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Topic ClosedPotential converter problem
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DavMar View Drop Down
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Posts: 592 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Potential converter problem
    Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 3:12pm
+1 to both GlueGuy and fwunder who both are just describing the same functions differently.

Hooked up the "charge wizard" pendent to my Progressive Dynamics circuit board today. I like now having the options of stepping through different charging modes and being able to quickly diagnose a problem with the converter. 
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lgblau View Drop Down
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Posts: 140 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 1:46pm
Best explanation so far.
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fwunder View Drop Down
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Posts: 1676 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 1:04pm
Probably just a matter of semantics, but I like the way it is described in my PD4655 manual:
BOOST MODE

The output voltage is 14.4VDC to rapidly recharge the battery up to  90% of full charge.

NORMAL MODE

When the battery is between 50% and 90% charged. When in this mode the output voltage is 13.6VDC and the converter is safely completing the charge of the battery.

STORAGE MODE

In this mode the output voltage has been lowered to 13.2VDC, the RV battery is fully charged and the converter is maintaining the charge.

EQUALIZATION MODE

In this mode the output voltage is 14.4 Volts – Every 21 hours for a period of 15 minutes prevents battery stratification & sulfation – the leading cause of battery failure.
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Ben Herman View Drop Down
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Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 12:54pm
Originally posted by mcarter

Hey Ben,

Mine came from Amazon - Cllena - Triple function - Dual USB, LED 12V Gauge and 12V Lighter plug.

Thx!
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mrm435075 View Drop Down
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 12:48pm
If you are actually seeing 13.6v during 'Absorption' stage then something is wrong with the charger, or your battery because 13.5-13.8v is the 'Float' voltage for a 12v battery. 
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 12:14pm
GlueGuy,

I agree with chart and not seeing Bulk mode, why I said, I had not seen bulk voltage. My point was the absorbtion charge voltage is 13.6 or thereabouts not 14.1.
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 12:09pm
Hey Ben,

Mine came from Amazon - Cllena - Triple function - Dual USB, LED 12V Gauge and 12V Lighter plug.
Mike Carter
2015 178
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Ben Herman View Drop Down
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Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 10:11am
Originally posted by mcarter

BTW - I bought a combination gauge, that has LED voltmeter, 2 USB ports and a lighter style plug.

Hey Mike, I'm just now catching up on this thread - if you are able, would you mind sharing which voltmeter combo you used? Would like to purchase one myself. Thx!
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mrm435075 View Drop Down
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 9:59am
Nice chart GlueGuy. For the last 25 years my wife and I "camped" on our Catalina 36 Sloop. We rarely went to a marina preferring to anchor in quiet uncrowded coves of the San Jaun, and Canada's Gulf Islands. This required a lot of battery capacity to have refrigeration for 3-5 days. We had essentially 3 12v batteries. A house bank of 4 6v's wired to make 2 12v 225 AH Batteries, a battery switch to select either one, or both, plus a dedicated 12v starting battery. To charge I installed a unit that could charge each battery separately runnig through the Bulk, Absorption, and Float modes. It had settings for just Bulk and Absorption as well as just Float, plus a setting to float the batteries and power the dc devices needing power while on Shore Power. So I know a little about charging cycles and voltages.
Michael
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2629 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2018 at 9:21am
Originally posted by mcarter

Not sure about that, mine in bulk is over 14 volts. Float 13.1 and absorbtion is 13.6. The charging cycle is defined by battery charge status. I have never seen mine in bulk. I have a volt gauge and monitor 12V status. Mine cycles in 2 phases, which is normal for a properly charged and used battery.
You won't see bulk mode as a voltage. Most smart chargers are in bulk at the beginning of a charge cycle "on their way" to absorb mode. They will be limited by the maximum current the charger is capable of. Once they reach the absorb voltage, they will hold that voltage as the current slowly decreases. Once the current at the absorb voltage gets to "the set point", the charger will drop to float mode.

I have been installing remote solar-powered communications sites for over a decade. Here is a graph showing the different cycles and the voltage/current relationships. The equalization stage is not normally run every cycle; only "periodically", and some chargers won't have an equalization stage.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
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