WHY Replace the converter/ charger ??

[MOS]

I have a 2016 28W . Only dry camp for a day or two every so often. I may change out the OEM batteries.
I don't understand why one wants to replace the OEM charger .

Explain

[lsbrodsky]

It is not dry camping or the converter that is the problem, it is the charger. If you spend time plugged in to AC, your charger will mistreat your batteries, as in fry them. Yes, you can isolate them with the STORE switch since the converter will provide DC will plugged in to AC. Many of us just replaced the unit.
Larry

[AlinCal]

I just tried that on my 91 with original equipment and when plugged into shore power if I turn Battery switch to off I lose all 12v in the trailer. I was hopping that was not the case, I want to be plugged in much of the time but was hoping to upgrade at a later date. (had enough remodeling for now)

[GettinAway]

We were plugged into elec up in one of the Canadian Provincial Parks. One of the few times we've had an elec hookup. I noticed the sulfur smell when I walked around the front of the AS. The batteries had already cooked. Its expensive to keep replacing them. The swap out wasn't too difficult, and I'm not a particlarly competent electrician. The fan noise is greatly reduced also. That alone was worth it if you know a light sleeper.

[MOS]

I have been plugged into store power on and off for months without a problem .
I have been told by AS that once the batteries have been fully charged the charger automatically shuts off.
I have a 8355 parallax
??

[blkmagikca]

This explains it:

http://www.macandchris.com/batterychargers.htm

[Wayne&Sam]

MOS- it's not imperative to change it if you don't leave it plugged in 24/7 for long periods of time. I haven't and my first batteries lasted seven year, these are on year 4.

Even if you do want to change it, I wouldn't if you're still on the two year warrantee. I'd wait until it's over.

And I wouldn't change out the batteries if they are good. PArticularl if you don't dry camp that much.

YMMV.

[perryg114]

Get you one of these if you are worried. Can't hurt.

https://www.amazon.com/PowerMax-PM3-...ower+converter

Perry

[MOS]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

MOS- it's not imperative to change it if you don't leave it plugged in 24/7 for long periods of time. I haven't and my first batteries lasted seven year, these are on year 4.

Even if you do want to change it, I wouldn't if you're still on the two year warrantee. I'd wait until it's over.

And I wouldn't change out the batteries if they are good. PArticularl if you don't dry camp that much.

YMMV.

Just what is meant by long periods of time ??

[perryg114]

Indefinite like when it is in storage for months at a time. Anytime longer than a couple of days.

Perry

[uncle_bob]

Hi

There is no real reason to swap out working OEM batteries. The capacity increase without major modification is not that great. Doing major mods to a trailer in warranty is not something I would do. Even with the "horrible charger" people seem to get 4 to 6 years out of the setup. When you do wear out the batteries, then figure out what you are going to do.

Battery management is not all that different than managing your water supply. If you go do six showers a day and wash dishes for six people times four meals a day (we be hungry folk ...), you won't make it through the first day on your water tank. It's perfectly possible to do the same thing to a battery setup. In both cases, the answer is not enlarging the systems by 20X. Battery or water, you would add a *lot* of weight and take up a lot of room. The answer is to be more prudent about what you do and how you manage things (or get a 54' long MH) .

Bob

[MOS]

in 3 plus months of use, not more than 7 days in one spot at a time , i had no problems . in one year i did add a very small amount of water to some of the cells.
i think i get what is being said

[switz]

I read this forum extensively before purchasing our first Airstream. The first three modifications after getting the 2013 25FB International Serenity home form the dealership were:

Replaced the factory mattress with a 8" Rocky Mountain mattress cut per factory drawing (factory custom 600 thread sheets fit perfectly)

Replaced the stock converter/charger with a Parallax PD4635V 35 Amp Converter Upgrade

Replaced the stock GYM tires with Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires

I also upgraded our 2015 23D International from the stock 14" GYM tires and wheels before leaving the dealership lot with 15" SenDel T03-56545T wheels and the same size Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires we used on the 25FB. That brought tHe 23D frame to the same elevation as our 25FB (which was traded in on our Classic) so the transferred Hensley Arrow hitch works with the same settings on the 23D that we use with the 25FB using the same 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI diesel tow vehicle.

