Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

My (original) battery chargers seem to always be putting out 13.2v.
One of the links posted recenty about batteries seemed to say that the
batteries won't be charged fully unless they get more than 14v put to
them. Is this the case? If I keep using these 13.2v output chargers,
are my batts never going to charge?

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

Scott,
You can spend the rest of the night watching responses to a question on
battery-charging, but...
without getting into actual numbers, here's what I've found in the last two
weeks going through a battery replacement. Traditional flooded batteries can be
charged to just over 14 volts. AGM's can also be charged at or above 14 volts
without fear of overcharging or burning them out or shortening their life. But
gel cell batteries need to be charged to a slightly lower voltage.
Most inverters can be adjusted to account for the differences. The main
advantage of gels and agm's is that their electrolyte media can be sealed to
avoid evaporation, boil out and gassing which can cause corrosion to the battery
terminals and battery compartments. And because they are sealed..and the media
are not purely liquid, the electroyltes can stay in consistent contact with the
plates, etc., they handle heat and vibration better. They're not generally any
more powerful than traditional batteries, they just overcome the heat, vibration
and maintenance issues we don't like.
The main thing is..buy deep cycle house batteries if money permits..no matter
what kind you get. For starting batteries, the more cold-cranking-amps..the
better.Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...


To: WanderlodgeForum@...: sforman@...: Thu, 28 Jun
2007 22:20:38 +0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Battery charging




My (original) battery chargers seem to always be putting out 13.2v. One of the
links posted recenty about batteries seemed to say that the batteries won't be
charged fully unless they get more than 14v put to them. Is this the case? If I
keep using these 13.2v output chargers, are my batts never going to charge?Scott
Forman86 PT38Memphis


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks for the comments, but it doesn't really address my question.
I am asking if a charger that puts out 13.2v will fully charge my
golf car batteries or if they need to have 14v+ to get charged.

Thanks

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, brad barton <bbartonwx@...>
wrote:
>
>
> Scott,
> You can spend the rest of the night watching responses to a
question on battery-charging, but...
> without getting into actual numbers, here's what I've found in the
last two weeks going through a battery replacement. Traditional
flooded batteries can be charged to just over 14 volts. AGM's can
also be charged at or above 14 volts without fear of overcharging or
burning them out or shortening their life. But gel cell batteries
need to be charged to a slightly lower voltage.
> Most inverters can be adjusted to account for the differences. The
main advantage of gels and agm's is that their electrolyte media can
be sealed to avoid evaporation, boil out and gassing which can cause
corrosion to the battery terminals and battery compartments. And
because they are sealed..and the media are not purely liquid, the
electroyltes can stay in consistent contact with the plates, etc.,
they handle heat and vibration better. They're not generally any
more powerful than traditional batteries, they just overcome the
heat, vibration and maintenance issues we don't like.
> The main thing is..buy deep cycle house batteries if money
permits..no matter what kind you get. For starting batteries, the
more cold-cranking-amps..the better.Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...
>
>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@...: sforman@...: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 22:20:38
+0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Battery charging
>
>
>
>
> My (original) battery chargers seem to always be putting out 13.2v.
One of the links posted recenty about batteries seemed to say that
the batteries won't be charged fully unless they get more than 14v
put to them. Is this the case? If I keep using these 13.2v output
chargers, are my batts never going to charge?Scott Forman86
PT38Memphis
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Live Earth is coming. Learn more about the hottest summer event -
only on MSN.
> http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthwlm
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Scott,
I don't own a Bird, but I would have to say 13.2v as the charge voltage is
too low. My Magnum Energy inverter/charger is set from the factory to
charge flooded cell batteries (like your golf cart batteries) to 14.2v
initially, then float charges at 13.3v. Of course, the technology is 20
years newer than your PT, and intelligent charging (4 stage) does things
lots differently than before.
Gary
SOB
----- Original Message -----
From: Scott Forman
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 5:17 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery charging


Thanks for the comments, but it doesn't really address my question.
I am asking if a charger that puts out 13.2v will fully charge my
golf car batteries or if they need to have 14v+ to get charged.

