Float Charing/maintaining

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Float Charing/maintaining

December 24, 2017, 03:33:46 pm

I have had my coach plugged in to the house 120V all winter and added a Float Charger to try and maintain the engine batteries, knowing that the house batteries would be taken care of by the 120V line from the house.
I have a feeling that the float charger is not man enough for the job and this morning noticed that the engine batteries were showing 9.6V. The temperature this afternoon has risen to Plus 1F which has some effect on the issue as well!!
So where to go from here?? I could have the Boost switch ON and have them all being charged all the time, but that is not to my liking in case the house supply should drop off in which case both sets of batteries could become depleted without my knowledge??
So to the experts put there, any ideas???
Happy Christmas to All.
Speedbird 1.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #1 – December 24, 2017, 03:39:37 pm

Ultra TRIK-L-START Starting Battery Charger/Maintainer

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #2 – December 24, 2017, 03:42:37 pm

Turn on boost right away for now, your batteries are suffering I use a battery minder 1500 and that keeps up with the three red tops no problem Others use an echo charger or trik l start, and use the house batteries to charge the chassis batteries.
Maybe bad charger on chassis batteries?

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #3 – December 24, 2017, 03:43:47 pm

How old are the engine batteries? Have they run down before?

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #4 – December 24, 2017, 04:00:48 pm

At those temperatures, if you don't charge them right now (and it may be too late), they will FREEZE.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #5 – December 24, 2017, 04:35:12 pm

I replaced my boost solenoid with this, and it automatically keeps everything charged and STILL works as a boost solenoid, without the 5 amp limitation of the trik l start (for example, leaving your parking lights on while parked at a rest stop with generator running, start batteries will not go dead!)

Combiner 600 Sheet

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #6 – December 24, 2017, 05:23:36 pm

Thank you everyone. Just as I thought the float charger was not up to the task.
My engine batteries are Gels and two years old and I have now got them connected to the rest of the system via the Boost switch. I may have just got lucky??? With the boost switch on they show 14.0 volts which, of course is the same as the house batteries indicate.
One Trick-L-Start on order, thanks to all.
Speedbird 1

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #7 – December 24, 2017, 07:18:05 pm

What is your "Float Charger"? I wonder why it could not keep up.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #8 – December 24, 2017, 07:59:24 pm

It was a Battery Maintainer but only 1.25amp so that could have had a lot to do with it. I should have fitted at least a 5amp version.
Also minus 5F out there right now so I was expecting too much. It just happened to be the spare "maintainer" that I found under the workbench.
Speedbird 1

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #9 – December 24, 2017, 09:48:42 pm

If you decide to go with the Trik-L-Start, be sure your start batteries are fully charged before you hook it up. It is designed to maintain the charge of fully charged batteries, not to recharge almost dead batteries. We have had the Trik-L-Start on our coach for several years, and it does a great job. Our start batteries are always topped off and ready to go, no matter how long it is between trips.

I would also check to be sure all your battery connections are clean and tight. There should not be any significant drain on the start batteries when the coach is parked, but it would be worthwhile to determine what exactly is powered by that bank, and turn off everything you can. See the thread below for some tips on reducing "phantom" battery loads:

Phantom load sources?.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #10 – December 24, 2017, 09:56:57 pm

Thanks Chuck & Jeanne,
I did do a check for phantom loads on both sets of batteries, back when it was warmer and less White!! I found very little, and now I have the Boost switch selected and coupling all the batteries up I should be in good shape by the time the Trick-L-Charge arrives as ordered it this afternoon.
My coach is a 2001 U320 and I would appreciate knowing the easiest place to connect the Trick-L-Charge to close to the engine battery location??
Speedbird 1

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #11 – December 24, 2017, 10:04:01 pm

Quote from: speedbird1 – December 24, 2017, 09:56:57 pm

My coach is a 2001 U320 and I would appreciate knowing the easiest place to connect the Trick-L-Start...

