Any way to test an Inteli Power 9100? [message #298358] |
Wed, 30 March 2016 22:04 |
George B.
Messages: 213 Registered: February 2012
Karma: 1
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I noticed recently the charge on my two-year old house battery (Costco Kirkland RV/Marine) was not holding. Upon checking it out I found one of the caps had popped of and the water was down in several cells. Added water but was not able to recharge correctly so I got a replacement battery. But waiting to install until I check out the charger.
I have the Progressive Dynamics Inteli Power 9100 Model PD9160A with the Charge Wizard pendent. The trouble shooting guide on the PD web site only has checks for voltage not the charging modes. Was wondering what happened to the battery, the charger's or my fault? Any idea how to test it.
My other coach with the same type charger has a, still going strong, ten-year old battery.
George Butts
Las Vegas Nevada
73 "Custom 26' Q" & 76 23' Birchaven
71 Honda 600 Coupe & 01 Tracker Toads
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Re: Any way to test an Inteli Power 9100? [message #298371 is a reply to message #298358] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 03:09 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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That is how I would check it. Read the voltmeter.
Somewhere around 14.0 V. charging. Around 13.7 - 13.6 for the interim level, and 13.2-13.3 for the maintenance mode.
I have a $3.00 Chinese meter plugged into the accessory (cigarette) socket all the time. I look at it occasionally.
My coach stays plugged in all the time when stored using a PD converter. I add water to the cells once a year though I have gone 2 years. The engine and house batteries are 12 years old and still going strong. Now that I bragged about that I'll probably have to replace one of them on my next trip.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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Re: Any way to test an Inteli Power 9100? [message #298383 is a reply to message #298358] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 09:15 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547 Registered: March 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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George B. wrote on Wed, 30 March 2016 23:04I noticed recently the charge on my two-year old house battery (Costco Kirkland RV/Marine) was not holding. Upon checking it out I found one of the caps had popped of and the water was down in several cells. Added water but was not able to recharge correctly so I got a replacement battery. But waiting to install until I check out the charger.
I have the Progressive Dynamics Inteli Power 9100 Model PD9160A with the Charge Wizard pendent. The trouble shooting guide on the PD web site only has checks for voltage not the charging modes. Was wondering what happened to the battery, the charger's or my fault? Any idea how to test it.
My other coach with the same type charger has a, still going strong, ten-year old battery.
George,
Your other coach is the more common case.
If you read the little card that came with the Wizard pendant, it tells what the little flashing light means. I can never remember, so I keep the card handy. (That is out in the coach.) If you don't know where yours is, the secret decoder is on the second page at http://progressivedyn.com/pdfs/Charge%20Wizard%20Tri-Fold%20Flyer.pdf.
I have never know a PD unit to partially fail. It is either working or it is not. If the terminal voltage at the PD do not agree with what the wizard is saying, contact PD. Do not measure the voltage at the bank. If you want to know why, you buy the beer and I will tell you at great length and have some anecdotes to make the case.
It may be that I knew what your problem was by the end of your first line. RV/Marine batteries are not true deep cycle. What most all are is automotive batteries with fancy terminals. If you deep cycle them, There is a good chance that one cell will short and take out the adjacent cell(s).
For the first six years, we rarely took the coach very far. But, when we did and the alternator worked, the house bank always needed water. Now, I can level the coach powered up all winter and if I topped the cells late in the season, they won't need filling in the spring.
Now, I can get the main engine alternator to treat the bank as nicely as the PD does, but that is an external regulator that is north of 300$us.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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Re: Any way to test an Inteli Power 9100? [message #298435 is a reply to message #298383] |
Thu, 31 March 2016 23:24 |
Ken Burton
Messages: 10030 Registered: January 2004 Location: Hebron, Indiana
Karma: 10
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I was going through the junk in my glove box two days ago. I found the Sams Club receipt for all three batteries in mine. Two 6 volt deep cycle for the house, and one group 31 starting battery. I installed all three in March 2004 and they are all three going strong. I checked all 12 cells with a hydrometer and htey all read good and fully charged. I keep the batteries maintained on the PD unit 24x7 when the vehicle is parked (stored). Today my daughter and topped off the cells with distilled water. All 12 cells took about 16 oz. of water total.
So I highly recommend the PD unit as a converter and battery maintainer.
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
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