Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Tech Issues: Deka DC31DT battery? Deep Cycle?


	Already a member? Login here. If not, Register Today! \| Help

Newest | Active | Popular | RVing FAQ

Forum Rules | Forum Posting Help and Support | Contact

Open Roads Forum > Tech Issues

Reply to Topic | Subscribe | Print Topic | Post New Topic |

DiskDoctr

Senior Member

Joined: 05/29/2006

View Profile

Posted: 04/19/17 02:16pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:

For "Moon Mission" calculation...

Did you see my post? Sometimes I feel like we are planning for a Moon Mission, LOL.

I've been keeping a good eye to the weights of the batteries we are looking at.

Thanks [emoticon]

CA Traveler

The Western States

Senior Member

Joined: 01/03/2004

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 04/19/17 02:22pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Doc TMI

2009 Holiday Rambler 42' Scepter with ISL 400 Cummins
750 Watts Solar Morningstar MPPT 60 Controller
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland

Bob

SoundGuy

S Ontario

Senior Member

Joined: 02/11/2015

View Profile

Posted: 04/19/17 02:22pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

DiskDoctr wrote:

2. I have the WF-8955AN 3 stage charger at 55amps ...

And there's your biggest issue ... probably wired with way too much 6 gauge to get to the battery location and almost for sure never bulk charges at it's advertised 14.4 volts. It's the same problem I and just about every other WFCO owner has [emoticon]

... I solved mine by turning the darned thing off and instead using a portable charger that does do a proper 14.4 volt bulk charge and is wired directly to the battery with 6' of 4 gauge.

Fact is, charger and battery are directly related - buy a Trojan and you're going to want to bulk charge at 14.8 volts, buy a Deka AGM and you'll want temperature compensated charging which almost no converter / charger is capable of. Getting the most out of whatever batteries you buy isn't just a matter of comparing battery to battery but also matching those batteries to the charger you intend to use to maintain them. Ignore it and you can bet you'll be replacing those batteries sooner rather than later. [emoticon]

DiskDoctr

Senior Member

Joined: 05/29/2006

View Profile

Posted: 04/19/17 02:43pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

CA Traveler wrote:

Doc TMI

A number of the same folks have contributed to my other threads and questions about many of the items on that list, so it ties together.

Besides, it's a list, not a narrative. Easy to skip through as desired [emoticon]

DiskDoctr

Senior Member

Joined: 05/29/2006

View Profile

Posted: 04/19/17 02:52pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

SoundGuy wrote:

DiskDoctr wrote:

2. I have the WF-8955AN 3 stage charger at 55amps ...

I was hoping to get away with maybe just replacing the wiring from the converter to the batteries with heavier wire for now and upgrading the converter down the road.

I read that good improvements can be had by upgrading that run. The inverter will be near the batteries as everyone has suggested.

We are planning on a couple of "dry runs" in the next few weeks, probably in Camp Driveway as we test usage and charging/recovery, etc.

Hoping this will tell us:

1. Do we need a 3rd 12v Group 31 battery
2. Must we urgently upgrade the converter/charger
3. Are our inverter/battery bank/wiring/expectations well matched
4. Does everything else work? Any problems electrically or otherwise?

I have some welding cable somewhere I'm going to see if I can find. I also have access to long 4 conductor cable used to power old mobile homes. Have to check the gauge.

We'll upgrade the converter/charger now if we must. Sounds like it is likely?

Thanks guys for sticking with this [emoticon]

SoundGuy

S Ontario

Senior Member

Joined: 02/11/2015

View Profile

Posted: 04/19/17 03:41pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

DiskDoctr wrote:

We'll upgrade the converter/charger now if we must. Sounds like it is likely?

That's the improvement that would gain you the most, especially if you mount it close the battery location. Question is, what to buy when you haven't yet identified just which batteries you intend to also buy. [emoticon]

MEXICOWANDERER

las peñas, michoacan, mexico

Senior Member

Joined: 06/01/2007

View Profile

Offline

Posted: 04/19/17 03:57pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

The Wiffie!

Connected to 1/2 depleted 31 AGM using terminals on the end of the Wiffie's original factory 6 gauge wires. Maybe 14" long? Zooooooooomed to 14.4 volt "Boooooooooooooooooost" for maybe 15 seconds than wimped to 13.6 volts. Thus was summoned the anger, oops I mean "need" for the BORG.

WFCO the Yugo of converters. Brother is a Lada, sister is a Renault Dauphin. Right up there with Lucas electrical quality and Chinese sales specifications. Oops I forgot about English bolts. Grade 0.2

DiskDoctr

Senior Member

Joined: 05/29/2006

View Profile

Posted: 04/19/17 04:09pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Looking around, I have a fair amount of 8/3, a little less 6/2, and maybe 20-30 ft of 2 AWG welding cable.

DiskDoctr

Senior Member

Joined: 05/29/2006

View Profile

Posted: 04/19/17 04:16pm

Link | Quote | Print | Notify Moderator

Okay, about this converter business....

Does C/10 still count with the Deka 31's I listed?

If so, they are 105ah/ea, so for 3 batteries I would need 30-40 amps max charging rate?

Or is more = better?