Recommended Battery Charger ?

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Recommended Battery Charger ?

November 23, 2010, 03:23:33 pm

I've been waiting for the fuel price to drop a bit so I could top off our U280 and when it did and I went out to start her.....I got ZIPPPPO !

So, I took the tops off my batteries and put my charger on with only 5 amp charge and after about 5-6 days I could start using the boost button.

Must have been the way I had the charger connected that only charged the house batteries instead of the start battery.

We finally have a nice big barn to keep the coach in and unfortunatly it didn't see much drive time this year and so, out of sight, out of mind. Everything was dead.

I just went to the Trik L Start web site to buy one and found out that they don't actually CHARGE the batteries, but rather steal juice from the house to keep the start fully charged. So I don't think thats what I need right now.

What would be a good charger that would keep things all charged and automatically start and stop charging as needed? Do they make such an animal for a reasonable price?

Thanks in advance and I LOVE THE NEW FORUM !!!

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #1 – November 23, 2010, 04:08:43 pm

Carl,

Sears is a good place to look. However, I don't think you will find anything up to the task for under $50. I bought a great one for about $99 and have used it on start batteries and on our Honda.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #2 – November 23, 2010, 04:31:39 pm

Carl , [ Battery Tender ] model 800 is as good as you will find . It's water proof , will not over charge ,or sulfate your batteries . It can and should be mounted permanent in engine compartment , that way you always have a 100% charge . Cost is in the $45.00 to $50.00 area . It will out last your coach !

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #3 – November 23, 2010, 04:45:13 pm

Thanks George and Brad, I was looking online and when I typed in Battery Tender 800 I found one by the name of Deltran. Is that the one you mean Brad?
Also, shouldn't there be a connection for both house batteries and start battery?
Or...can I connect to one battery post and charge all 3 batteries? If so, how?

Thanks guys

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #4 – November 23, 2010, 04:53:59 pm

Actually "stealing" from the house battery bank IS a good idea, particularly if you have a smart/3 stage charger. You main charger's output is well in access of what is needed to keep the house bank at float level and keep the chassis batteries topped off.

Better to have both banks charged by a smart charger than to buy a "dumb" charger for the chassis batteries-- and few portable chargers are really 3 stage with a real float @ 13.2-13.5 VDC.

Brett Wolfe

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #5 – November 23, 2010, 06:28:39 pm

Quote

I was looking online and when I typed in Battery Tender 800 I found one by the name of Deltran. Is that the one you mean?

Carl yes thats it

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #6 – November 23, 2010, 08:46:25 pm

I use the trickle charger and it does steal from the house batteries. I have the unit plugged in so I am always recharging the house with the inverter charger. It works like a charm. You should carry a regular battery charger with you too. If you go to the North East and or have poor power you can plug in the battery charger and then charge your house batteries with that and not worry about the 20 amp or 15 amp limit and having your bulk charger blow the circuit.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #7 – November 23, 2010, 08:55:51 pm

John,

I want to be sure I understand this correctly. Let's say I am somewhere with only a 20 amp shore power circuit. Are you saying that I can hook up my regular battery charger to the house batteries and reduce or eliminate the possibility of tripping the circuit breaker if I exceed the 20 amps?

But wouldn't I only be using the house batteries only if the inverter had turned on. Sorry, I really do not grasp what you are saying.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #8 – November 23, 2010, 09:19:54 pm

If you have limited shore power (like 15 or 20 amps) all you have to do is tell your inverter charger that it can only have XX amps of 120 VAC. Some inverters call it power share-- but it means they can ONLY use XX amps of 120 VAC.

Look up setting dip switches or programming in our inverter owners manual.

Actually, unless you are dry camping and paying generator run time to charge the batteries, a low setting is easier on the batteries and leaves you more usable amps for other appliances.

