Progressive Dynamics developed its first power converter for the RV market in 1968 and in 1993 began manufacturing electronic power converters. Progressive Dynamics, also known as Inteli-Power, builds RV converters and chargers that feature a two-year no-hassle warranty and are made in the United States. In mid-2019 the Casita factory itself switched to installing the Progressive Dynamic s PD4060KV Inteli-P ower Converter power center with Charge Wizard ( 60 a m p s ) - rather than Parallax power centers - in new Casitas.
#Testing a magnetek power converter upgrade
Instead of using Parallax’s replacement converter, many Casita owners have a adopted the Progressive Dynamic (PD) PD4600 Series Converter Upgrade Kit for Magnetek/Parallax power centers. The Parallax converter power supply replacement for the Parallax 7100 series 55 power center lower section in our 2017 model year Casita FD is part number 081-7155-000. Parallax, formerly Magnetek, offers replacement upgrade converter kits for Parallax 7100 and older Magnetek brand power centers. For instance, an 80 percent recharge can complete in just two to three hours, instead of the 24-hour charge cycle of a single-stage converter/charger. Modern “smart” converters vary charging output to help batteries live a maximum life.Īnother benefit of modern smart multistage voltage output converters is they deliver faster charging rates and cleaner DC voltage output. This sulfation condition is the leading cause of battery failure. Varied charging current will help prevent the sulfation chemical process that deposits sulfates on the lead plates. The drawback of the old-style “dumb” converters is a steady fixed float charge can in time diminish a lead-acid battery’s maximum operating capability - from both power availability and lifetime considerations - due to sulfur build up on the battery’s internal plates. There are tens of thousands of these old-style converters still in service. For many years, the only available converters delivered a simple single-stage, or fixed constant, DC “float” voltage output of approximately 13.2-13.7 volts. As their name implies, when plugged into shore power they convert 120-volt AC power into a 12-volt DC power supply for RV 12V systems that includes lights, water pump(s), refrigerator control boards, CO2 and gas sensors, and more.Ĭonverters also keep the RV house battery properly charged. Any converter can fail if it overheats from use in extreme ambient temperatures, or its shore power supply experiences a power surge, or delivers voltage that’s too low or too high.Ĭonverters have two basic jobs to perform. There is a good bit of anecdotal discussion across RV forums about Parallax 7155 Power Center 12V Converter failures and replacements. With our Casita winterized and berthed for the winter season, I started the project to replace our dead Parallax 7100 Series 55 (7155) AC 120V to DC 12V power supply converter. If the reading is 12.8V or less, then the converter is not supplying current, and it’s likely dead.) (If you haven’t installed a battery monitor, and you have a multimeter circuit tester, place the multimeter probes on the converter terminals on the DC 12V power distribution fuse board in the power center to determine if converter is delivering a source 13.2V to 13.6V charge.
So, it was clear converter wasn’t functioning. I also checked that the two 30A reverse polarity fuses were OK - if blown the battery would be isolated from the power center and converter charger. The output voltage from the Parallax converter, when functioning, should read 13.6V, not 12.8V.
#Testing a magnetek power converter full
Next, the Victron ‘state of charge‘ battery monitor I installed in our Casita showed a voltage of just 12.8V, which is the normal full charge reading for our Casita AGM 12V house battery after a full day of on-the-road charging from our tow vehicle. I verified the AC 120V outlets were live, and the fridge had automatically switched over to AC operation, so I knew the converter had AC 120V power. Normally, I hear the buzzing noise of the DC 12V converter cooling fans running when connected to shore power. It’s always good to have a secondary backup.įirst, when I plugged into AC 120V shore power the converter was silent. Fortunately, our solar panels kept the battery charged to serve the onboard 12V system for that road trip. Our 12V converter probably died while our Casita was parked in its home berth connected to shore power between road trips, and I didn’t notice it. As many have repeated the same experience before us, we arrived at our destination campground on the first day of our road trip, parked, connected to shore power, and the DC 12V power supply was dead on arrival.
0 kommentar(er)