If you have a diode based isolator on your coach, and it is easily accessible, then that would be the best spot. Yellow wire connects to coach (house) battery post on isolator, and blue one connects to the start battery post on isolator. Ground wire (black) to any handy spot nearby.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #12 – December 24, 2017, 10:15:43 pm

Quote from: speedbird1 – December 24, 2017, 09:56:57 pm

Thanks Chuck & Jeanne,
I did do a check for phantom loads on both sets of batteries, back when it was warmer and less White!! I found very little, and now I have the Boost switch selected and coupling all the batteries up I should be in good shape by the time the Trick-L-Charge arrives as ordered it this afternoon.
My coach is a 2001 U320 and I would appreciate knowing the easiest place to connect the Trick-L-Charge to close to the engine battery location??
Speedbird 1

Top post in this thread: TRIK-L-START Installation

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #13 – December 24, 2017, 10:19:57 pm

And this picture. Battery Isolator under the bed.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #14 – December 24, 2017, 10:32:57 pm

Thanks Dan,
Even I can find that under the bed!! I don't even have to roll in the snow!!
Speedbird1

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #15 – December 24, 2017, 11:26:14 pm

We put a switch on the Trik L Start wire connecting to the start battery bank. Without a switch to easily turn off, when start battery cables are disconnected all start battery loads will continue to have voltage, which can be problematic, especially if unaware that the TLS is powering everything.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #16 – December 25, 2017, 05:50:42 am

Thanks, Barry & Cindy,

A very good point for the unwary!! Could be shocking!!!! Thank you.

Speedbird 1

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #17 – December 25, 2017, 01:53:48 pm

Well, it may just be a Happy Christmas with my coach batteries??
I just went out to play in the snow, (10F) and to check the status of my Engine batteries after they had been on Boost for 24hrs and I am pleased to note that with the Boost switch OFF the engine batteries held 11.6 volts, so maybe I got lucky??
The boost is back ON and I await the delivery of the Trik-L-Start
Best Wishes to ALL
,Speedbird 1

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #18 – December 25, 2017, 02:06:10 pm

see what they are tomorrow - seems low to me, but I am not a battery expert

Someone mentioned cleaning and tightening the terminals - will cure a lot of ills - even if they look clean

Hope you got lucky

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start

TCER Direct generator-gas-prod 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #19 – December 25, 2017, 02:36:21 pm

Thanks Tim,
It may sound a little low but a lot better than the 9.6v that I started with. The 11.6 held solid for over 30mins so I am hopeful?? The terminals were all cleaned and greased last summer, but will get the once over once I can get to the side doors with the snow!!
Every hopeful, and even grateful!!
Speedbird 1.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #20 – December 25, 2017, 02:37:53 pm

Quote from: speedbird1 – December 25, 2017, 01:53:48 pm

...with the Boost switch OFF the engine batteries held 11.6 volts, so maybe I got lucky??

Don't want to snow on your parade, but you can't get a true voltage reading until 6-12 hours after you remove batteries from a charger. Some of the voltage you see initially is called surface charge. It will disappear as soon as you put a load on them. The best way to judge sealed (gel or AGM) battery condition is with a suitable load tester.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #21 – December 25, 2017, 03:23:52 pm

The snow has already hit my parade as it is still falling up here, and I have cleared the driveway twice today!!
I get your point, but was encouraged by the fact that the voltage stayed steady for at least 30mins which is a lot better than a big drop off.
With the Winter well and truly in place up here I will continue using the Boost switch, and monitor it, until the Trik-L-Start appears. Once I get that fitted I may get a better idea, followed by an even better idea when it warms up a bit!! I do have a load tester and will check them all before I start thinking about a trip anywhere.
It will be a Good Year Santa Claus!!!
Speedbird 1.

Re: Float Charing/maintaining

Reply #22 – December 25, 2017, 03:31:14 pm

With charger/boost switch off, turning the headlights on for 5 minutes will take the surface charge off the chassis batteries, then take the voltage reading after turning headlights back off.

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