On my Freedom Combi Inverter/Charger, there is a panel in the upper-left corner that appears (see photo) to have a selector panel for selecting battery types. I recently switched from Gel-Tech to Trojan T-105 wet cells. Do I need to enter a selection on this unit?
Thanks to all who reply.
Control depends on the age of the Xantrex Freedom inverter/charger.
The earliest ones had physical "dip switches" on the unit itself.
Later physical dip switches on the back of the remote panel.
Later yet, programmable from the remote panel (front of panel).
So really depends on AGE.
I don't know if you can see that picture, Brett, but that is the unit with what appears to be indicators and button switches on the upper left side. I guess another wuestion would be How critical is this to select between Gel and Wet batts?
An easy thing to select. Could be very costly (in terms of battery life) if incorrectly selected. They went to the trouble (and added COST) of adding this feature because it is important!
Gels would be overcharged at a wet/AGM setting by .2 volts. Continuously.
I will be the only one to say this......but.......it don't matter.
Not just to stir things up, or cause controversy, it may. If the inverter/charger voltage is so critical to your house AGM or Gel batteries (and I believe it is, that is why I bought an adjustable Xantrex SW2012 last year).
What about the alternator charge voltage and length of time charging AGM start batteries? I had a Balmar Amazon.com : Max-Charge MC614 Voltage Regulator, 12V w/o Harness : Sailing... (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00607M2TE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A36WDAL3PT7DON&psc=1) to feel safe with my expensive single Lifeline 8D starting battery on my previous rv. Now my FT with 2 AGM 34s, I am not being so protective, as they are new and have no cost four year replacement warranty. (I do still carefully watch state of charge voltage, and charging voltage.)
Foretravel built a system starting with the Unicoaches new that most have reported to be extremely long lasting. 12 years life quoted here a lot.
Good point about the idea of the alternator overcharging the batteries on long drives.
Foretravel used a voltage adjustable Leece-Neville alternator that after rebuild I adjusted to put 13.6 volts nominally.
Same as float on the charger.
Not temp corrected. Could be done but the engine batteries are in a hot area and in warm weather are surely being overcharged a bit.
Probably why they went to odyssey red tops as they were designed to dissipate heat better.
Magnum and lifeline both thought enough about the exact voltage per conditions to install separate profiles for the various battery types.
Running gels at a higher voltage than designed for will slowly reduce their CCA's. At some point the lower capacity will be noticeable. I am trying to postpone that time as long as possible.
The mk engineer thought that the latest gels from east penn with perfect care might be 20 year batteries.
I just like the max new condition I like to be there for a long time.
You guys are so lucky with the info and equipement available versus a large percentage of my manager time was constantly checking , filling , charging and replacing batteries in every coach. Hence the solar i started in 1986.
I have swapped out a hundred plus buldged batteries from overcharging long ago.
Wolfe10 mentioned the 13.6 volt alternator adjustment for long drives.
By random luck and undersized wiring my 14amp solar puts the same 13.6 volts at the battery.
Running and with the batteries in float the solar basically turns off the alternator for better mpg. Yea I know it's not a lot but everything helps