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Topic: Where to Connect Engine Trickle Charger (Read 1273 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Where to Connect Engine Trickle Charger

Reply #20 –
Pierce- you just brought up something that I am not sure of, so here is my question.

I have the Echo charger installed on my coach, which works while charging from shore power or generator.  I have solar installed that  directly charges my house batteries.  I am still using the isolator that came with my coach.  What you said above is that if I have my inverter/charger on while boon docking with solar, that it will charge my start batteries as well.  Do you know if that is so with the Echo charger?  I usually have the inverter off unless I am using it, maybe I should change that??

Thanks for your advice.      ^.^d

Re: Where to Connect Engine Trickle Charger

Reply #21 –
Quote from: Ted & Karen –
Pierce- you just brought up something that I am not sure of, so here is my question.

I have the Echo charger installed on my coach, which works while charging from shore power or generator.  I have solar installed that  directly charges my house batteries.  I am still using the isolator that came with my coach.  What you said above is that if I have my inverter/charger on while boon docking with solar, that it will charge my start batteries as well.  Do you know if that is so with the Echo charger?  I usually have the inverter off unless I am using it, maybe I should change that??

Thanks for your advice.      ^.^d
I don't know about the Echo charger. The parasitic draw on the engine batteries is very low and boon docking for several days should not see much of a voltage drop on the engine batteries unless you use the dash radio and other devices connected to the engine solenoid hot lug under the flip up dash. The time that your inverter is on should keep the engine batteries up from the 2 amp trickle charger. We usually watch TV at night for a couple of hours and then have the inverter on in the morning for the microwave, latte maker and TV. This is plenty of time for the trickle charger to keep the engine batteries up.

OK, a sure way but not recommended way is to just go into the electrical bus panel and connect a three inch wire from the coach batteries lug to the engine battery lugs. The wire can be a small gauge and you could just put a switch on it. You would want to make a dash sign so you remember to turn it off or remove it before heading out from your dry camping location. I did this for a year or so before installing the trickle charger. We have house AGM and engine conventional batteries but this was not a factor. Again, a sign for the wire and bat antenna are necessary. My neighbor tore his bat antenna off TWICE in a year and still didn't make a sign.

Instead of thinking about the engine batteries, install a digital dash voltmeters or plug in voltmeter to keep an eye on both batteries, both while dry camping and also while driving. You can tap into to Audit wires for both voltages or come off the lighter plugs on the dash and HWH panels.

Pierce

Re: Where to Connect Engine Trickle Charger

Reply #22 –
I connected mine directly to the batteries.  Keept it simple so it could be trouble shot later.

Keith

Re: Where to Connect Engine Trickle Charger

Reply #23 –
Quote from: Keith and Joyce –
I connected mine directly to the batteries.  Keept it simple so it could be trouble shot later.
Keith
Perhaps the simplest and the best solution. For rear battery coaches, a 110V outlet could be installed next to the block heater outlet, the charger plugged in with the wires fed to the batteries. Shore power keeps everything happy and if the outlet is inverter hot, it keeps the batteries up while dry camping.
Pierce

Re: Where to Connect Engine Trickle Charger

Reply #24 –
Another fan of Trik l start. Installed at isolator with easy access to start batteries on my U270. Disconnect negative on house batteries when installing. Don't want an accidental grounding of wrench to chassis. Works for solar, land line or generator operation. Also very affordable.
 

Re: Where to Connect Engine Trickle Charger

Reply #25 –
Quote from: Realmccoy –
Another fan of Trik l start. Installed at isolator with easy access to start batteries on my U270. Disconnect negative on house batteries when installing. Don't want an accidental grounding of wrench to chassis. Works for solar, land line or generator operation. Also very affordable.
And don't use a wrench long enough to contact the positive pole while losening the negative cable, BTDT with a weird GM terminal clamp style this week.