Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: When to turn the charger on? (Read 1654 times) previous topic - next topic

When to turn the charger on?

We don't run our Xantrex Prosine 3.0 charger/inverter full-time.  It may have a problem with its cooling fan (noisy) which I'm having checked out next week.  So we turn it on for a few hours each day usually when the house batteries get down below 12.5 volts.  According to a chart I found on the web, this voltage would represent about a 75% charge IF the batteries were left alone for several hours for the voltage to stabilize.  But obviously, I don't do that. 

So my question is, what is the best voltage to start recharging the batteries?  Is it better to take them down to a lower voltage before recharging?  And would the battery voltage tend to read high or low when not at equilibrium (or whatever one would call that state when they have "rested" for several hours after a charge).

Thanks in advance.
The selected media item is not currently available.
George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #1 –
The less deeply you discharge the batteries, the longer they will last.

And, after charging, before batteries are considered "At Rest", voltage will read high.

With a quality 3-4 stage charger like you have, program it properly and leave it plugged in 24/7 for longest battery life.

Brett Wolfe
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #2 –
I have AGMs, house and starter, which can take a lot of abuse. So I charge them whenever I'm connected to a pedestal.
 How many amp-hrs do you have in your house batteries/what are running?

- that you get down to 12.5v every day?
 best, paul

___

'Thriving not Surviving'

See LazyDazers.com to get an affordable blog
 
 On Sun, Jul 4, 2010 at 12:40 PM, George Hatfield
Quote
do that.  So my question is, what is the best voltage to start recharging the batteries?  Is it better to take them down to a lower voltage before recharging?  And would the battery voltage tend to read high or low when not at equilibrium (or whatever one would call that state when they have "rested" for several hours after a charge).
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #3 –
We have three large AGM house batteries.  I can't see any size designation on them, but they fill the house battery compartment.  I've assumed they are the original batteries, but I'm not sure.  It has been fairly cold on our trip thus far with temps during the day rarely above 70 and lows in the 50s.  We left Las Cruces in late April.  We're currently in Anacortes, WA.  The furnace fans are 12 volt as are the fans and lights, thus the draw is probably fairly heavy under the current circumstances. 

As I mentioned in my first post, I've been hesitant to run the charger/inverter 24/7 because I suspect it's cooling fan may be going out.  It's loud enough to be heard in the coach, especially at night (a whine).  They don't make the Prosine 3.0 charger/inverter anymore, so a replacement would probably not be a simple "bolt in" project.  So I have been trying to make it through this trip by running it only about 6 hours per day.  We'll plan to pay a visit to FOT this fall for the coach's normal service, so I can get it fixed then if need be.  I realize using the batteries does wear them out eventually, so it is a trade off.

Next week we are going to take the coach to Infinity Coach in Sumner, WA to have our slide adjusted (they are HWH certified) and I will have the charger/inverter checked at that time.  I'm told there is a company near Infinity that bought a lot of the test equipment, etc., when Xantrex bought Prosine.  Hopefully they can shed some light on our charger/inverter situation and may even be able to repair it.

George

The selected media item is not currently available.
George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #4 –
George,
 I realize this guy is not close by to you, but he's really knowledgeable:
 http://lazydazers.com/index.cfm?fa=ShowItem&ID=2151
 Give him a call.  He diagnosed my problem and fix over the phone.
 best, paul

___

'Thriving not Surviving'

See LazyDazers.com to get an affordable blog
 
 

On Sun, Jul 4, 2010 at 4:07 PM, George Hatfield
Quote
We have three dlarge AGM house batteries.  I can't see any size designation on them, but they fill the house battery compartment.  I've assumed they are the original batteries, but I'm not sure.  It has been fairly cold on our trip thus far with temps during the day rarely above 70 and lows in the 50s.  We left Las Cruces in late April.  We're currently in Anacortes, WA.  The furnace fans are 12 volt as are the fans and lights, thus the draw is probably fairly heavy under the current circumstances. 

As I mentioned in my first post, I've been hesitant to run the charger/inverter 24/7 because I suspect the cooling fan may be going out.  It's loud enough to be heard in the coach, especially at night (a whine).  They don't make the Prosine 3.0 charger/inverter anymore, so a replacement would probably not be a simple "bolt in" project.  So I have been trying to make it through this trip by running it only about 6 hours per day.  We'll plan to pay a visit to FOT this fall for the coach's normal service, so I can get it fixed then if need be.  I realize using the batteries does wear them out eventually, so it is a trade off. 

