Battery Charging

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   The time depends on state of charge. From the WFCO manual:

Converter Operation Modes

All WFCO power converters are automatic three-stage switching power supplies. The converter senses which mode it needs to be in by checking the RV system voltage.

The three modes/stages of operation include:
Absorption mode/Normal operation
Nominal battery charge and supplies power to appliances
Bulk mode/Charge mode
Fast battery charge and supplies power to appliances
Float mode/Trickle charge
Trickle battery charge during storage

Absorption Mode: During this mode, the converter output is in the 13.6 Vdc range. This is the normal operation mode. This mode provides the 12 Vdc and current required by the 12 Vdc RV appliances, as well as slow charging the battery.

Bulk Mode: In this mode, the output voltage of the converter will witch [SIC] to 14.4 Vdc range for a maximum of four hours. If the converter cycles between "Absorption and Bulk Mode", there could be a shorted battery cell or other issues.

Float Mode: In this mode, the converter is charging the battery with a trickle voltage of 13.2 Vdc. When the converter senses a demand (by turning on lights), the converter automatically returns to the "Absorption mode".

What is not addressed in the manual is the amperage that it being output to the battery during these charge modes. The converter is rated at 55 amperes, but just what amperage is being output at any given time is not addressed. The two T105 6V batteries are rated at 225 Amp-hours at the 20 hour rate. If they are discharged to 50%, then half of that amount will be needed to fully charge them (112.5 Ah). The rub is that while this is going on, power is likely being used for other purposes so that will extend the charging time some as well. If you have access to a clamp-on DC amp meter, you could check to see. I don't have one.

The other point is that I was reading on another forum that the WFCO converter will not go into bulk mode unless the voltage reading is less than 13.2V. There is no way to override this to force it into bulk mode for faster charging.

I have two Duracell GC2 215 Ah batteries. I should get a clamp-on amp meter myself so I can check on this.

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StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6288	Topic: Battery Charging Posted: 01 Jan 2018 at 3:31pm
	The time depends on state of charge. From the WFCO manual: Converter Operation Modes All WFCO power converters are automatic three-stage switching power supplies. The converter senses which mode it needs to be in by checking the RV system voltage. The three modes/stages of operation include: Absorption mode/Normal operation Nominal battery charge and supplies power to appliances Bulk mode/Charge mode Fast battery charge and supplies power to appliances Float mode/Trickle charge Trickle battery charge during storage Absorption Mode: During this mode, the converter output is in the 13.6 Vdc range. This is the normal operation mode. This mode provides the 12 Vdc and current required by the 12 Vdc RV appliances, as well as slow charging the battery. Bulk Mode: In this mode, the output voltage of the converter will witch [SIC] to 14.4 Vdc range for a maximum of four hours. If the converter cycles between "Absorption and Bulk Mode", there could be a shorted battery cell or other issues. Float Mode: In this mode, the converter is charging the battery with a trickle voltage of 13.2 Vdc. When the converter senses a demand (by turning on lights), the converter automatically returns to the "Absorption mode". What is not addressed in the manual is the amperage that it being output to the battery during these charge modes. The converter is rated at 55 amperes, but just what amperage is being output at any given time is not addressed. The two T105 6V batteries are rated at 225 Amp-hours at the 20 hour rate. If they are discharged to 50%, then half of that amount will be needed to fully charge them (112.5 Ah). The rub is that while this is going on, power is likely being used for other purposes so that will extend the charging time some as well. If you have access to a clamp-on DC amp meter, you could check to see. I don't have one. The other point is that I was reading on another forum that the WFCO converter will not go into bulk mode unless the voltage reading is less than 13.2V. There is no way to override this to force it into bulk mode for faster charging. I have two Duracell GC2 215 Ah batteries. I should get a clamp-on amp meter myself so I can check on this.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2630	Posted: 01 Jan 2018 at 3:04pm
	It's not really the capacity of the generator in this case, it's actually the capability of the WFCO 55-amp converter. That converter will output ~~ 660 watts maximum, which is well inside the capabilities of the generator. At 50% discharge you will have to put in ~~ 1350 watt-hours of energy. That assumes no conversion losses or other inefficiencies. So I would expect that the batteries could be brought up to full within 3 hours. That's largely a SWAG (Scientific Wild A** Guess), but should be in the ballpark. If you are using any 12 volt anything in the trailer during this period, it will take longer because it would take power away from the recharge function.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

ronahue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 316	Posted: 01 Jan 2018 at 1:58pm
	Assuming 2 Trojan T105 6 volt batteries and a Honda EU2000i generator (or shore power as they should be about the same) charging through the standard R-Pod converter approximately how long would it take to recover the batteries to 90% charge from a 50% charge. I'm not looking for an exact number just an estimate, 2, 4, 6, hours. A little background on the question I currently have two type 24 12 volt batteries and I am considering replacing them with the T105's. The 12 volt batteries will recover from 50% to about 90% in about 2 hours I am aware that the 6 volt take longer to recover. I am also aware of the many advantages of the 6 volt set up, however one video I watched indicated the recovery time on the 6 volt may be double that of the 12 volt batteries. Before you ask why not solar? That is another option I am looking at but for now I need to stay with the batteries and a generator. Thanks in advance, Ron
	Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated