Converter 3 stage charger timeline
Hey all! Wondering how long I need to plugin my travel trailer before hitting the open road to reach the trickle charge stage. I have a Power Max PM55 converter charger and two 12 volt 82 amp hour b...
Forum Discussion
55 amps on 164AH battery bank is 33% charging rate, so expect Bulk to end at just under 65% SOC (107AH)
So you do 82-107 = 25AH at the constant 55 amps for 30 minutes to get the bank to 14.4 volts and the converter drops to 13.6 volts for the Absorption stage to do the remaining 57AH. Allow at least 8 hours.
You only need the 13.2 stage if you are not using the RV. If camping on shore power it will stay at 13.6 where you want it.
That assumes you have the basic PowerMax 55 amper that does 14.4. There are other PM 55s that have different profiles. Some go to 14.6 and some go to 14.8. Some have adjustable voltages.
On shore power you have the time for your basic converter to get the job done, so no problem. The basic one is not so good for recharging with a generator since it takes so long at that 13.6v. For a generator recharge while camping you want a charger that gets to 14.8 and stays there until you shut off the generator at say 90% SOC. Few brands/models of any RV converter can do that. (The adjustable voltage one can)
So you do 82-107 = 25AH at the constant 55 amps for 30 minutes to get the bank to 14.4 volts and the converter drops to 13.6 volts for the Absorption stage to do the remaining 57AH. Allow at least 8 hours.
You only need the 13.2 stage if you are not using the RV. If camping on shore power it will stay at 13.6 where you want it.
That assumes you have the basic PowerMax 55 amper that does 14.4. There are other PM 55s that have different profiles. Some go to 14.6 and some go to 14.8. Some have adjustable voltages.
On shore power you have the time for your basic converter to get the job done, so no problem. The basic one is not so good for recharging with a generator since it takes so long at that 13.6v. For a generator recharge while camping you want a charger that gets to 14.8 and stays there until you shut off the generator at say 90% SOC. Few brands/models of any RV converter can do that. (The adjustable voltage one can)
