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IOTA DLS -75/1Q4 power converter

July 18, 2017, 01:21:27 am

Hello all!  Is this the original power converter for my 93 U240?
I seem to have problems with batteries getting overcharged and I am wondering
if this is the problem..

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Re: IOTA DLS -75/1Q4 power converter

Reply #1 – July 18, 2017, 08:03:13 am

Dale,

It helps us help you, if when asking this type of question, you include a photo of the device.  I Googled your converter name, and found quite a bit of info on it.  Looks like a pretty decent unit, simply based on the product description.

Seeing your coach is the same model year as ours, I am going to guess that is not the original battery charger/converter.  It looks like much newer technology than what was available in 1993.  Photo below of the OEM charger/converter that was in our coach when we bought it.  It was boiling the conventional flooded batteries in the coach, and killed them soon after we acquired the coach.  We replaced the coach batteries with AGM's and upgraded to a newer charger/converter, similar to the one you have now.  Later, we made another upgrade step, replacing both our separate charger/converter and the stand-alone inverter with a single combination unit (Magnum MS2812).  Happy ever since!

If you think your present charger/converter is over-charging your batteries, you need to go through some logical trouble shooting steps.  Consult the owner's manual if you have it (or find it online) and be sure the unit is set properly for your battery type.  See if the manufacturer has a help or tech hotline where you could ask questions about how it is working.

IOTA DLS Series Frequently Asked Questions

Other members (smarter than me) may chime in with suggested checks you could do with a multimeter.  Here is one simple test:

DLS Troubleshooting Steps - Iota Engineering

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Re: IOTA DLS -75/1Q4 power converter

Reply #2 – July 18, 2017, 08:49:06 am

Dale,

No, it is not the OE converter-- at least with the IQ4 it is a lot smarter than the original converter.

Of course, that does not mean it is doing its job.

What is your float voltage at the house battery?  This time of year, in the 90 degree or so ambient temperatures, you would like to see in the low 13's.

IOTA documentation IOTA Product Specifications shows float voltage at 13.6 which is perfect for "human friendly" temperatures, but a little high for July Texas heat. 

A reasonable option is a 20 amp timer that you plug the converter into.  Set it to run half an hour a day-- best in early morning when ambient temperatures are a little lower.

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Re: IOTA DLS -75/1Q4 power converter

Reply #3 – July 18, 2017, 11:03:20 pm

Thank you chuck and brett!

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Re: IOTA DLS -75/1Q4 power converter

Reply #4 – July 19, 2017, 06:31:19 am

I installed an IOTA DLS-90 with the IQ4 smart dongle. It keeps the engine batteries topped off, which prolongs their life. The IQ4 is fixed at 13.65 volts, a little high but not harmful according to IOTA. I wish it had a long temperature compensation probe, to at least compensate between summer and winter. It's called a Smart Charger, but it's not too smart.

If you power down the IQ4 every day, it resets the weekly internal equalization timer, which increases the voltage weekly to 14.7 volts for one hour. I just installed flooded, sealed, VRLA (Valve Regulated Lead Acid) engine batteries in my U270.

Why do I have flooded lead acid start batteries? Because the pair of them combined output 2200 CCA amps. Engine starts FAST! Like Tim Taylor says: More power, ohhh ohhh, ohhh!

If you have AGM batteries, there is no need for equalizing since the electrolyte is held in suspension by glass mats and will not stratify like flooded batteries. Same with gel batteries. Equalization mixes up the flooded battery electrolyte, prolonging battery life and increasing CCA (Cold Cranking Amps). So, if you have AGM or Gel, there is no need to have the IOTA IQ4 on constantly. IOTA should re-engineer the IQ4 to provide a timer for topping off AGMs and Gel batteries (and lithiums to boot) daily.

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