chassis battery charging

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chassis battery charging

July 11, 2015, 10:35:32 am

looking at an AMP-L-START from LSL Products to maintain my starting batteries. Is this product a better idea than turning on the boost switch to provide the 13.8 volts seen by the coach batteries provided by the charger /inverter?

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #1 – July 11, 2015, 10:46:55 am

Yes, they make good products.

But, for maintaining chassis battery charge (not charging a discharged battery) you can use one of their smaller/less expensive models. Even 1.5 amps in enough to overcome the parasitic draw and battery self discharge.

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #2 – July 11, 2015, 11:00:14 am

I'm not familiar with that product. I have an ECHO charger that was recomended by Harvey Nelson on the forum and Keith Risch at MOT. Keith actually installed it for me last year- working fine.

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #3 – July 11, 2015, 11:29:57 am

Yes, the Xantrex Echo charger is another good option.

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #4 – July 11, 2015, 11:45:33 am

For what it's worth, I'm a fan of BatteryMINDer; I use their Model 12117 to maintain my Optima group-31 chassis batteries. (I also have a Model 2012 on my house-batteries to avoid using the Freedom-25 for maintenance/float.)

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #5 – July 11, 2015, 01:24:52 pm

Lots of discussion can be accessed via search Yes you want a device to keep up start batteries Are you plugged in when in storage? Do you boondock regularly

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #6 – July 11, 2015, 01:27:03 pm

X 2!!!! On battery minder product

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #7 – July 11, 2015, 01:41:20 pm

Is there a down side to using the boost switch?

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #8 – July 11, 2015, 02:11:54 pm

Quote from: rkohl – July 11, 2015, 01:41:20 pm

Is there a down side to using the boost switch?

Ron,
The boost solenoid is a normally open solenoid. When you activate the switch it supplies voltage to close the solenoid. This being left on for extended periods of time can (this is a possibility not a given) cause the coil to over heat and fail. If left on you also run the risk of all your batteries running down together in the event of a power failure.

Pamela & Mike

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #9 – July 11, 2015, 02:56:16 pm

LSL's Trik-L-Start has been around a long time and is still the most popular device to keep a charge on start batteries when coach's house batteries are being charged. Trik-L-Start is a simple diode device.
Recently LSL introduced Amp-L-Start to accomplish the same thing, but this device has a voltage-sensing circuit board with relays instead of simple diodes.
LSL is a small company owned by an engineering-mind guy that has great ideas for the RVer. We have tried voltage-sensing devices and have always come back to diode devices to keep start battery under charge.
Our coach has Trik-L-Start, Toad-Start & Lil' Stanker.
Ultra TRIK-L-START Starting Battery Charger/Maintainer
AMP-L-START Starting Battery Charger/Maintainer - Overview Page

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #10 – July 11, 2015, 03:40:06 pm

Just ordered a trik-l-start. Thanks for the advice.

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #11 – July 11, 2015, 06:44:06 pm

Quote from: gootie – July 11, 2015, 10:35:32 am

looking at an AMP-L-START from LSL Products to maintain my starting batteries. Is this product a better idea than turning on the boost switch to provide the 13.8 volts seen by the coach batteries provided by the charger /inverter?

On reading the spec sheet on the Amp-L-Start, I notice that it says "It works with 1 and 2 starting battery systems...."
Many rigs have 3 start batteries, I would check with them first.
I have been using a BatteryMinder BM12248 for about 6 years with no problems.
good luck,

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #12 – July 11, 2015, 07:29:08 pm

I have both the Trik-L-Start and the BatteryMINDer 1500. IMHO the BatteryMINDer does a way better job:
Link: BatteryMINDer 1500 | 12 Volt Maintenance Charger Desulfator
I also installed temp sensor for the BatteryMINDer.
Good Luck, Dave A

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #13 – July 11, 2015, 10:11:46 pm

I used to use a battery minder, and it worked great.

When I added solar, I replaced the isolator with a voltage sensitive relay. This connects both battery banks together when either side is getting charged, whether from the altenator, the ac charger, or the solar panels.

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #14 – July 11, 2015, 10:48:15 pm

Quote from: Tom Lang – July 11, 2015, 10:11:46 pm

I used to use a battery minder, and it worked great.

