FAQ's Converters Transfer switches Batteries Inverters
Guide-to-Technical -Documents
| Title and link | Subject | Description |
| Open Fuse Indicators | Indication lights next to fuses. | How they operate, and what they indicate. |
| How to use the copper jumper on the fuseboard | When to remove the copper jumper. | How to install a remote battery switch, |
| Power Center Wiring | Overview of AC and DC wiring. | Shows current flow in the AC and DC system +Grounding |
| RV Battery Bank Calculator and Inverter Battery Sizing | What size bank do I need while Dry Camping. | Calculate the number of batteries based on the RV loads. |
| Battery Management 101 Lead Acid | Understanding and maintaining the Lead Acid Battery. Why the Charge Wizard Helps. | A Basic Guide to Understanding Lead-Acid Battery Charging and Maintenance Requirements. |
| Battery Basics Lead Acid | How Do Lead Acid Batteries Work? | Battery Construction Lead Acid Battery Discharge Cycle Lead Acid Battery Recharge Cycle |
| Crossover List | Replacement Cross Over | What to buy to replace ? |
| Charging Voltages | Why am I charging Slow ? | Voltage drops while charging Why am I charging Slow ? |
| Pendant PD92201 Mod for 4 pin Header | How do I modify my Pendant to plug into the PD4600, PD4000, PD4500 series | Instructions |
| Setting the PD4500 to lithium batteries | How to set the PD4500 series to Lithium Batteries. | Instructions |
| Setting the PD4045 or PD4060 to Lithium | How to set the PD4000 series to Lithium Batteries | Instructions |
| Setting the PD4600 to Lithium | How to set the PD4600 series to Lithium. | Instructions |
| Setting the PD4135 to Lithium | How to set the PD4135 to Lithium Batteries. | Instructions |
| RV System using a PD4100, PD4000, PD4500 Power Center | Overall wiring using an all in one panel | Diagram |
| RV System using a deck mount converter ans seperate fuse panels. | overall wiring using a Deck Mount Converter.PD9100, PD9200, PD9300 | Diagram |
| Inverter setup for PD4000 and PD4100 using a Subpanel | How to add an inverter with built in transfer switch Using a SubPanel | Diagram |
| Inverter setup for PD4000 and PD4100 using an ATS | How to add an inverter to the PD4000/PD4100 Using a transfer switch and subpanel. | Diagram for inverters without a built in switch |
| Inverter setup for 30 AMP PD5000 with ATS | How to add an inverter to the PD5000 series Panel using Go Power GP-TS switch. | Diagram |
| Inverter setup for PD4500 using an ATS | How to add an inverter to the PD4500 Using a transfer switch and subpanel. | Diagram for inverters without a built in switch. |
| Inverter-Installation-Test | Verifying proper installation of the Inverter. | Perform this test when installing !!! |
| Question ? | !!!!! Use the search above to find an answer !!!! | this column is hidden in CSS options |
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| What Type of batteries are recommended? | Wizard equipped converters. Deep cycle Flooded Lead Acid, AGM , Gel Cell Battery size should not be less than the converter size in AMPS. | battery |
| Can I install a higher amperage converter? | . Do not install a converter whose amperage rating is higher than that which originally came installed in your application. Doing so may cause wiring to overheat, resulting in damage to components and/or fire | amps |
| Can I charge more than 1 bank with my converter? | An Isolator should be used between the engine/ start and the coach / house batteries. This will prevent discharging the starting battery when using the coach. | |
| What does the V mean at the end of my model number? | The V means "Retail Packaged" | |
| What does Boost, Normal, and Storage equate to? | What we call boost , normal and storage. Equates to Bulk, Absorption and Trickle. | |
| What output voltage should I measure on the converter? | The converter output should be 13.6. When disconnected from the battery , or when the batteries are fully charged. When the shore power is connected the battery voltage should rise close to this as it charges. The + output of the converter, The + side of the DC panel, and the + side of the battery all hook in common. The – side of the converter . the – side of the DC panel, and the – side of the battery all hook in common. Check the converter output, then the battery. If it is not charging there is a bad connection or blown fuse somewhere preventing operation. | |
| Are you purchasing a Progressive Dynamics product on the internet? | Before you buy, ask the seller about their warranty procedures. Does the retailer provide a "working" customer service or service department phone number? Does the Progressive Dynamics product that you are buying have a valid serial number? Some online retailers are selling Progressive Dynamics' products without a valid serial number...DON'T BUY THEM! We must have a valid serial number for all warranty service work. A valid serial number allows your warranty service topics to be handled smoothly and with ease. Call 269-781-4241, extension 145; email us at service@progressivedyn.com or write us: Warranty Disclaimer Progressive Dynamics, Inc. 507 Industrial Road Marshall, MI 49068 | |
