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RE: Bluetooth Adjustable Converter?
"The converter itself would have to have adjustable parameters for the remote or BT to be able to change, so you couldn't just add one of these to your old converter"
Hmmmm. My Renogy DC-DC charger has a buck/boost converter in it and DIP switches for various settings and charging profiles for various battery types (limited choices however)
What if the gizmo being invented right here :) could be added to your old converter that is doing say 13.8v and you had remote or BT to adjust your added new gizmo's not so limited choice of parameters ? No new converter needed!
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BFL13
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03/04/21 05:47pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Bluetooth Adjustable Converter?
My adjustable voltage converter has a knob on top which I can turn to dial in a voltage while watching a voltmeter. It stays there till I dial in a different voltage, such as dropping it from a chosen Vabs to some chosen float voltage. I am the timer --which works for me, but it would be nice to be able to set times
With the PowerMax LK models, the knob on top is gone and you now poke a small screwdriver into a hole in the side of the converter. Not too bad if you happen to be able to get at the converter and see what you are doing at the same time as seeing a voltmeter.
Some sort of remote like wired or BT would take the awkwardness of that away no matter how far they stuck your converter in where you can't get at it in a dark cubbyhole, and it could have programmable timing parameters too besides adjustable voltages.
The converter itself would have to have adjustable parameters for the remote or BT to be able to change, so you couldn't just add one of these to your old converter.
The BT would only monitor what the converter is doing, so you would still need a battery monitor to see what amps are going to/from the battery and do AH counting
EDIT--I was thinking they should be able to have the voltage adjustment on a sliding scale with a readout of the voltage, sort of like the way you can set the volume of your ring sound on a cell phone
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BFL13
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03/04/21 04:51pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Bluetooth Adjustable Converter?
If you are in range of BT you can just hit the Wizard if you are so inclined.
I will be out on a hike or fishing while you tend this trivia.
BT is just a way to do the adjustments/settings. If you want to do them manually, that's fine. But it is not "trivial" to choose a charging profile that matches your battery specs.
You have explained how you did all that "trivial" stuff with your Morningstar controller to set it up. Why would you not want to be able to do that with your converter too?
You are happy with 14.4v and being able to use the CW, but that does not work for everyone. What if you changed your batteries to ones with a different set of charging specs? You could reset your converter instead of buying a new converter --if you could ever find one with the right settings.
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BFL13
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03/04/21 01:59pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Bluetooth Adjustable Converter?
The example BT in the OP is just for example.
The issue is that most converters do not have adjustable charging profiles, and their profiles do not match many battery specs.
Idea is mostly to set the parameters you want and then leave it. If you need to change anything you could. Not something you would have to be on top of all the time.
PD with the Charge Wizard does not let you pick Vabs voltage, but it does give you one choice for Vabs timing (four hours). The PowerMax LK models in single voltage adjustable mode allow manual selection of Vabs (13v-16.5v) , but no time selection--it stays on at the selected Vabs
With either a wired in remote you could set your parameters with or the bluetooth method (the example even has a wifi method in its module) you could do the settings and adjustments to suit you battery specs.
DIP switching would be a way, if it has enough choices, but it could be awkward for using it with an installed converter tucked away in the RV.
Having a list of voltages to pick from is not as good as being able to turn a dial to set any voltage. I don't know if the remote and BT methods would give you a dial or a list to pick from. Need a long list of voltages to pick from if no dial.
RV converters have not changed much in the last 10 years, so a "next gen" is due IMO, and if there were "demand" then OEM installations in new RVs could have them and also you could replace an older type, same as we can now.
Anyway, good comments so far--more opinions would add to the mix, so fire away!
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BFL13
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03/04/21 12:43pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Bluetooth Adjustable Converter?
Nope. Would not use it. I really try to avoid the phone thing when camping. And it it works properly I don't need to monitor it.
You usually want a timer on Vabs.
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BFL13
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03/03/21 07:53pm |
Tech Issues
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Bluetooth Adjustable Converter?
As a sort of rv.net tech issues survey, would you like your converter to have a bluetooth module that you could set the charging parameters Vabs and Vabs timing to any voltage and time, kind of like this? :
Most converters are not adjustable, but do not meet many typical battery charging specs, which can be frustrating. If a solar controller or the charger in an inverter/charger can have this, why not a converter?
Would you use it if yours had it? is the question. Thanks.
https://www.custommarineproducts.com/uploads/1/4/3/7/1437708/using_the_ep_controller_bluetooth_app_19.pdf
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BFL13
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03/03/21 05:49pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Norcold Fridge on Propane Question
You are not alone--but this guy didn't get much of an answer.
EDIT---oops, that's you! Sorry. Oh well.
https://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f113/norcold-refrigerator-temperature-swing-185567.html
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BFL13
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03/02/21 10:43pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, Alberta
Best view of the Rockies is heading West from Edmonton to Jasper.
On your touring, try to keep the sun out of your eyes. Plan it so the sun is behind you/to one side and on the snow-topped mountains.
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BFL13
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03/02/21 08:12pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: RV Ferry cost to Vancouver Island?
