High charger output?

[Belgian]

Our 2004 Dolphin came with a Paraluxx 55 amp charger/converter and two 6v house batteries. It never seemed to charge the batteries completely. We just installed a Progressive Dynamics 60 amp charger/converter with charge wizard. I have some concerns about the new charger/converter. 1. the charger starts out at 13.58 vdc but jumps up to 14.12 vdc at times. I know one of the features is the desulfation (sp) of the batteries, but isn’t 14.12 a little high? Also once the batteries are desulfated (sp) isn’t that enough? The charger will drop back down to 13.5 vdc and stays there most of the time. 2. While we are plugged in with the lights on inside you can notice the lights get brighter every so often. I’m assuming the surge in brightness goes along with the jump to 14.12 vdc of the charger. We’ve had two florescent lights burn out and two others are black at the ends inside the glass tube. Should the charger be putting out that much voltage? I’m concerned about burning out circuit boards with high voltage.

[Ed-Sommers]

You indicated you have two, 6 volt batts so if those are Trojans, recommended charging according to the Trojan web site is 14.8 acceptance voltage. That voltage should be held for two to four hours and then dropped to float which you indicated is 13.5 which is fine.

I humbly recommended you go to the Trojan web site, there is a lot of good info there.


Ed

[ralper]

What ED said.

That 14.8 volts is at 77 degrees F. Higher if the batteries are colder.

Most chargers do not do it. Most batteries live their life undercharged and die prematurely.

[bluepill]

Good link here for basic theory:

RV Battery Chargers

[Belgian]

Thank you for the answers and the website. You're right there is a lot of good info. on the electrical systems.

[ksg5000]

PD converters are designed to put out 14.4 volts until your battery is 90% of capacity then it drops down to 13.6 volts until the battery is fully charged. Once the battery is fully charged it drops down to 13.2 to maintain the battery. Every 21 hrs it will jump up to 14.4 volts for 15 minutes.

PD converters are not designed to take temperature into acct - would be nice but they don't.