Date:         Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:39:06 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Small smart  charger with equalize mode?
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <snt0-eas42210A820FB35B2D6625520A0E20@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed

The Progressive Dynamics Charge Wizard is affordably priced, but I'm not
convinced it's the best for my Trojan flooded cell lead-acid deep cycle
battery.

On table 2 at
<http://www.trojanbattery.com/BatteryMaintenance/Charging.aspx>, Trojan
Battery says the correct voltage for equalizing a 12 volt nominal
battery is 15.5 volts.

The Charge Wizard uses 14.4 V (
<http://www.progressivedyn.com/prod_details/charge_wizard.html> ) for
its equalizing mode.

Isn't that too low for proper equalizing?

BTW, my Blue Sky 2000E solar controller outputs 15.4V for equalizing.


--
Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
Bend, Ore.
1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.

Sent from my kitchen.

On 10/11/2011 08:27 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Progressive dynamics makes the chargers you. Designed and listed for use RV's. The charge wizard will do everything you need. Clean power so you cam leave the loads connected.
>
> Dennis
>
> Sent from my Windows Phone
> ________________________________
> From: Rocket J Squirrel
> Sent: 10/11/2011 10:10 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Small smart  charger with equalize mode?
>
> It's been a while since I equalized my big ol' Trojan vented lead-acid
> deep cycle battery mainly because I don't have a wall-powered charger
> that has that function. My solar controller does, but it's a pain in the
> neck to use at home, requiring that I set up the panels on the driveway,
> and not very useful at all when it's overcast. I don't equalize when
> camping for fear of damaging the reefer and other accessories from
> overvoltage.
>
> I do have a pair of little smart chargers mounted in the van, which keep
> the two batteries (engine and house) on float when the van is not being
> used. But this weekend when I did set up the panels for an equalization
> cycle I noted that the specific gravity of the six cells in the battery
> was not well-matched and it took about four hours to balance things out.
>
> So I'd like to replace one of the little smart chargers in the van with
> one that also offers a manual equalization mode. Does anyone have a
> recommendation?
>
> --
> Jack "Rocket j Squirrel" Elliott
> Bend, Ore.
> 1984 Westfalia. A poor but proud people.
> 1971 "Ladybug"-brand utility trailer ca. 1972 from a defunct company in
> San Clemente, Calif., now repurposed as The Westrailia.
>
> Sent from my kitchen.
>