New batteries

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Gunny

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I bought two Duracell 6 volt batteries, as yet uninstalled but I have the cases bought for them, I just don't want to have them on the trailer at the storage place.

When first hooking them up should I charge them with my regular charger from home or wait until I install my Progressive Power converter and am on my way? I have not tested their charge at all, they are just as they were when they came off the shelf. 

Thanks, Rob
 
Gunny said:
When first hooking them up should I charge them with my regular charger from home or wait until I install my Progressive Power converter and am on my way? I have not tested their charge at all, they are just as they were when they came off the shelf.
Yeah Rob, I would charge them before you install them. Are you planing on tying them together in series before you charge them? This way you can charge them both at the same time on one 12v charger.
They should be good if they are new, but if you have a friend or shop that has a load tester, I recommend doing that as well before you install, saving yourself a headache later.
 
I thought I would wired them up in series and charge if needed. I'm a bit concerned about this fancy new charger I have. I bought it from another member and apparently he bought a higher powered one and is not working right.

It;s not installed yet, just sitting in my living room taking up space.

I know there is a learning curve on this stuff, I just wish I picked it up quicker. Frustrating at times.

Rob
 
I have similar 6v batteries, the EGC2's from SAMs. They are also the Duracell in the gray not black case.

I followed SternWakes advice and took a volt reading, mine were both at 6.3. I then charged them both up overnight with my poopie garage charger. Then they read 6.7v.
I did that last week, and I have not re read them yet.

I also am about ready to install... I think we will be alright, lol!

But your right, this stchick is very nerve wrecking, but such fun!
The tuff part is not knowing if we make good decisions or not.
 
Gunny said:
I know there is a learning curve on this stuff, I just wish I picked it up quicker. Frustrating at times.
Relax, and breathe. This isn't a race. You'll be fine.
 
There are times it's almost comical in what I don't know. I talked to a VERY patient man at Northern Az Wind and Solar and he didn't laugh at me which sort of surprised me. He wants me to measure exactly how much room I have (Jimindenver did this) and he would help set up a small system without any bells and whistles.

So tomorrow if you read about some old fart falling off of his travel trailer it will be me. I was going to do it today but with the lightning going on I figured my luck I would get zapped.

This too shall pass but as Galldanb writes it is "nerve wracking" .

Rob
 
Bob

I told you I'd help you design a system but first you still have to answer the question of what do you want it to do. Without that answer I am just pissing in the wind as will anyone else be that designs a system for you.
 
Jim, I have explained as best I can what I want a system to do. I can't always predict when I'm laid up for a day and just watching TV or movies. I do have days my meds screw me up.. As you said, I have a limited amount of room for a panel.

I have to figure out on my own how much I can afford or what I can afford. Money is tight with no end in sight.

I know of no other way to do it other than talk to a place I can avoid freight charges at. They are having a sale and I sketched out what I wanted and told him what you said would fit.

Rob
 
If there will be days you are laid up watching TV or movies all day, then that's what you design it for. The worse case scenario. You might also consider lights, water pump, running the furnace along with watching TV.
 
There is no doubt I will have a generator, both to charge the batteries and to run the air conditioner as needed. Solar is great but I don't have the area or the expertise to get enough solar to keep up with all of my needs, some are more than just wanted, some are health related needs.

If I screw up, and I am sure I will and there will be those that point it out to me, well, it is on me. I've dealt with much more important things in my 67 years than a solar panel.

I detest being critiqued on a subject I am simply asking about.

Rob
 
Tell us about this battery charger. Make, model, whatelse?
 
If you mean me it's an uninstalled Intella-power. It has absolutely nothing to do with my original question. It's unused and in fact unopened sitting on my living room floor.

Rob
 
Rob.


Always best to keep the batteries fully charged.  While they should be fully charged when they leave the factory, and retailer, this is in reality, a pipe dream.

Your pd9245 is a good charger.  The member you bought it from simply did not want to cut the AC cord off to hardwire it to his system.

Hook one battery cable in series from the + of 6v battery 1, to - of 6v battery 2, this is now a 12v battery.

Run DC output  - cable from PD9245 to - of battery 1 and the + to battery 2.

You will have to provide the cables from PD to battery as it does not come with them.  You will likely need an Allen key to tighten the screws down on the stranded wire.

Plug in the remote/wizard into the plug on side of PD9245


After connected to the batteries, plug it into the wall and the PD shold seek 14.4v with upto 45 amps.

Your newly acquired batteries will likely only take this for a few moments until amps start tapering, but it should hold 14.4v for 4 hours before reverting to 13.6, and eventually 13.2v.  You will likely be able to hear the batteries bubbling, perhaps the occassional gurgle.  NO worries.

You can also force it to 13.6v by holding the button on wizard/pendant for a few seconds, or 13.2v when holding for a few more seconds.  The rate at which the green light blinks indicates the 'stage' it is in which indicates the voltage it seeks.  The lower the voltage the less amps will flow, so if the only copper wire you have laying around is quite thin, then I would recommend forcing 13.6, or 13.2 quickly after plugging it in.

Even if you do not have thick DC cables at this point, the batteries should not be able to accept big currents for long where thinner copper would be indanger of overheating as the batteries should not be able to accept 45 amps for very long.  Only if they were very depleted would they be able to suck up 40+ amps for a while and thicker copper necessary, at this point.

But you should get them full while you plan the rest of your system.  At 13.2v, you can leave the PD plugged in as long as you want, or unplug it.  The little green light on the wizard will stay on even if unplugged from wall outlet.

Whenb fully charged, you can either remove the PD, unplug it, ot leave it plugged in at 13.2/ storage mode.  When in storage mode, every 18 hours, it will bump voltage back upto 14.4v for 15 minutes to mix things up.  PD calls this an 'Equalization' stage, but really it is a destratification stage.  The Bubbling/gassing caused by 14.4v will destratify the electrolyte.

If you choose to unhook the PD all together after fully charging, hook it up again in 30 days to top off the batteries again as they will self discharge.  Upto 15% per month at 75F.
 
I'm sorry I misunderstood you. I thought you asked about charging your batteries while in storage. Also seemed you had a confusion about a battery charger. You see my error? Charge battery and battery charger? I will stay out of your business. again so sorry.
 
Weight said:
I'm sorry I misunderstood you. I thought you asked about charging your batteries while in storage. Also seemed you had a confusion about a battery charger. You see my error? Charge battery and battery charger? I will stay out of your business. again so sorry.
I am easily misunderstood due to my lack of knowledge. I am the one to apologize if I seemed snippy and I think I did. For that I am sorry.

I realize you were intent on helping me and god knows I need it. 

Thanks and Take Care,

Rob

As a note, I took my Xanax and all will be well soon.
 

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