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Old 06-16-2010, 04:28 AM   #1
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I was trying to find out if the converter that came with my '09 ST31QB has a "3 stage" battery charging feature or if it is the kind that can potentially overcharge and harm my battery if left connected too long. Does anyone know where I can find more details on that?

My battery started dying the in my first camping season, and now its totally dead after the winter. I left it hooked up to my trailer, and the trailer plugged between camping trips and over the winter.

We only camped at places with full hookups, so I know I never drained the battery excessively. I am just trying to find out what killed the battery. Maybe I never discharged it enough, or maybe the cold temps outside in the winter killed the battery. Or maybe the converter overcharged it and "boiled out" the water from the battery. It is a sealed "no maintenance" battery, so I cannot add more water.

Thanks for any info on the converter, or advice in new batteries, new converters, etc.



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Old 06-16-2010, 06:09 AM   #2
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I dont know if you have a 3 stage converter, mine was a 2 stage in my 04 Cruiser.



I didnt have problems with mine but had a new battery and my TT is 6 yrs old so I just changed it out to avoid it puking on the road.



I researched alot of the 3 stage converters and found mine on ebay. The converter I got is this one at this url: http://www.progressivedyn.com/prod_details/rv_conv/rv_converter_pd9260c_2.html



I feel it was the best bang for the buck, you can spend alot of dough on a converter thats for sure. I also did searches on other forums and seen that alot of other people also went with this converter too with the charge wizard pendant.



If you do a search on ebay you can find them for a pretty good price. I think I paid about $175.00 for mine the 60 Amp with the charge wizard pendant included. I really like it, it gives peace of mind because I know my battery isnt out there boiling away. I also keep mine plugged in all winter and havent had no problems with it since I put it in last fall.



hope this helps
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Old 06-16-2010, 09:23 AM   #3
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Thanks for the advice. I went through my RV today and found the manual for the converter. The model is WF-8955PEC. A quick google search found the specs:
http://www.wfcoelectronics.com/index...&Itemid=77

It does say it is a 3 stage converter. The voltages listed for the different modes are not the same as in the manual, maybe they made a mistake in the manual and corrected it since.

I wonder if some 3 stage converters are better then others, or if I should be all set knowing I have a 3 stage one. (I should assume my battery died in a year because of other issues?)

Thanks again


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Old 06-16-2010, 09:34 AM   #4
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to answer my own question - it looks like the one you linked also has a "<str&#111;ng style="font-weight: 400;">DESULFATION MODE" [/b]which sounds like an improvement in maintaining a battery over a long period of time.
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Old 06-16-2010, 09:41 AM   #5
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Im thinking that something else fried the battery. Maybe it wasnt full of water from brand new, that can happpen.



The battery I have is an Interstate and I would have gone with one from Walmart if the dealer I bought mine from didnt offer the interstate to me for $50.00. When he offered it for that cheap I took it no problem.



There are only a few companies that make all the batteries we use and if you research them alot of guys with trolling motors and some trailers just use the Walmart batteries or Sam's club batteries, they are cheap and have a good return policy. Also there are Sam's clubs and Walmarts all over the US so if your battery pukes out on a trip a new one is as close as the closest Walmart for an exchange. Some have had thought to replace them every year but if they take em back and give ya a brand new one every year ya cant beat that in my opinion. I know when mine pukes Im going right to Walmart. LOL
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Old 06-16-2010, 10:54 AM   #6
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I wouldn't go to Wal Mart if they were giving them away, I hate even driving by that place.



Sorry for the rant,



This mesage brought to you by Crown Royal
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Old 06-16-2010, 11:42 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gtoguy1967
I wouldn't go to Wal Mart if they were giving them away, I hate even driving by that place.



Sorry for the rant,



This mesage brought to you by Crown Royal
I 2nd that... Walmart and it's shoppers are partially to blame for this economy.


And I like Crown. It's good on the rocks or with some 7-UP.
Edited by: salda01
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Old 06-16-2010, 11:45 AM   #8
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No problem with the rant.



I used to drin CR myself but now find that I like single malts better for some reason.
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Old 06-16-2010, 11:56 AM   #9
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Wow, I figured I would get scalded( still might I guess )



That Place is going to ruin this country, Cheap is only so good and only last so long.



Converters are like tires, I dread the day I have to replace one of them.

The battery doesn't bother me at all, I just got one of these to put in mine, http://www.lmrbatteries.com/odyssey_...FRE95Qod5CCkSg
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:00 PM   #10
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Whats a Walmart?????

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Old 06-16-2010, 12:01 PM   #11
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hey your entitled to rant as we all are. No worries here



The converter isnt that hard to replace, it took me about 2 hrs total to do mine and thats with tearing out the old one and retro fitting the new one in its place. Its only, I think 4-5 wires. The hardest part is just removing and replacing the unit itself.
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:05 PM   #12
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Quote:
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Whats a Walmart?????
That must the dinning area next to flying j you were telling me about.
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:08 PM   #13
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I guess Walmart is a bad word around here huh? LOL
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:09 PM   #14
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OOO the flying J now thats a classy place!! I used to be a truck driver and I avoided them like the plague, they suck if you ask me. Bad food bad service and not safe at all.
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:11 PM   #15
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You going to let him talk about your campground that way Frank?????????????

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Old 06-16-2010, 12:15 PM   #16
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:48 PM   #17
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We went to a Pilot this weekend, Wow did that suck. I like filling with the big trucks, Lots of room to move and it makes me feel special











This thread has gone to the birds lol
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:54 PM   #18
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Yes this one has been jacked for sure.



Aw come on you dont need much room to move, heck it aint that big of a rig, its tiny compared to a 53 ft trailer with a double sleeper tractor pulling it. And that really aint that big either pulling doubles or triples, or a goose neck with helper dollies on the back end now thats big.



And yes most Pilots suck too. I like the TA's or the company yards thats where I used to stay when I was over the road.Edited by: fixit5561
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Old 06-16-2010, 12:55 PM   #19
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FYI, dunno if it's a no-no to link to other forums, but I started a thread in rv.net about my issue also, and someone said that my converter is putting the full 55A to charge my battery when in bulk mode, and said all that amperage is what killed by battery early. They recommended getting 2 6V batteries which would be better matched to a 55A charger?

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/24089420.cfm


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Old 06-16-2010, 01:01 PM   #20
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Put a meter on there and tell us how many Volts you are getting. I would un hook it and let it sit for an hour and see what it is un hooked.
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