| Why do Recreational Vehicles need Converter/Chargers? | Remote camping in a modern recreational vehicle requires an electric power source (i.e. a 12-volt battery system). The power converter recharges the battery and supplies 12-volt power for the lights and appliances when 120–volt AC power is available. Most RV Manufacturers now specify Electronic Power Converter/Chargers. | |
| Why are my batteries are not charging when connected to my Tow Vehicle ? | The charge wire from the 7 pin trailer connector would go to the battery but not directly, or the coach battery will drain the start battery. 7 pin connector information | |
| What is an Electronic Converter/Charger? | Electronic type converter/chargers were first developed for the military and aerospace programs to meet stringent requirements for reliability and small size. As the cost of components decreased and reliability was increased even further, electronic converter/power supplies became the standard for the computer industry. Electronic converter/chargers had the advantage of being smaller, lighter and they provided the ripple free output voltages these sensitive electronic circuits required. In the early 1990's, the component cost reductions and continued increases in component reliability had reached a point where it was economically feasible to design an electronic power converter for the RV industry. Progressive Dynamics introduced our first electronic converter in 1993 and since then, we have produced over 2,000,000 units. Our field experience and constant improvements have made our units the most reliable on the market today. | |
| How do Electronic Converter/Chargers Operate? | Electronic converter/chargers first convert the 120 VAC 60 Hz from the outlet to 120 VDC after it passes through Diode Rectifier #1, the Capacitor then filters the ripple voltage. This 120 VDC voltage is then fed to an Electronic Switching Circuit that converts it to back to AC and increases the frequency from the original 60 Hz to 3,500 HZ. This high frequency AC voltage is now fed to a step-down transformer where the output voltage reduced to approximately 13.6 volts AC and Diode Rectifier #2 converts the AC to 13.6 Volts DC and the Capacitor filters out the ripple. | |
| What is the maximum rate my Converter/Charger will re-charge my battery? | The 9200 Series and 9100 Series electronic Converter/Chargers can charge the battery at their maximum current output rating, provided there are no other 12-volt systems operating and if the battery is discharged enough to accept this charge rate. Progressive Dynamics presently manufacturers six different models of the 9100 series and four models of the 9200 series power converters as shown in the chart below. The last two digits of the part number indicate its maxim current charging capability in amps. Maximum Output & Charging Rate 9200 Series Model 9100 Series Model 30-amps PD9130 40-amps PD9140A 45-amps PD9245C PD9145A 60-amps PD9260C PD9160A 70-amps PD9270 PD9170 80-amps PD9280 PD9180 | |
| Does my Converter/Charger completely shut-off when the battery reaches full charge? | When the battery reaches full charge, the charging current of the converter drops down to between 20 and 25 milliamps. Batteries will self-discharge themselves at this low rate even when no other 12-volt current loads are present. The converter senses this current loss and automatically replaces this lost current to maintain full battery charge. | |
| Why doesn’t the fan on my converter run all of the time? | The fan provided on Progressive Dynamics 9200 and 9100 series converters is an intelligent fan and uses an electronic temperature sensing system that operates the fan only as much as required usually under high current drain applications. This means that the fan typically will not operate at night when the RV owner has turned off most 12- volt lights and appliances and is trying to sleep. | |
| Does my converter have short circuit protection? | Yes, the 9200 and 9100 series of converters all incorporate a sophisticated electronic current limiting circuit that automatically shuts the converter down very rapidly in the event of a short or current overload condition, without blowing the fuses. This protective circuit will automatically reset itself once the short or overload condition is eliminated. | |
| What is the term of the converter warranty? How do I Register ? | The Progressive Dynamics new converter warranty is 2-years and is determined by the date of purchase of the RV. Warranty registration is not required. Just save your receipt. | |
| What are the fuses on the front of the converter designed to do? | These fuses protect the converter from damage in the event the battery is connected to the RV in reverse. A reverse battery hook-up is the only thing that will blow these fuses. Before replacing a converter suspected of being inoperative always, check these fuses first! These are standard automotive type 30 amp fuses. | |