When I added solar, I replaced the isolator with a voltage sensitive relay. This connects both battery banks together when either side is getting charged, whether from the altenator, the ac charger, or the solar panels.

Did the same, except ran in parallel with big isolator so I can still use it for starting. Solar charges house batteries to 13.2 v. and then, solid state device, [battery combiner] allows charge to start batteries. If house bank falls below 12.8, device opens and separates banks. Simple, cheap, and minimum wiring. All done in eng bay, no ac wiring nec. If you do not have solar, charger
on house batteries will keep start batteries charged.

Jim

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #15 – July 12, 2015, 08:16:06 am

I like to keep things simple Battery Minder is small easy to use, store when not in use, and well made.

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #16 – July 12, 2015, 03:53:35 pm

Quote from: Rick – July 11, 2015, 06:44:06 pm

On reading the spec sheet on the Amp-L-Start, I notice that it says "It works with 1 and 2 starting battery systems...."
Many rigs have 3 start batteries, I would check with them first.
I have been using a BatteryMinder BM12248 for about 6 years with no problems.
good luck,

Rick.

Are you using the charger on 3 batteries.??

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #17 – July 12, 2015, 04:18:50 pm

I have a new Trik-L-Start - W/O battery clips - new never installed - $30 including shipping - first come first serve- Pay via PayPal - claim it here on the forum if you want it and then PM me with shipping address and I will give you my PayPal account info

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #18 – July 12, 2015, 04:31:17 pm

Quote from: Hans&Marjet – July 12, 2015, 03:53:35 pm

Rick.
Are you using the charger on 3 batteries.??

Yes, on the 3 engine batteries. The batteries are Optima Red Tops Model 800U 800 CCA, and they are punch dated November 1999. I must be doing something right and the previous owner also knew what he was doing although he did not have a separate charger. We don't sit around too much but have recently been in FL for 10 months. I move the coach every 4-6 weeks and the batteries are always on the BatteryMinder. I permanently mounted the charger in the wet bay and ran some wire over to the batteries. When a separate plug is available at the campground, I run a separate extension cord into the wet bay and it powers the charger and a few interior outlets that I added. I leave the charger on the 2 amp setting, that is the default if the power goes out, and I try to keep it on the AGM batt setting but it seems to kick off of that setting regularly. Early on I spoke to the company about that and they sent me a new unit but it did the same thing. They knew there was an issue with that at colder temps which I was in for several years in the New England area but it does not seem to matter now as every time I go into the wet bay I find the batt setting is kicked down to the default mode which is GEL and that is the lowest float mode setting and it does not appear to be doing any harm. If interested in the BatteryMinder I would encourage you to give them a call and see if they have corrected the problem I have mentioned. My unit is somewhere between 6 and 7 years old. I also set up a plug arrangement so that I can use the Battery Minder as a charger for other batteries as well by disconnecting the dedicated wires to the engine batteries and plugging in a set of cables with clamps. I use the charger with clamps to charge my little jumper pack that I carry. It is an AGM battery and I charge it every couple of months by leaving it on for a couple of days. The jumper pack is about 10 years old with the same battery. Maybe/probably (knocking on wood) I have just been lucky with batteries. Wow, it takes a lot of time to write this stuff.
Good luck,

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #19 – July 12, 2015, 05:03:42 pm

Quote from: Rick – July 12, 2015, 04:31:17 pm

Wow, it takes a lot of time to write this stuff.

Especially true if, like me, you can only type with 1 finger!

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #20 – July 12, 2015, 05:13:28 pm

I also use my battery minder on three optima red tops but remove it when I travel, again very easy.

Re: chassis battery charging

Reply #21 – July 12, 2015, 08:51:13 pm

Quote from: joeszeidel – July 12, 2015, 05:13:28 pm

I also use my battery minder on three optima red tops but remove it when I travel, again very easy.

Nice thing about battery combiner is, install it and forget about it. If either house, or start, batteries are being
charged or maintained, the other is also. Bout the size of a pack of cigarettes, sits on top of your isolator with
two wire connection to isolator.
Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems m-Series Automatic 12/24V DC 65A Charging...

Jim

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