is just two "smart" 4 amp chargers smucked together and waterproofed for marine or RV installation in the elements (mine is on the tongue) But I also figured out that when the batteries are in parallel I should only connect One of the two chargers hence making the 2 part of the GENmini-2 rather useless. - Taking that unit back to the store and going to replace the Converter after all. In the meantime the Solar can charge them up, or my "smart" marine 5 amp charger if they get low.
.......
The OP doesn't state what's wrong with the original WFCO converter but I wouldn't replace it with the same as there are many testimonials as to the superiority of the PD converters.
The WFCO is not putting out any Volts. Tested the unit with my multi-meter. 120 going in, zip coming out. Fan does not operate at all. Checked all fuses. Tested the unit directly touching the probes to the output wires on the bottom of the unit. Also tested it following the WFCO manual instructions. Nothing. I do think it is toast.
.......
It sounds like the SOC of the battery has been a guess (battery is dead on occasion).
My trailer does have a four LED battery test - I also test with a multi-meter. We tried to dry camp for a weekend with one battery - that's when it died. Heard later from some "friends" that they noticed in the middle of the night one of our outside lights was on - but they didn't want to wake us to tell us. Oh bother. Now I know why the battery died overnight. But one 27 DC battery is a little tight for a weekend.
......
This is a bad situation as even a hybrid marine battery will eventually have an early death from discharging it to less than 12V, especially if no immediate manner of charging is present. A battery monitor, an inexpensive 12V panel mount gauge, or a hand-held meter will indicate the state of charge so that early battery death is not imminent.
โJul-20-2014 04:14 PM
RJsfishin wrote:
The 4655 is the correct replacement, but expensive, only because it fits where the old one was. It is a price rip in reality.
The 9245 or 9260 are the same converters, except they are stand alone converters similar to a battery charger, and they connect just like a battery charger. If you have the space near your electrical panel, or near the batteries, I would prefer to go w/ the stand alone, and save the money at the same time. And you would leave the existing converter where it is. The 9260 (bigger amps, smaller size) just mite fit in place of the Wfco (have to check)
But if you drive in and say fix it, the 4655 it will be,