Brett Wolfe

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #9 – November 23, 2010, 09:23:11 pm

Brett,

With this missing information, John's post now makes sense to me. Thanks.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #10 – November 23, 2010, 09:34:04 pm

If you are in a situation where you have zero or very low ac available and you do not want to run your generator, It looks like it is time to get involved with the solar panel world or live in the dark.
For me, the small amount of fuel the generator burns makes living comfy and more enjoyable.
I did not purchase a Foretravel to prove how skimpy I could exist and be miserable.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #11 – November 23, 2010, 09:50:09 pm

I agree about running the genny but some old campgrounds you can not run it in and you do not get strong power. Heck I was at Normandy farms at a rally and the power went pretty low. It was so hot out they ddi not have the juice to run 32 foretravels and the rest of the campground guests. SO I unplugged and turn on the genset. Not a problem.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #12 – November 23, 2010, 09:58:17 pm

Dave,

Point well made. But, there are times in campgrounds that generators can not be run.Then we have to go into the "frugal mode."

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #13 – November 23, 2010, 10:07:47 pm

John and George, points well made, however in my case, a camp ground is a very very rare thing on my horizon, Normal stops for me, is the usual cheap places, even Walmart every once in a while, but I feel comfy in a truck stop and running the genset is the quietest thing running.
One day I hope to have the free time to slow down and smell the flowers and complain about the low power in some RV parks. Only problem is that I enjoy working. Maybe when I hit 70 or so.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #14 – November 23, 2010, 10:20:47 pm

Dave,

When you pick up that beautiful U320 early next month why not allow an extra day or two and chill out in a camp ground on the way home. Those guys running the 53 foot 18 wheelers won't even notice you, but other campers will.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #15 – November 24, 2010, 07:10:38 am

sorry to interrupt again...but I'm confussed now. Am I wrong to charge both house and start for the winter while sitting or should I only charge the house to then charge the start?

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #16 – November 24, 2010, 07:19:22 am

Quote from: Carl Sandel – November 24, 2010, 07:10:38 am

sorry to interrupt again...but I'm confused now. Am I wrong to charge both house and start for the winter while sitting or should I only charge the house to then charge the start?

Carl, Here is a little information on how the Trik-L-Start works to keep the engine battery charged.

GENERAL INFORMATION — ULTRA TRIK-L-START™ is designed to keep your engine starting battery fully charged during long periods of storage or inactivity. Connected between the house and starting batteries, it diverts current from your existing house battery charger, sending it to the starting battery. Maximum charging current is 5 amps, automatically tapering to a small fraction of an amp after a full charge is reached. A set of indicator lights display the charger's status, also warning of improper hookup. A built-in blocking diode keeps the starting battery from being discharged due to any loads on the house batteries. ULTRA TRIK-L-START™ is compatible with solid-state or relay-type battery isolators, as well as battery selector switches. Since it doesn't require any connections to AC power, it also works well with solar panels. The included battery clips allow quick temporary connections; crimp-on ring terminals are also provided for permanent installation.

Trik-L-Start™ never needs to be disconnected, which makes it perfect for permanent installation. The best place to permanently connect it is to the terminals on your existing battery isolator, switch or emergency start relay. This is better than connecting it directly to the posts on your batteries, since it avoids corrosion due to battery acid. Also, these devices already have wires from both batteries connected to them, eliminating the need to run long wires to each battery bank.

http://beamalarm.com/Documents/trik-l-start.htm

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #17 – November 24, 2010, 07:20:52 am

Carl,
I don't know your barn set up, but I'll assume you have access to a 15 or 20 amp circuit. Then,
1. plug the coach to that source of shore power (your 15 amp 120VAC circuit in the barn).
2. If you have to turn on your Converter/charger/Inverter, do so.
3. If you have a Battery Boost switch in the dashboard area, turn that on.

Now you can charge the house as well as the start batteries at the same time.

Some folks have added a TRIK-L-START™ charger to keep the start batteries charged (from the house batteries if & when the coach is plugged to shore power). In this case, you do not need to turn the Boost "on".

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #18 – November 24, 2010, 08:03:23 am

Thanks Barry and Peter,
So understanding that the Trik L Start will keep the start battery charged by taking a bit from the charged house battery, I was wondering about how the house battery is kept charged.

So if I connect to shore power ( yes I do have seperate 15-20 amp full time plugs in the barn ) and turn on my boost switch, that will charge both the start and house batteries?

