Good News about Best Converter--some questions???, too.

[kayakrguy]

Hi folks,

As you may remember, I was having trouble with my Best converter before leaving on the trip. I kept blowing 15 amp fuses. Well, Sonetpro got my wits straightened around. I was putting a 15 amp fuse in the top Battery circuit and a 30 amp in the bottom 'Reverse Battery' circuit.
I did not realize that the top battery circuit also needed to be a 30 amp fuse. I finally got to the charger today and connected it back up to the battery and the voila--the fan started running and no fuses blew....I think we're ok!

But I have some questions. On my old Sears charger there is a nice meter for knowing how many volts the charger is putting out and also a switch that allows you to see the volts the battery is putting out.

On the Best charger the only thing you have is the fan running. True, the owner's manual tells you what the different modes will do in terms of voltage ouputs but you have no meters to tell you whether anything besides the fan running is really happening....????

I'd like SOME indication of what is going on while the fan is running....what is a good way to do that???...and to Steve and all the guys who helped me on the earlier thread, THANK YOU!

Jim

[Sonetpro]

Jim,
I have a automotive voltage guage that I use to see if the battery is getting too low when I am running on battery. But as far as monitoring it charging, It won't do that. The built in charger is automatic. Even when mine is parked I leave it plugged in.

[Greg M]

You can get quite good battery monitors, but they cost a lot of money. Here's a really good one.

-Greg

[Phil & Ningning]

IMO, there is really no need for an expensive, elaborate battery monitor. The old cars just used a simple ammeter to monitor rate of charge or discharge. You can get a brand new one for about 30 bucks here.
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/inpages/vdoammeter.php
These are very easy to install in the positive lead to the battery and will tell you if you are charging or discharging, and at what rate. If you use one, make sure the range is 10-15% higher than the maximum anticipated current flow.

Phil

[Dale M.]

There are literally dozens of "Voltmeters" for automotive use in the $25 to $50 range... VDO makes a nice analog auto unit....

VDO Analog Volt Meter

Here is digital voltmeter.....

Digital Volt Meter

Here is main page that lists many available gauge styles and manufacturers.

Egauges.com

I personal prefer volt meter because it tell system status (state of battery charge)... On many cases its too difficult or complicated to get all charge and discharge currents to register through ammeter...

Dale

[kayakrguy]

Steve, Greg, Phil and Dale...

Thanks for the information and pointers. I will look at the stuff...tho I know I ain't gonna spend $250 to monitor the battery <g>

I have another question....have any of you run a Best converter off of a generator....just thinkin about if we wanted to be camping where there was no hookups....would the Best run ok off a generator to charge the battery?

Thanks

[Sonetpro]

I run mine off my Kipor 1000 all the time. No problems.

[kayakrguy]

Thanks, steve. Once I fight of this set of alligators, I'll investigate the charger. I haven't found any one locally that handles your brand. I might just have to go with Honda or something like that when I get to it.

Jim

[bledsoe3]

Check this guy. I think his prices are pretty good.
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZyurcoscomQQhtZ-1

[kayakrguy]

Jim,

thanks for the web referral....I gotta decide how to use this thing...the generator, I mean. Bruce has told me that the Kipor he has was a little light for his Petcool AC. My China ac via sears takes more power to run than his does.

But I doubt that I can afford a big enuf generator to run my Scheinaars ac. But if I can use the generator to run the converter to charge the battery to run the Fantastic Vent that migh be enuf for most situations or maybe use the generator to run the Fantastic Vent to charge the battery and kick start the converter ????....well, you know,

Jim

[bdosborn]

Well, it will be *a lot* louder than a kippor but the price is right and it'll run everything you got:
clicky


Bruce

[bledsoe3]

I think Bruce has a 1000w Kipor which could be a little small. Rocky has a 2000w that works for his A/C. Only a couple hundred more than than the 1000w. And it's quite like the Honda's but cheaper.