| How long will it take to re-charge my RV battery? | Battery recharge time is controlled by many factors, such as battery size, converter output rating the number of 12-volt lights and appliances that are “ON” during the re-charge cycle and how far the battery has been discharged. In our testing a 125-AH (Amp Hour) battery was fully discharged to 10.5-volts and then connected to a PD9160 (60-Amp) Converter/Charger set to our standard output voltage of 13.6-volts. The battery reached full charge in 70-hours. | |
| I dry camp most of the time and want to recharge my RV batteries using my generator the next day. Is there any way I can get a faster recharge rate? | Yes, all 9100 Series Converter/Chargers are equipped with our TCMS (Total Charge Management System) Connector to allow you to easily install our Charge Wizard. All 9200 Series Converter/Chargers are equipped with the TCMS / Charge Wizard built in. The Charge Wizard senses that your batteries are low and that you want to charge them fast therefore, it automatically increases the output voltage of the Converter/Charger to 14.4-volts and will return a 125-AH battery to 90% of full charge in 2-3 hours. Full charge is achieved in approximately 15 hours. | |
| Can I connect a solar panel to my batteries without harming the Converter/Charger? | Yes, adding a solar panel with a solar charge controller connected to the battery will not adversely affect our Converter/Chargers. | |
| How do I extend the Pendant ? | Go to showmecables.com Use their custom cable builder option and select a 4 wire cable with rj-22 ends to the length you need. buy . an RJ22 Female to RJ22 Female Handset Cord Inline Coupler Adapter - Straight Pinout Part no. 1067 Using the above cable and coupler connect to the Pendant and the PD9200. | |
| What is the difference between a PD9200 and PD4600 | The PD4600 is a direct slide in replacement. It has the same electronics as the PD9200 series except the wizard manual lbutton and lite reside on the fuse board. It has 2 fans and the proper wiring and cooling to replace the following. Paralax Magnetec WFCO Progressive Dynamics 6336 8935 PD4635 6345 8945 PD4645 6355 8955 PD4655 7345 PD4645 7355 PD4655 The PD9200 is a deck mount style converter with a cord to plug in an AC outlet. It is designed to stand alone, mounted on a floor or wall . It comes with an external Wizard control Pendant for the button and light. | |
| Do the PD9100 and PD9200 come with a cord / plug ? | The PD9100 and PD9200 series converters come with an AC cord. 80 amp and 40 amp/24V models have a 20amp plug, all other models are equipped with a 15 amp plug. The 20 amp plug requires a 20 amp outlet. The 15 amp plug will work on a 15 or 20 amp outlet. | |
| Will equalization affect AGM batteries ? | Equalization when applied in the conventional sense to LA battery chargers, means up to 15.5 volts for a period often exceeding an hour. The equalization cycle that we use is mild, 14.4 volts for 15 minutes every 21 hours when in storage mode. This has been proven to be good at reducing sulfation in the Lead Acid Wet batteries. It also has no effect on AGM . We have been reassured by AGM manufacturers that the profile we use is good for AGM batteries. | |
| What Wire size do I use? | The + and - wire needs to be capable of handling the full amperage output of the converter for the distance between the converter and battery. If the + wire is longer than 18” it needs to be fused within 12” of the battery to protect the wire. The ground wire on the side of the converter needs to be 8 GA bare copper to the chassis. Wires should be sized according to the RIVA / NEC codes. By a licensed electrician. For a rough guide see: Wire sizing | |
| How do I connect / wire a converter to my Battery? | The + and - wire needs to be capable of handling the full amperage output of the converter for the distance between the converter and battery. If the + wire is longer than 18” it needs to be fused within 12” of the battery to protect the wire. The ground wire on the side of the converter needs to be 8 GA bare copper to the chassis. Wires should be sized according to the RIVA / NEC codes. By a licensed electrician. For a rough guide see:wire sizing | |
| How do I connect / wire a PD9200 or PD9100? | The + output goes to the battery or the fuse panel depending on how things are set up. Any wire connecting to the + of the battery must have a fuse in it to protect the wire within 12" of the battery. The - output will go to the - side of the DC system , which could be the battery post or a chassis ground bar. The above wires need to handle the full output of the converter for the distance, the less voltage drop the faster the charging cycle will be. The maximum wire guage is 4 stranded. The wire on the side of the converter is a safety ground and must be of 8 guage or larger connected to the closest metal point of the grounded chassis. | |
