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offgrid
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Topic: Is my WFCO converter/charger killing my batteries? Posted: 09 Sep 2021 at 9:07pm |
Understood. In that case you might want to consider getting a DC power supply which would allow you to adjust voltage and current levels manually to the values you want, in this case as prescribed by Trojan. The benefit of the adjustable power supply is that you could set it for batteries with different requirements in the future, or even for others uses. You could eave your batteries on the WFCO on a day to day basis, but use the power supply at intervals per your or Trojan's specs.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Welchsoft
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Posted: 09 Sep 2021 at 7:20pm |
The challenge for me at this point is to find a technical solution. I assume that tricking the WFCO will still only produce 14.2V. I just want to purchase the solution that will charge my T105 correctly to maintain them based on the manufactures recommendations. I appreciate the feedback about what will work 'fine' but I want to be 'optimal'. Not that I'm not concerned about cost, but I'd like to understand the best solution and then weigh the cost. Thanks everyone.
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offgrid
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Posted: 09 Sep 2021 at 4:24pm |
Originally posted by StephenH
I wouldn't be concerned with equalization. If they were 12V running in parallel, then it might be an issue. Since they are 6V run in series, equalization is not the issue you think it is. Just think of it as one 12V battery. You don't worry about equalization with your tow vehicle's 12V battery. Don't worry about it with the Trojans, provided you keep track and don't discharge them below 50% and don't leave them discharged. If you can't leave the RPod plugged in, charge them and then use a battery disconnect (connected on the positive side) or disconnect the battery by removing the negative terminal leading to the RPod. Periodically check and charge if needed. |
This is not quite correct. The reason the Trojans want a higher charge voltage and occasional equalization is because they are not the same chemistry as automotive batteries. The deep cycle golf cart batteries use antimony as a lead alloy which allows them to tolerate deeper and more frequent discharges but at the expense of higher water consumption, higher charge voltage, and higher equalization requirements than auto start, lights and ignition (SLI) atteries.
So you could either consider getting a separate charger to equalize the Tojans occasionally, or "trick" the WFCO into spending more time at higher charge voltage by turning it off and back on occasionally. This is not an exact science but depends on frequency and depth of discharge as well as temperature and charge rates. Trojan is being very precise in their requirements for warranty purposes.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Posted: 09 Sep 2021 at 8:28am |
I wouldn't be concerned with equalization. If they were 12V running in parallel, then it might be an issue. Since they are 6V run in series, equalization is not the issue you think it is. Just think of it as one 12V battery. You don't worry about equalization with your tow vehicle's 12V battery. Don't worry about it with the Trojans, provided you keep track and don't discharge them below 50% and don't leave them discharged. If you can't leave the RPod plugged in, charge them and then use a battery disconnect (connected on the positive side) or disconnect the battery by removing the negative terminal leading to the RPod. Periodically check and charge if needed.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Welchsoft
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Posted: 09 Sep 2021 at 4:58am |
The part that confuses/concerns me is the 14.8V that Trojan recommends. My charger doesn't put that out.
Also seems that if I want to equalize I will need a stand alone charger, as even some of the Progressive Dynamics that I look at don't equalize at 15.5.
Thanks for the input.
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offgrid
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Posted: 08 Sep 2021 at 4:49pm |
You should be ok. If you wanted to hit your batteries with a 15.5V
equalization charge occasionally you could do that with another charger, but that is a really high voltage and not normally needed unless you have left the batteries at partial state of charge for long periods, which allows sulfation of the plates. The high voltage blows the sulphate off.
You can get the WFCO to go into absorption mode if you shut it off and then bring it back up which should accomplish the equalization for most usage.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posted: 08 Sep 2021 at 3:21pm |
WFCO converter will work with the Trojan batteries just fine. The only time you would have issues is if you fail to check the water level and add distilled water as needed. We used a pair of 6V GC2 batteries for a few years but I wanted to change to an LiFePO4 battery. That required a change to a different converter module suitable for it.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...
ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Welchsoft
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Posted: 08 Sep 2021 at 2:44pm |
I may not actually have a problem but want to get some feedback since at the beginning of the season upgraded to duel V6 Trojan 105 batteries and want to protect my investment. Trojan charging instructions indicate charge voltage setting should be Absorption 14.8, Float 13.2 and Equalize 15.5. My WFCO 8735P Converter manual indicates Absorption 13.6, Float 13.2 and nothing about Equalize, although it mentions Bulk 14.4. Since my converter is never putting 14.8 volts to my charging cycle is my converter/charge properly maintaining my Trojan batteries, or should I take some preemptive measures?
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