Will trik-L charge battery charger work with AGM starter batteries and Gel house batteries? The Xantrex
echo charger indicates the battery types should be the same. I just recently replaced my Prosine inverter/charger with a Xantrex freedom inverter/charger and now I need to keep the start batteries (Optima red tops) charged.
Thanks for any information.
Richard Anderson
1999 U320 40' build 5586
Ultra TRIK-L-START Starting Battery Charger/Maintainer (http://www.lslproducts.net/TLSPage.html)
If this is what you have it will do a very nice job.
yes. Allways good to keep both banks the same though.
JohnH
I like the dedicated battery minder 1500, disappointed with an Eco charger and trim-l-start reliability in past. Only works if plugged in to shore power of course, while other the diode based chargers work off house batteries whether plugged in or not
Richard, the answer to your question yes. Nice to have both banks with same type of batteries, but many, including us have GEL house and AGM start and nobody has a problem with this mix. Trik-L-Charge is a good choice. We have had one for over 10 years.
I think this is better than all of them.....and it replaces the diode isolator as well.
Combiner 160 Sheet (http://yandina.com/c160Info.htm)
My Trik-L-Start has been going for probably 9 years now, keeping my 2002 Yellow Top AGMs happy. House batteries are Gel. No problems at all.
My setup is the same as Brad's. No problems for 3+ years.
I asked Keith Risch at MOT what he recommended- it was the ECO charger. I had him put it in for me.
Keith is one of the top guys and has forgotten more than I will ever know about my Foretravel. If he says that is the way to go, I have no reason to question him.
Other things work too, I am just telling you my choice and why.
Ted
Does the boost switch allow the chassis batteries to stay charged or do I have to have a trickle charger installed?
The boost switch is NOT a good permanent solution to chassis battery charging, IMO.
What type and brand of charger do you recommend?
Thanks
Terry
If no prevision made for charging the chassis battery, here is what I use:
BatteryMINDer Model 2012: 12Volt 2 Amp (12V 2A) Charger/Maintainer/Desulfator (http://www.batteryminders.com/batteryminder-model-2012-12volt-2-amp-12v-2a-charger-maintainer-desulfator-world-wide-usage/)
This looks good, I might try one. But my battery minder is doing the job nicely.
Ultra Trik-L-Start.
Our coach is in storage at a RV storage facility. Once a week I go to the coach, plug in shore power, turn on the Inverter/charger's battery charger, turn on the boost switch, and charge the batteries for two hours. I then turn off the boost switch, turn off the battery charger, and then unplug shore power.
The next week I go to the coach and repeat the process.
What is wrong with this process?
Larry
I agree with Brett's recommendation. I use a BatteryTender Waterproof Power Tender Plus 12V @ 5A. It works well. If I were to replace it, I would probably choose the BatteryMinder because it includes the desulphator function.
Before I bought the the BatteryTender, I used the "Boost" switch. It works, but the charger is a better solution.
I have three red top optima's.
Had two Trik-L-Starts on my U-270. Each failed after about a year. Killed a set of Optima's.
2000 U-320 came with Xantrax Echo Charger. Had a green LED that showed it was "charging" - killed TWO sets of red tops (3 batteries each time) before I realized that it was intermittent.
Ripped it out and gave it to someone on the forum who confirmed it was intermittent.
Bought BatteryMinder 1500. Charges all three, de sulfates all three, temperature compensated. Batteries always ready to go, very happy now.
Trik-L-Start really only good if plugged in (or I guess if you use Genny auto start), same as battery minder 1500.
Lots of folks like Trik-L-Start and Xantrax Echo charger, as you might imagine, I am not one of them.
As Dave M says - Do what makes you happy!!!
Thanks to all for the information. Interesting how different ways can be effective. Thanks again.
Richard Anderson
1999 U320 40' build 5586
I installed this one:
Amazon.com: BatteryMINDer 12 Volt 2/4/8 Amp Wet/Gel/AGM Battery Charger: (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JFLSL6/ref=pe_385040_30332200_TE_item)
Put it under the bed where the ATS is. Cables reach to the breaker box for 120v and to the batteries for 12v with extra left over. Set it to your battery type and forget it.
Keith
My 7 year old 5 amp Trik-l-start finally started acting up and charging intermittently so I upgraded to the Mega 10 amp Trik-L-Start.
This model also has a low battery light and a beeper. It's almost out of sight out of mind, and you can disable the beeper if you want to. One year warranty, but I hope to get at least 7 years out of this one!
Jerry
Jerry,
Have you seen what the float voltage is after a day or so?
Pierce
Not sure but I'll watch it for the next couple of days. Let you know!
Jerry
Mine have stopped lighting up , however they are still charging. Might be time for me as well. ^.^d
Andy,
Instructions say that one of the lights should be on while in use. If still not on after cleaning and checking the connections, especially the black ground wire I would replace it. My old one was acting the same way.
10 amp charging and the low battery beeper made the upgrade worth it to me!
Jerry
Thanks Jerry, yeah I figured as much I will look into the upgrade.
Pierce,
I checked this morning after almost a week since installation.
The house batteries are showing 13.2v, the start batteries are at 13.1v with the Trik-L-Start maintaining (float charge) light on.
Jerry
Looks good Jerry!
P
Jerry,
Where did you source the charge indicator you have plugged into the lighter, looks simple and nifty.
https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=usb+car+charger+voltage+display&crid=5LNWUB1CHBNQ&sprefix=usb+car+charger+%2Caps%2C196&ref=nb_sb_ss_midas-iss-sm_6_16
It was either Ebay or Amazon but I don't see this particular battery meter anymore. This one looks good and has the same charge status lights.
Jerry
Amazon.com: INNOVA 3721 Battery and Charging System Monitor: Automotive (https://www.amazon.com/INNOVA-3721-Battery-Charging-Monitor/dp/B000EVWDU0/ref=pd_lpo_263_t_1/134-3662446-0905168?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000EVWDU0&pd_rd_r=c229b52c-d22)