Next week we are going to take the coach to Infinity Coach in Sumner, WA to have our slide adjusted (HWH certified) and I will have the charger/inverter checked at that time.  I'm told there is a company near Infinity that bought a lot of the test equipment, etc., when Xantrex bought Prosine.  Hopefully they can shed some light on our charger/inverter situation and may even be able to repair it.  George  George Hatfield  2003 U295 3610 (#6228)  2009 Honda CRV  www.geoandpat.com   
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #5 –
Hmmmmmm...
 This URL was stripped from my post:
 http://lazydazers.com/index.cfm?fa=ShowItem&ID=2151
 best, paul

___

'Thriving not Surviving'

See LazyDazers.com to get an affordable blog
 
 
Quote
On Sun, Jul 4, 2010 at 4:16 PM, Paul Smith      George,  I realize this guy is not close by to you, but he's really knowledgeable:     
1999 U320 40' 1200 watts on roof. 12cf AC/DC Cold plate fridge/freezer. VMS 240 CL Honda Element

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #6 –
Short term, consider mounting an additional muffin fan (any Radio Shack, etc) on the inverter's fan exhaust.

And the inverter/charger will generate less heat if left on (for example charging all the time at 10 amps or so) than to deeply discharge the battery bank and then turn the inverter/charger on for 6 hours in which case it will charge at a much higher rate (producing a lot more heat.

Also, go into the inverter/charger inverter charger programming and set it on the lowest charge rate to reduce heat production.

Brett Wolfe
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #7 –
You mentioned a loud fan noise that you attribute to the Prosine.

I had that same experience 2 days ago (the fan noise).  After I looked around carefully, and laid hands on the equipment in that utility bay (2003 34ft U-270 with lots of stuff in the left/river-side, middle cabinet), I was able to determine that the noise was from the cooling fan mounted on the ceiling, and that the Prosine was Ok - not hot or noisy.

I fiddled around with the various clamps used in the mounting of the fan, and was able to silence the loud vibrations.  We are now back to normal, almost inaudible, operation.


Worth taking a look!
Dan Spoor;  FTV 11082
Sold: 2003 34-ft U-270
(Sob!)

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #8 –
Dan....  I am aware of the ceiling fan and yes, it can be noisy.  But the noise I am concerned about is definitely coming from the Prosine 3.0.  It usually comes on for about a minute and then turns off.  Thanks for the suggestion though.  The ceiling fan has not come on much since the weather has been so cool.

George
The selected media item is not currently available.
George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #9 –
Fan is probably replaceable.  Most units have a standard computer-type flat muffin fan.

Xantrex Prosine 2.0 is a great replacement unit, completely different from 2.5 & 3.0, and much better in my opinion.  Has a 2,000 watt inverter, that covers all of our needs.  And most don't have enough battery bank to support 3,000 watts for very long.  The 2.0 charger has a great control panel which is more fully adjustable than the 2.0 & 3.0.

We installed our Prosine 2.0 ourselves, replacing original modified-sine-wave 2500.  Others on our Foretravel Group have also done the same.  Cost is about $1,500 and 2.0 fit just fine where our 2500 was mounted.  Feels good to have true-sine wave powering our expensive electronics.

Modified-sine-wave inverters can be hard (damage) on electronics, and in our case almost started a fire when a Trip-Lite surge protector burned up.

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #10 –
I've converted this to a Private Message. 
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #11 –
EVERYTHING is easily adjustable on the Prosine 2.0.  It only has one panel offered and it comes with the unit.  Download the user manual and check it out.

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #12 –
I've converted this to a Private Message
George Stoltz.  Retired from full-time living in a great Foretravel and now are back to living in a traditional sticks and bricks in Florida.

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #13 –
George....  I think the CURRENT Prosine 2.0 is not the same as the older Prosine 2.0.  Thus the confusion.  Xantrex no longer makes a 12 volt Prosine 3.0. 

Barry....  As I said above, I'll know more about what is going on with our Prosine 3.0 next week when we get some service from Infinity Coach.  I may be in touch later regarding the installation of a new 2.0 if I need to replace that unit.

Thanks for all the input from everyone.

George
The selected media item is not currently available.
George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: When to turn the charger on?

Reply #14 –
We have the following and I can adjust battery charge parameters, down to the 1/10th volt for bulk, acceptance & float and how long they stay at each level and how much a temp rise or fall will change the voltages.  I am not talking about just choosing type of battery and temperature setting. http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/238/docserve.aspx
Chapter 4 Configuration has the details.