Thanks

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, brad barton <bbartonwx@...>
wrote:
>
>
> Scott,
> You can spend the rest of the night watching responses to a
question on battery-charging, but...
> without getting into actual numbers, here's what I've found in the
last two weeks going through a battery replacement. Traditional
flooded batteries can be charged to just over 14 volts. AGM's can
also be charged at or above 14 volts without fear of overcharging or
burning them out or shortening their life. But gel cell batteries
need to be charged to a slightly lower voltage.
> Most inverters can be adjusted to account for the differences. The
main advantage of gels and agm's is that their electrolyte media can
be sealed to avoid evaporation, boil out and gassing which can cause
corrosion to the battery terminals and battery compartments. And
because they are sealed..and the media are not purely liquid, the
electroyltes can stay in consistent contact with the plates, etc.,
they handle heat and vibration better. They're not generally any
more powerful than traditional batteries, they just overcome the
heat, vibration and maintenance issues we don't like.
> The main thing is..buy deep cycle house batteries if money
permits..no matter what kind you get. For starting batteries, the
more cold-cranking-amps..the better.Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...
>
>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@...: sforman@...: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 22:20:38
+0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Battery charging
>
>
>
>
> My (original) battery chargers seem to always be putting out 13.2v.
One of the links posted recenty about batteries seemed to say that
the batteries won't be charged fully unless they get more than 14v
put to them. Is this the case? If I keep using these 13.2v output
chargers, are my batts never going to charge?Scott Forman86
PT38Memphis
>
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Live Earth is coming. Learn more about the hottest summer event -
only on MSN.
> http://liveearth.msn.com?source=msntaglineliveearthwlm
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Sorry I didn't understand your question properly. I think you do need to get
them up to 14V to get 100% of your power out of the batteries, but you can still
get 85-90% with the lesser charge. If you're not expecting the absolute maximum
you'll probably not notice much difference.Brad Barton 00LXiDFW
bbartonwx@...


To: WanderlodgeForum@...: sforman@...: Thu, 28 Jun
2007 23:17:57 +0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery charging

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Scott, 13.2 is the "float" charging rate for most flooded lead acid
batteries. If you run your bird regularly you would probably not have a
problem at 13.2vdc. The alternator will charge them somewhere between 13.8
and 14.5 depending on the temperature. If they are the original BB units I
am surprised that they are not charging more unless a battery isolator has
been added to the circuit. You will get a .6 -.7 v drop across the isolator
this would put you at about 13.8v which would be about perfect under average
conditions.



- Chuck Wheeler -

82 FC 31 SB

Fort Worth, TX

_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Scott Forman
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2007 5:21 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Battery charging



My (original) battery chargers seem to always be putting out 13.2v.
One of the links posted recenty about batteries seemed to say that the
batteries won't be charged fully unless they get more than 14v put to
them. Is this the case? If I keep using these 13.2v output chargers,
are my batts never going to charge?

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Scott,
I had the same problem you describe. My old chargers charged about 13.2v and I
always had wet batteries. I changed over to 2 - 45amp Iota chargers with one
IQ4 smart charger tying the two chargers together and they seem to be working
fine. Do a search on the forum website for Iota Chargers. Tom Warner has a very
nice set up on his coach. He has 120v to all outlets and appliances
supplied by the alternator thru a 2500 watt inverter. I'm electrically
challenged so I just went with the Iota's.
Howard Truitt
Camilla, Ga.
86 PT40

>
> From: "Scott Forman" <sforman@...>
> Date: 2007/06/28 Thu PM 07:17:57 EDT
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery charging
>
> Thanks for the comments, but it doesn't really address my question.
> I am asking if a charger that puts out 13.2v will fully charge my
> golf car batteries or if they need to have 14v+ to get charged.
>
> Thanks
>

Scott,
I forget to tell you where I ordered mine.
I purchased them from John Drake Services Inc. call John at 562-423-4879 he is
very knowledgeable.
Or go to his web site solarseller dot com.
I said in my earlier post I installed 45amp but I actually ordered 55amp.
2- DLS 55amp chargers $150.00 each.
1- IQ4 Parallel smart charge control $35.00
Shipping and handling $15.00
Howard, Camilla, Ga., 86 PT40




>
> From: > Date: 2007/06/29 Fri PM 03:19:44 EDT
> To:
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery charging
>
> Scott,
> I had the same problem you describe. My old chargers charged about 13.2v and I
always had wet batteries. I changed over to 2 - 45amp Iota chargers with one
IQ4 smart charger tying the two chargers together and they seem to be working
fine. Do a search on the forum website for Iota Chargers. Tom Warner has a very
nice set up on his coach. He has 120v to all outlets and appliances
> supplied by the alternator thru a 2500 watt inverter. I'm electrically
challenged so I just went with the Iota's.
> Howard Truitt
> Camilla, Ga.
> 86 PT40
>
> >
> > From: "Scott Forman" <sforman@...>
> > Date: 2007/06/28 Thu PM 07:17:57 EDT
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery charging
> >
> > Thanks for the comments, but it doesn't really address my question.
> > I am asking if a charger that puts out 13.2v will fully charge my
> > golf car batteries or if they need to have 14v+ to get charged.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
>
>
>