[nvestysly]

Originally Posted by MOS

I have been plugged into store power on and off for months without a problem .
I have been told by AS that once the batteries have been fully charged the charger automatically shuts off.
I have a 8355 parallax
??

Looking quickly at the Parallax web site the 8355 has three-stage charging. Some charger/converters have four-stage charging. Three and four stage are both way better than single-stage chargers. You're probably okay with your Parallax. Had our trailer had three-stage I would not have switched to four-stage. Our trailer had old-fashioned single-stage and it cooked our batteries twice before I learned my lesson.

[MOS]

Originally Posted by nvestysly

Looking quickly at the Parallax web site the 8355 has three-stage charging. Some charger/converters have four-stage charging. Three and four stage are both way better than single-stage chargers. You're probably okay with your Parallax. Had our trailer had three-stage I would not have switched to four-stage. Our trailer had old-fashioned single-stage and it cooked our batteries twice before I learned my lesson.

I did see that a fourth stage can be add to the 8355 , a temp sensor for $60 or less .
Thanks all for the input

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If you have the option for a temperature sensor, spend the money to add it on.

Bob

[Wetfeet]

Since you bought a newer Airstream, don't fall victim to all that talk about replacing your OEM charger. We bought a 2015 FB Flying Cloud 20 and the dealer tried to sell us a $350 charger replacement/upgrade, telling us the factory charger would cook the batteries if we stayed plugged in for long periods of time. We decided not to replace the OEM charger. Our Airstream is now 2 years old and it has been plugged into shore power most of the time it's not in use, without any problems. The OEM batteries still work great, so apparently Airstream now puts pretty good chargers on the newer models.

[pcskier]

Originally Posted by Wetfeet

The OEM batteries still work great, so apparently Airstream now puts pretty good chargers on the newer models.

When you say the OEM batteries still work great, can you elaborate on your usage? Off the grid 2-3 days on battery power only? One night on occasion, then back to a campground and hookups the next night? Full-boondocking with solar or a generator to charge batteries?

The anecdotal evidence read here and other places, combined with my own experience, convinced me the $200 upgrade was well worth it, and the performance since then has borne that out. Also, the 'newer' trailers, say last ten years, all have the same charger. A friend with a 2007 has the same good old Parallax 7355 that is in my 2014. I just changed his charger for him, as they were 100% full hookup RV Park types of campers (you'd never know you had a battery problem) but just started getting off the grid more...and after one weekend realized their 2 year old batteries were shot.

To MOS the original poster, how the trailer is used is a major factor of course in deciding whether the stock charger is adequate for any given owner. Sticking mostly to hookups, and just a night off grid here and there, and managing the charging via the 'store' switch when plugged in and the batteries have charged, could allow batteries to last a very long time.

Lastly, '4th' stage is not about a temp sensor, that's a different issue. The 4 stages of Progressive Dynamics replacement are:
1. Bulk Charge, 14.4 volts (OEM charger does not put out this voltage according to tests I've read)
2. Normal Charge 13.6 to finish the charge
3. Float Charge 13.2v to maintain batteries
3. Desulfation charge 14.4 volts every 24 hours or so for just a few minutes, to keep the electrolytes moving around.

[interstateflyer]

The 2018 Airstreams will come with a multi-stage converter,
https://www.airstream.com/blog/whats...international/

[dasams]

Originally Posted by Wetfeet

Our Airstream is now 2 years old and it has been plugged into shore power most of the time it's not in use, without any problems. The OEM batteries still work great, so apparently Airstream now puts pretty good chargers on the newer models.

We bought our 2017 FC last Aug and hit the road. We've been camping at parks with full hook-ups so no boondocking for us. In Feb, we drove the Baja penensula and did some camping on the beach w/o hook-ups. Guess what? On the first morning of not being hooked up, our voltage was down to 10.7. These Interstate batteries, with May 2017 date stamps, were fired.

We were hooked up to 30 amp power the whole time except for the drive time. The factory controller killed them but we wouldn't have known it had we not done some beach camping. Oh and by the way, Airstream paid for a new pair of batteries and I paid for my new intelligent controller.