My Heart Inverter/Charger isn't charging. The inverter is working fine though.
I recently installed 3 new Lifeline GPL-8DL, 255 AH batteries and want to insure proper charging to protect my investment.
They do charge from the alternator when the engine is running and I have 3 solar panels on the roof running through a Heliotrope RV-20 charge controller that came installed as original equipment. I provides 3 to 4 amps maximum.
To keep the batteries charged I have been using a 2/15 amp automotive charger. I understand I should be using a smart charger to maximize the life of my battery bank.
My long range plan is to replace my inverter charger with a Victron system and adding more solar, but short term I just want to properly charge the batteries.
Can someone recommend a good stand alone charger to accomplish this?
Thanks in advance for the help!
Charlie,
Recommendations for battery chargers really depend on how you use the coach.
If you are on shore power most of the time, a much smaller capacity (in amps) smart charger is just fine.
If you dry camp alot (read that you have to run the generator to charged the batteries) a much larger smart charger is the correct choice.
Tell us more about how you use the coach and we can make recommendations.
My preference is dry camping whenever possible. At this point for 2 to 5 days at a time.
You need to get a newer inverter smart charger that works to be able to not lose battery capacity if you dry camp at all.
You are probably going to want a smart charger similar in size to the charger capacity on the OEM inverter/charger. Your solar will not keep up with dry camping use and you are going to want a bigger capacity charger for just a couple hours of generator time every day.
I had my inverted rebuilt for $300.00 and it works perfect. Service company was a certified dealer for Heart. Check your area. I removed it and reinstalled not hard. Mine was done in Sarasota fl.
You could call lifeline but my understanding of batteries is that they were designed to be bulk charged at a certain rate to restore/retain capacity. Lifelines CAN take 1/4th C. C being amp hours.
You have 765 so 1/4 of that is the max your batteries can be charged at. No idea of the minimum.
Your lifelines need 14.2 volts charging. Same as gels.
Std AGM and flooded cells are 14.4
My magnum inverter has the correct program for lifelines and has a equalizer program in it if you lose any capacity.
Factory setup on three gel battery coaches was a 125 amp charger and a 160 amp alternator to charge the batteries at the optimum rate for a longer life and less gen run time.
" 3 solar panels on the roof running through a Heliotrope RV-20 charge controller that came installed as original equipment. I provides 3 to 4 amps maximum."
Those panels must be tiny or else something is wrong. I have 500 (2 x 250) watts of panels and they produce as much as 20 amps.
I would worry more about the Heart charger portion of the inverter catching fire while plugged in. Mine smoked, luckily I was home and smelled it. I replaced the head, the tail.....the whole damn thing. (Jaws).
In my opinion, the only way to protect your battery investment is to remove Heart (today) and install one of the popular inverter/chargers.
Figure out what your ultimate goal is and plan accordingly. You may want to consider adding more solar power at this point.
Your feed back has motivated me to make an appointment to have a Magnum pure sine inverter installed today!
Thanks!
I'll deal with the solar later since I'm getting near the end of my 10 coach buck reserve for my purchase in February!