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Topic: Question on house battery charging (Read 349 times) previous topic - next topic

Question on house battery charging

I currently am plugged into a 15 amp plug at my house and have a separate trickle charger on my start batteries to keep them up. I have my magnum 2812 inverter with the charger on and the inverter off. In this configuration are my house batteries still being charged OR do I have to have the inverter on. ??
On  another note once a month i fire up the generator (unplugging the shore power prior to running it) to exercise it and I believe when I do that the generator charges the house batteries
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Question on house battery charing

Reply #1 –
Quote from: dicksop –
1.  I currently am plugged into a 15 amp plug at my house and have a separate trickle charger on my start batteries to keep them up.

2.  I have my magnum 2812 inverter with the charger on and the inverter off. In this configuration are my house batteries still being charged OR do I have to have the inverter on.

3.  ...once a month i fire up the generator (unplugging the shore power prior to running it) to exercise it and I believe when I do that the generator charges the house batteries
1.  Your start batteries should be charged (maintained) as long as the 15A shore power plug supplies power to the trickle charger.

2.  We also have the MS2812.  It has separate controls for inverter and charger.  With charger ON and inverter OFF the house batteries should be charged.  You just need to be careful that you don't turn on too much other AC powered stuff in the coach and overload the 15A shore power outlet.  The battery charger on the MS2812 can draw a maximum of 18 AAC when putting out the max charging rate of 125 ADC, but as long as your batteries aren't badly discharged you will never see this high a charge rate.  See screen shot from Magnum owner manual below.

3.  Actually, when you run the generator (shore power OFF) it powers the MS2812 which in turn uses the charger function to charge the house batteries.

1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: Question on house battery charging

Reply #2 –
There are too many issues to say whether the house battery is being charged.  Your best bet is to observe the end results by watching the voltage on the house battery.  Search on Amazon for "12 volt battery monitor meter". 
Audrey & Harvey Nelson
2000 U-320, 40' towing 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
nelsonah@ieee.org

Re: Question on house battery charging

Reply #3 –
Exactly what I thought Chuck
Thanks for the assistance
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: Question on house battery charging

Reply #4 –
Your Magnum controller will tell you whether it is charging or not.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Question on house battery charging

Reply #5 –
Peter, does your 1998 have the 2 power/lighter sockets on the dash? If so one is wired to the house batteries one is wired to the start batteries. I purchased 2 led digital volt meters with USB ports from Amazon that plug into the sockets. At a glance I can see the voltage on both systems day or night and like the USB ports. Jim. 
Jim and Dona
2002 U295 36'
Lily, blue healer. Our fury person
Manx mid travel Ecotec turbo
2022 Bronco badlands Sasquatch
Trail 90 and 110cc