| How do I connect / wire a PD4000 , PD4500? | The Shore AC power cord will come into the unit to the main breaker , neutral bar and ground bar. The AC power is then distributed to 120 Volt items through the AC breakers , neutral and ground bars. Power to the converter should be supplied from a 15 amp breaker. The Ground bar needs to be connected to the chassis. Your DC items go to the individual numbered wires , corresponding to fuses . + side Your – return side of DC items go to a ground bar outside of the PD4045 which in turn is connected to the DC – side of the system and battery. Or sometimes the chassis is the DC return and the lights , etc are connected through the chassis. | |
| How do I connect / wire a PD4135? | The Shore AC power cord will come into the unit to the main breaker , netrual bar and ground bar. The AC power is then distributed to 120 Volt items through the AC breakers , neutral and ground bars. The converter Hot, Black, would go to a 15 amp breaker. The Ground bar needs to be connected to the chassis. DC: Just the red wire in position 001 goes to the battery. The second red wire is for a 30 amp max DC circuit , the blacks are for 20 amp max DC circuits. Your DC items go to the individual numbered wires , corresponding to fuses . + side Your – return side of DC items go to a ground bar outside of the PD4045 which in turn is connected to the DC – side of the system and battery. Or sometimes the chassis is the DC return and the lights , etc are connected through the chassis. | |
| How do I add a pendant to the PD4600? | Note that all the wizard features are built into the 4600 and operate automatically without the Pendant. The PD4600 comes with a DC Fuse board that contains the button and light of the pendant. If one finds need for this feature externally then the remote pendant can be made up. It connects to the 4 pin header on the converter section. The instructions to modify one are here:Modify Pendant Buy it for the PD4600 Here: | |
| Where do I purchase the "Lifetime Warranty" for my new converter? | PDI Plus Lifetime Warranty is here. | |
| What should I use in my Tiny House? | There are panels that have the 120 Vac and the 12 volt DC all in one. For 30 amp service PD4135KV PD4045K or for 50 amp service PD4500 These are listed for RV use . Wether they are legal for use in a Tiny House or not will depend on building codes, National, Local Etc. More information can be found here. Google search for Tiny House electrical. | |
| How long is the PD12011 Inverter display cord ? | The remote has 1 length (25') you must use the supplied 25' cable | |
| Can I extend the PD12011 display cable ? | No. Only the supplied cable will work. | |
| Can I mount the PD1200 Inverter upside-down | Upside down is not an optional. Both acceptable positions are shown on page 9 in the inverter manual. | |
| What direction does the fan blow on the PD1200 inverter? | Fan blows inwards. | |
| Will a converter work on the output of an inverter ? PD1200 series. | A converter will not work on the output. The large peak current of our converters will slam into a current limit on the inverter and it will shut off. | |
| How do I add an Inverter ? | Inverter-setup-50-Amp-system Inverter-setup-30-Amp-system Inverter-Setup-PD4000 Inverter-Setup-PD4500 | inverter |
| Do lead acid batteries discharge when not in use? | All batteries, regardless of their chemistry, will self-discharge. The rate of self-discharge for lead acid batteries depends on the storage or operating temperature. At a temperature of 80 degrees F. a lead acid battery will self-discharge at a rate of approximately 4% a week. A battery with a 125-amp hour rating would self-discharge at a rate of approximately five amps per week. Keeping this in mind if a 125 AH battery is stored for four months (16 weeks) winter without being charged, it will loose 80 amps of its 125-amp capacity. It will also have severe sulfation, which causes additional loss of capacity. Keep your batteries charged while not in use! | lead acid |
| Do lead acid batteries develop a memory? | Lead acid batteries do not develop any type of memory. | lead acid |
| Do I need to completely discharge my lead acid battery before recharging it? | No, in fact you should never discharge your lead acid battery below 80% of its rated capacity. Discharging it below this point or 10.5 volts can damage it. | lead acid |
| When do I need to perform an equalization charge? | Equalizing should be performed when a battery is first purchased (called a freshening charge) and on a regular basis (every 10 discharge cycles or at least once a month). Reduced performance can also be an indicator that an equalizing charge is needed. | lead acid |
| What is an equalizing charge? | An equalizing charge for a 12 volt battery requires that it be charged with a voltage of at least 14.4 volts for a period of at least one hour once a month, or every 10 discharge cycles. An equalizing charge prevents battery stratification and reduces sulfation, the leading cause of battery failure. | lead acid |
