Does our converter have a regulator?

[Liza Powell]

We have a 2011 Raptor and recently had a very scary experience with the house battery. We have been stationary and continuously hooked up to shore power for about 1 month. We neglected to check the batteries while here. One morning we suddenly smelled a horrible odor throughout the interior of the RV. About 2 minutes later our carbon monoxide alarm went off. When we checked the house battery it was smoking. We disconnected it quickly and removed it from the RV.

Thankfully we didn't have an explosion!!!

We have installed a new battery but have switched off the control so it is not being used yet. We're concerned that our convertor may have overcharged the previous battery. Does our convertor have a regulator to prevent overcharging?

[travelin texans]

Check the manual or online for your particular converter, there should be a setting for a float charge & one for constant charging, you want the floating or trickle. If you have wet cell batteries you'll need to check/fill them with distilled water minimum a couple times a year, if constantly plugged to shore power maybe 3-4 times a year

[sourdough]

I think you said in a previous post that you purchased the trailer from a dealer in 2016. How many times have you checked the battery and filled it? If none it probably go fried due to not maintaining the water levels in it. Once dried and "cooking" they DO smell terrible. It wouldn't hurt to check the converter but I'm thinking it's the battery.

[ChuckS]

According to what I could find on l8ne yes your converter, if it’s the original is a three stage unit that will adjust its output according to demand and battery condition...

http://www.trekwood.com/products/192110/Converter-75-Amp-w-3-Stage-Output-Deck-Mount-Cheng


This link is a quick info sheet that shows converter output in all three of its stages when it works correctly...

http://wfcoelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/WFCO_56_8900_POWER_CENTER_08-with-space-1.pdf

Battery maintenance is your friend and use only distilled water to service the cells with

[Liza Powell]

I appreciate the info! Thanks Chuck

[Liza Powell]

Yes, we have neglected to check the battery and I agree with you

[Liza Powell]

Thanks all. Very helpful

[fourfourto]

How come no one uses maintenance free batteries ?

[PARAPTOR]

My Raptor came new with two dealer installed 12V maintenance free batteries, going into the sixth year with no issues. Three stage converter. Batteries stay in rig during winter storage. I run generator loaded once a month around an hour or so throughout the winter which also tops off the batteries.

[JRTJH]

How come no one uses maintenance free batteries ?

Some do, most who buy them once, go back to conventional deep cycle batteries. Here's a "cut and paste" from one website:

"The advantages of maintenance free batteries are less preventive maintenance, up to 250% less water loss, faster recharging, greater overcharge resistance, reduced terminal corrosion, up to 40% more life cycles, and up to 200% less self discharge. However, they are more prone to deep discharge (dead battery) failures due to increased shedding of active plate material and development of a barrier layer between the active plate material and the grid metal. Further, if sealed, they tend to have a shorter life in hot climates because lost water cannot be replaced."

There's lots more on that site: http://marine-electronics.net/techarticle/battery_faq/b_faq.htm

[PARAPTOR]

I have never dry camped nor do I plan on it, so have no feel if that would change my mind. My replacement battery will be a maintenance free type. Just the thought of getting my battery covers off and on each time to check the water level would be enough to send me over the hill :banghead: These covers where designed to go on once and stay there for the next guy :facepalm:

[ChuckS]

Ah I’ll take two Costco golf cart batteries any day over the rest.. less expensive , in two years of use I’ve added a trickle of distilled water to the cells.. but, most any of t(e batteries are fne.. just depends on your pocket book and needs

[jsmith948]

Ah I’ll take two Costco golf cart batteries any day over the rest.. less expensive , in two years of use I’ve added a trickle of distilled water to the cells.. but, most any of t(e batteries are fne.. just depends on your pocket book and needsX2. Just traded our 2012 Cougar. Installed 2 Costco golf cart batteries in January of 2012 - we're still working fine almost 6 years later. Will make the same conversion on the new trailer. Actually less now at $84 each.

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