I assume that the coaches power switch inside has to be on....or no?

Peter, you mentioned "If you have to turn on your Converter/charger/Inverter, do so"
Just curious, why would I possibly use the inverter switch? I thought you only used that when you were without power and convert battery power to electricity for tv, dvd etc.

I don't want to buy a charger if the coach already has one and I would like to have all batteries charged without over charging and burning them up.

hmmm

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #19 – November 24, 2010, 08:15:12 am

You're unlikely to burn them up if both house and starter are good AGMs. They can take abuse GELs cannot.
___

best, paul
"Thriving not surviving" <(*¿*)>
"the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new places but in seeing with new eyes"
Anon

Quote

I don't want to buy a charger if the coach already has one and I would like to have all batteries charged without over charging and burning them up.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #20 – November 24, 2010, 08:18:03 am

Quote from: Carl Sandel – November 24, 2010, 08:03:23 am

So understanding that the Trik L Start will keep the start battery charged by taking a bit from the charged house battery, I was wondering about how the house battery is kept charged.

Yes

Quote

So if I connect to shore power ( yes I do have seperate 15-20 amp full time plugs in the barn ) and turn on my boost switch, that will charge both the start and house batteries?
I assume that the coaches power switch inside has to be on....or no?

Yes

Quote

"If you have to turn on your Converter/charger/Inverter, do so"
Just curious, why would I possibly use the inverter switch? I thought you only used that when you were without power and convert battery power to electricity for tv, dvd etc.

The Converter/charger/Inverter is one unit.
You only need the "Charger" turned on to charge your batteries.

Quote

I don't want to buy a charger if the coach already has one and I would like to have all batteries charged without over charging and burning them up.

The coach already has one.
By installing the Trik-l-start you will not need to remember to use the boost switch to charge the engine batteries.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #21 – November 24, 2010, 08:21:14 am

Quote

Peter, you mentioned "If you have to turn on your Converter/charger/Inverter, do so"
Just curious, why would I possibly use the inverter switch? I thought you only used that when you were without power and convert battery power to electricity for tv, dvd etc.

Carl,
As I do not know what converter/charger/inverter unit you have, the reason I mentioned this is that on some units you have the option to turn the "charger" off. And, yes, you do not have to have the "invert" feature on when you have shore power. Invert should be used whenever you:
1. Do not want power interruption on appliances when ever power sources (invert/shore/genset) are being switched.
2. Need AC power while not on shore or genset power.

Re: Recommended Battery Charger ?

Reply #22 – November 24, 2010, 08:25:31 am

Quote from: Paul Smith – November 24, 2010, 08:15:12 am

You're unlikely to burn them up if both house and starter are good AGMs. They can take abuse GELs cannot.
___

best, paul
"Thriving not surviving" <(*¿*)>

"the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeing new places but in seeing with new eyes"
Anon

Quote
I don't want to buy a charger if the coach already has one and I would like to have all batteries charged without over charging and burning them up.

Actually, the way to insure that the batteries (any batteries) are not overcharged is to VERIFY that your inverter/charger is properly programmed. Look in your inverter owners manual. In older models, it was referred to as "setting the dip switches". These were tiny switches on the inverter itself. The head of a pen was used to turn them on/off. Newer generations moved these switches to the back of the inverter remote. Current generation program from the from of the remote panel.

And, if you have an older converter (vs inverter/charger), VERIFY that battery voltage after batteries are fully charged (check 24 or more hours after plugging in) is between 13.2 and 13.5 VDC. If higher, do NOT leave the converter on 24/7. If in storage, a good trick is to by a HD timer from Home Depot, etc. Plug the converter into it and set it to turn on for 1 hour a day.

No battery, irrespective of chemistry, will tolerate long-term overcharging without damage though I agree AGM's are more tolerant than others.

Also, I would not recommend leaving the boost switch on for months at a time. IF your charging system does not charge the chassis battery bank, buy one of the devices discussed here that charges the chassis battery from the house battery (which is charged by your inverter/charger or converter).

Brett Wolfe

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