| When should I add water to my batteries? | How often you use and recharge your batteries will determine the frequency of watering. Also, using batteries in a hot climate will require more frequent watering. It is best to check your battery water level frequently and add distilled water when needed. Never add tap water to your battery. Tap water contains minerals that will reduce battery capacity and increase their self-discharge rate. Warning - A brand new battery may have a low electrolyte level. Charge the battery first and then add water if needed. Adding water to a battery before charging may result in overflow of the electrolyte. | lead acid |
| What is the proper electrolyte level? | Battery electrolyte levels should be just below the bottom of the vent well, about ½ - ¾ inch above the tops of the separators. Never let the electrolyte level to drop below the top of the plates. | lead acid |
| Do I ever need to add acid to my battery? | Under normal operating conditions, you never need to add acid. Only distilled or deionized water should be added to achieve the recommended electrolyte levels. | lead acid |
| Can my batteries freeze? | If your battery is partially discharged, the electrolyte in a lead acid battery may freeze. At a 40% state of charge, electrolyte will freeze if the temperature drops to approximately -16 degrees F. When a battery is fully charged the electrolyte will not freeze until the temperature drops to approximately -92 degrees F. | lead acid |
| What are the most common mistakes made by owners of lead acid batteries? | Undercharging - Generally caused by not allowing the charger to restore the battery to full charge after use. Continuously operating a battery in a partial state of charge, or storing the battery in the discharged state results in the formation of lead sulfate (sulfation) on the plates. Sulfation reduces the performance of the battery and may cause premature battery failure. Overcharging - Continuous-charging causes accelerated corrosion of the positive plates, excessive water consumption and in some cases, damaging temperatures within the battery. Lead acid batteries should be charged after each discharge of more the 50% of its rated capacity and during or after prolonged storage of 30 days or more. Under-watering - In lead acid batteries water is lost during the charging process. If the electrolyte level drops below the tops of the plates, irreparable damage may occur. Check your battery water level frequently. Over-watering - Excessive watering of a battery results in additional dilution of the electrolyte, resulting in reduced battery performance. Add water to your battery after it has been fully charged, never when the battery is partially discharged. | lead acid |
| Can I reduce the need to add water to my battery by lowering the charging voltage to 13 volts or less? | Lowering the charging voltage will reduce the need to add water, but this will cause a condition known as battery stratification. Battery stratification is caused when the sulfuric acid in the electrolyte mixture separates from the water and begins to concentrate at the bottom of the battery. This increased concentration of acid increases the formation of lead sulfate (sulfation). To prevent stratification, your battery should receive a periodic equalizing charge (increasing the charging voltage to 14.4 volts or above). | lead acid |
| How do Lead Acid Batteries work? | Battery Basics | lead acid AGM |
| How do I Take care of Lead Acid Batteries ? | Battery Management 101 | lead acid AGM |
| What size battery Bank ? | RV Battery Bank Calculator | lead acid |
| What size battery bank for an inverter ? | RV Battery Bank Calculator | lead acid |
| Why is the Wizard light on when there is no AC power ? | The Wizard and the light are powered by your battery when there is no shore or generator power. The power consumption is less than .012 amps. | light wizard green |
| What is the current rating of the red or black wires connected to the fuse boards on the power centers. | The red wires and corresponding fuse positions are rated for 30 amps max. The black wires and fuse positions are for 20 amp circuits max. | PD40 PD45 PD41 fuses wire |
| Do I have to have a Battery connected ? | You do not have to have a battery connected when the converter is on. With no battery there will be no 12 volt power if there is no shore or generator power. | converter |
| What are the Low current fuse positions for ? | Low current fuse positions. For the low current circuits the limit of the fuse is 20 amps. The purpose of these is to place low current items such as smoke and gas detectors on these so that if the fuse blows the red light next to it will light. The red light next to each fuse illuminates when the fuse blows, provided something is turned on in the circuit. | low current fuse positions |
| Why does my battery circuit breaker keep tripping when I’m charging my lithium battery? | The battery fuse or circuit breaker is a Battery Protection Device. Its purpose is to protect the battery if there is a short circuit on the battery positive cable in house. Often this is a device called a Short Stop Circuit Breaker and is CLICK TO READ MORE | circuit breaker short stop lithium |