Be in trouble for saying so, but we went north of Campbell River to Port Hardy with the RV exactly once. Nothing to see here folks!
Been stories on here about dogs with the RV on the run to/from PR and PH like you can't get to them? Not sure--best check that out if you have dogs.
We like the East side mid-Island area to park the Rv and then go all over the place up and down Island and the West side same day in the truck/toad, lots to see and do.
I suppose if we lived mid-Island, we would come down here all the time. :)
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BFL13
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03/02/21 07:56pm |
RVing in Canada and Alaska
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RE: New type of lead acid battery: with silicone wafers
Ha! 3 tons gets in a shot against PT for revealing his politics! :) (which I do not share, but means nothing on this forum)
Meanwhile 3 tons, having bought into LFP, is "more Catholic than the pope" on that topic, so we adjust accordingly.
BTW "attacking" false LFP advertising is not attacking LFPs. Big difference!
LFPs have their place in the spectrum, but are not for everyone. Saying that, or calling out false advertising, does not mean you should be burned at the stake (especially for the "enhanced" version where they used wet wood if they really didn't like you!)
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BFL13
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03/02/21 06:24pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Atwood 8500 series furnace bench test on high limit switch
I only ever heard them called Robertson "up here". I suppose that is changing with younger people, don't know. Square Drive new to me until today.
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BFL13
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03/02/21 01:40pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Atwood 8500 series furnace bench test on high limit switch
Good job on the furnace!
Never heard of those called "square drive" before. Weird! :)
Looking it up, found this explanation;
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/questions-and-answers/q-a-square-drive-vs-phillips-head-screws/
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BFL13
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03/02/21 10:25am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Any Xantrex Freedom XC 2000 Inverter/Charger Users?
User manual more on temps: -4 to 140 ºF (-20 to 60 ºC), with output derated above 104 ºF (40 °C)
It has a low voltage alarm you can select voltage for, not clear how that works with the buck boost input feature unless you select the lowest.
has an ignition on/off you can choose to use when driving like a DC-DC charger has, except this would be just for the inverter 120v output, not for charging, so you would still want a DC-DC for that depending on your scenario I guess. Depends if fridge is on 120 or 12 to use DC-DC or not?
You can choose various Vabs and also--important!--Vabs times.
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BFL13
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03/02/21 10:09am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Any Xantrex Freedom XC 2000 Inverter/Charger Users?
https://www.xantrex.com/power-products/inverter-chargers/freedom-xc.aspx
Has PF corrected 80 amper so it can run on 15a circuit, maybe a 2000w gen.
Seems to have a built-in DC-DC buck boost for its inverter
Note operating temp limits though. (-4 to 104F) High temp limit seems low? See PT arguments with Steve wrt LFP high temps.
Another inverter's spec says Temperature Protection: 65°C
Cooling Fan: depend on inner temperature rising above 45°C
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BFL13
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03/02/21 08:27am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Renogy DC-DC Charger UPDATE 2 Test
BFL13,
You added a switch. Which wire did you switch??? lol!
I didn't switch any wires (ha ha), but I added a switch to the one that goes in D+ , the ignition terminal. No big deal for me to turn the unit on and off manually in the camper
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/B13jMRZjsnS.pdf
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BFL13
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03/01/21 10:27am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Renogy DC-DC Charger UPDATE 2 Test
Probably not needed, but to clarify, I thought PT was talking about voltage sensing so battery voltage would trigger the charger settings instead of the voltage at the charger.
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BFL13
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03/01/21 09:40am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Renogy DC-DC Charger UPDATE 2 Test
BFL13,
Ignition wire = sense wire. Is that where you placed the switch?
IMO sense wire is one of those feed-back things. Anyway, see the manual and all will be revealed! :) Yours in the Ford MH will be different from how I did it.
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BFL13
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02/28/21 09:28pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Solar Battery Charge Issue
BFL13,
It sounds as if you would love a blue tooth capable charge controller. They are much easier to set up.
You have to get up out of your comfy chair once in a while!
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BFL13
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02/28/21 09:21pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Renogy DC-DC Charger UPDATE 2 Test
BFL13,
You mean it is on the voltage sense line? Not the one to the battery bank?
I don't have a sense line AFAIK.
The output pos and neg go to the house battery bank. The "ignition wire" is just to provide 12v to the unit to power it. It is meant to go on the run circuit of the engine side with the ignition turning it on and off.
I have it on the house side to get 12v since it is not a MH and the unit is in the camper. It is actually on the house battery pos post and the unit's terminal for that wire (see the manual linked earlier). I think I could move it to the unit's pos output terminal inches away and it would work--
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BFL13
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02/28/21 09:11pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Solar Battery Charge Issue
I have a controller that gets to the set Vabs (goes to 15)and drops to Float. So I set the float voltage to 14.5 (highest it will go) so that acts like Absorb at 14.5v till sundown. It depends on how cloudy it gets how long Absorb needs to be. Every day is different around here, can't just leave the controller alone set to whatever.
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BFL13
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02/28/21 08:48pm |
Tech Issues
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