May-09-2015 12:59 PM
May-16-2015 06:44 AM
May-16-2015 06:25 AM
westend wrote:
If your battery had a OCV voltage of 12.8V and the tender or converter was powered with an output of 12.8V, there would be no charging at all. The charging device needs to have a voltage greater than the battery.
Your converter will vary the CURRENT into the battery at a slightly greater voltage to keep the battery charged. The tender, AFAIK, operates at 1.25A with a voltage greater than the battery to keep it charged. The tender may lower the current or interrupt the charge when it senses the battery is full. It depends on how the tender is built.
FWIW, I made a small trickle charger using a wall transformer. The transformer was rated at 12V, 300mA Measured output without a load was 16V. Using the trickler with a partly discharged battery, the voltage of the battery gradually rose over three days to 14V, at which time I unplugged the charger. The next day, the OCV voltage of the battery was 12.7V. Hope this example helps.
May-15-2015 01:55 PM
smkettner wrote:
13.2 can be left on indefinitely even in hot 100+ temperatures.
Many older converters held 13.8 volts and that is a bit high.
The 12 Volt Side of Life
May-15-2015 12:23 PM
May-15-2015 09:28 AM
Barkoff wrote:no
Is the fact that I hook up to the positive and negative terminals that the batteries feed to and accessories hook up to,l and not the batteries themselves, a problem?
May-15-2015 09:09 AM
May-15-2015 08:54 AM
westend wrote:Barkoff wrote:What voltage do you think would be correct?smkettner wrote:
13.2 can be left on indefinitely even in hot 100+ temperatures.
Many older converters held 13.8 volts and that is a bit high.
The 12 Volt Side of Life
OK, so if my camper converter with the battery switch on is supplying a constant 13.2, that is OK to leave on for weeks on end?
I went through two Interstate batteries in one year doing that? I'll try it again and make sure it isn't feeding the batteries more than 13.2 0r 13.4
I think we've already established that many owners are supplying charge continually with success.
The demise of your previous Interstate batteries may have been because you were reluctant to keep them charged. Left in a depleted state, they will sulfate and then will be going to the battery hospice.
FWIW, I have five batteries in two banks. Both banks have been charged daily with a temp compensated voltage of 14.8 V in bulk. The daily regimen, when in storage, keeps the float voltage above 13.6. I have added water twice in the last year and the wet cells have an SG of close to 1.30. It just can't get much better than that.
May-14-2015 10:00 PM
Barkoff wrote:What voltage do you think would be correct?smkettner wrote:
13.2 can be left on indefinitely even in hot 100+ temperatures.
Many older converters held 13.8 volts and that is a bit high.
The 12 Volt Side of Life
OK, so if my camper converter with the battery switch on is supplying a constant 13.2, that is OK to leave on for weeks on end?
I went through two Interstate batteries in one year doing that? I'll try it again and make sure it isn't feeding the batteries more than 13.2 0r 13.4
May-14-2015 09:06 PM
May-14-2015 08:51 PM
smkettner wrote:
13.2 can be left on indefinitely even in hot 100+ temperatures.
Many older converters held 13.8 volts and that is a bit high.
The 12 Volt Side of Life
May-14-2015 07:19 PM
May-14-2015 06:53 PM
smkettner wrote:Barkoff wrote:
The converter is a Progressive Dynamics pd4045ka.
It states that the output is 13.6 which is what is consistent with what my multimeter shows. When left on shore all day the batteries seem to max out at at 12.6
This one? http://www.progressivedyn.com/all_in_one_pd4000.html
This should have the Wizard controller for 14.4, 13.6 and 13.2 volt charging. Unless it is an OEM version that needs to have the Wizard added.
http://www.progressivedyn.com/pdfs/110145%20English%20Only.pdf
Battery Tender Plus is an excellent maintenance charge that can be left on continuous. So let it run. The output amps are low so it will take an extended period to charge.
May-14-2015 04:28 PM
May-14-2015 01:31 PM
Barkoff wrote:
The converter is a Progressive Dynamics pd4045ka.
It states that the output is 13.6 which is what is consistent with what my multimeter shows. When left on shore all day the batteries seem to max out at at 12.6