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03-24-2019, 04:40 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,242
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Float Charge Rate
Picked up my "new" 2004 Dolphin 34 ft. from the dealer last Friday and immediately went and spent a couple days at a state park near the dealership. We had full hookups, and everything went fine until I got home and noticed that the house batteries were dead. Checking them they were bone dry, which tells me that either the dealer never checked the water levels, the WFCO charger boiled them dry, or both. One battery was ruined, which I have now replaced, and the other seems to have survived.
Now that everything is working again I'm monitoring the charge rate, and so far the WFCO seems to be charging at 13.6 volts. I assume that this is probably too high for a continual rate and at some point it should drop down to a float rate of somewhere around 13.2V. Does this sound right?
My question is, what is a reasonable time before I should see the charge voltage drop. Both batteries were charged for several hours outside of the RV before I re-installed them, so should have a pretty good charge on them already... though I couldn't find my hydrometer so am just guessing how well they were really charged.
Is it safe to assume that if the charge rate does not drop I should consider replacing the WFCO? I've had good luck with PDI chargers before so would probably go that route.
__________________
2004 National Dolphin LX 6320, W-22, 8.1, Allison 1000, Front/rear "Trac" Bars & Anti-sway Bars, Sumo Springs, Roadmaster Reflex Steering Stabilizer, 2005 PT Cruiser Toad
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03-24-2019, 07:27 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,439
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With leaving one questionable battery in the system, I don't think you can get accurate charging voltages.
What makes you think one battery survived after being charged dry ?
If its bad, you will end up with another overcharged battery.
My suggestion is to replace the one you didn't, then check voltage.
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03-24-2019, 09:57 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North America somewhere
Posts: 30,951
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What is the resting voltage of each battery? Resting voltage is sitting for at least a few hours after being charged.
__________________
2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD , ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG 11B5MX,Infantry retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA. " My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy
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03-24-2019, 10:31 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
With leaving one questionable battery in the system, I don't think you can get accurate charging voltages.
What makes you think one battery survived after being charged dry ?
If its bad, you will end up with another overcharged battery.
My suggestion is to replace the one you didn't, then check voltage.
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I reached that conclusion because I charged them separately and one charged normally and held a charge. The other one got hot while charging and didn't hold voltage afterwards.
__________________
2004 National Dolphin LX 6320, W-22, 8.1, Allison 1000, Front/rear "Trac" Bars & Anti-sway Bars, Sumo Springs, Roadmaster Reflex Steering Stabilizer, 2005 PT Cruiser Toad
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03-25-2019, 09:07 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,697
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13.6 is the standard float charge voltage these days, so your WFCO is doing fine. My money says the dealer never looked at the batteries. Or didn't care about their condition because you didn't ask or inspect.
The bad battery will fool any charger into overcharging the better one. The bad battery sucks up the amps so the charger sends more.
__________________
Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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03-25-2019, 10:26 AM
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#6
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,115
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I'm sure the dealer left the coach plugged in and never checked the water before sale. I think if you really want to start with a level playing field, you need to replace the other battery so BOTH batteries are in the same condition. After that, add a battery watering system to prevent the biggest killer of batteries, low water.
Once everything is up to snuff, you can check on the proper operation of your charger. You don't say what WFCO model you have, it may have some adjustments.
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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03-25-2019, 10:43 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Bastrop Texas
Posts: 1,343
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don
I'm sure the dealer left the coach plugged in and never checked the water before sale. I think if you really want to start with a level playing field, you need to replace the other battery so BOTH batteries are in the same condition. After that, add a battery watering system to prevent the biggest killer of batteries, low water.
Once everything is up to snuff, you can check on the proper operation of your charger. You don't say what WFCO model you have, it may have some adjustments.
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What does WFCO stand for? Old guy that speaks English.
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2000 Allegro Bus 35R 3126 Cat 300 Allison 3060MD 6 speed
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03-25-2019, 12:23 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,439
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rkesselus
What does WFCO stand for? Old guy that speaks English.
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Its a brand name.
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03-25-2019, 07:32 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Wandering
Posts: 635
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The WFCO should drop back to 13.2vdc after 48 hours of NOT trying to bring up a battery. I've had four WFCO's...never hadda problem. It's jus' not the Ferrari of converters...but it's also not the Gremlin. Decent & reliable.
https://wfcoelectronics.com/product-...f-9800-series/
World Friendship Company
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2014 XLR415AMP Thunderbird ToyHauler, 2019 Sandpiper 379FLOK, F350 Lariat Diesel DRW, NRA Benefactors FullTime RV'er KN4YBP General License
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03-25-2019, 08:33 PM
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#10
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"Formerly Diplomat Don"
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Moorpark, Ca.
Posts: 24,115
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rkesselus
What does WFCO stand for? Old guy that speaks English.
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I had to look it up!
__________________
Don & Mary
2019 Newmar Dutch Star 4018 (Freightliner)
2019 Ford Raptor
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03-25-2019, 08:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,937
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OH Great. Now I have to look it up, LOL. 
EDIT: I clicked on the link from above and sent WFCO an email and asked the question, what does WFCO stand for? I am guessing the CO is for Company but who knows, we'll see.
__________________
Larry & Sheree & KD the CAT
2009 Holiday Rambler Admiral 30SFS Lewis County, Wa.
USN 1964-68, USS LEXINGTON CVS-16
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03-25-2019, 09:27 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Vancouver Wash
Posts: 7,227
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Sitt'n here look'n at my battery monitor, in float it's showing 13.5........have added a LITTLE water once since 2014......
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03-26-2019, 09:55 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,242
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Ok, thanks for the thoughts, y'all. I'll keep an eye on it. Is there usually an easy way to disconnect the charger when plugged into shore power for prolonged periods, a circuit breaker perhaps? The battery disconnect switch seems to only disconnect the coach from the battery without affecting the charger.
__________________
2004 National Dolphin LX 6320, W-22, 8.1, Allison 1000, Front/rear "Trac" Bars & Anti-sway Bars, Sumo Springs, Roadmaster Reflex Steering Stabilizer, 2005 PT Cruiser Toad
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03-26-2019, 10:02 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Vancouver Wash
Posts: 7,227
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Take a volt reading at the batteries with switch on, then with switch off.....
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