Jumper from coach to house batteries?

RUNDLC · 07-02-2011, 11:16 AM

I have a solar panel on the roof that keeps the chassis batteries charged, I am wondering if it is ok to put a small jumper to trickle charge the house batteries while I have it stored? The storage period would only be about four weeks. I do have the disconnect on but want to make sure they don't keep running down.

TIA

Rex · 07-02-2011, 12:46 PM

I would not recommend doing that. If you want to keep the coach batteries up also, use a Trik-L-Start device. cost around $50 and allows the coach batteries to be charged when the house batteries are up. Will not drain the house batteries.

You can get it here:

LSL Products
5807 Babcock Rd. #108
San Antonio, TX 78240
877-257-4655
Ultra TRIK-L-START Starting Battery Charger/Maintainer

or you could buy a Xantrex Echo Charge to do a better job. It provides more charge capability than the Trik-L-Start. Get it here:

Xantrex
408-987-6030
Xantrex | Power Inverter, Inverter Charger, Battery Charger Manufacturer

Robi.1014 · 07-02-2011, 05:53 PM

My rig has the Morningstar solar regulator. Monaco wired it to charge only the house batts. I did some research and found that Morningstar included another 12VDC output...which I connected to my starting batts. I store my rig where there is no power, and this lash-up has worked well for me. The picture in the link (below) shows a terminal marked "Load" .... which is what I connected my chassis batts to.

Photo Gallery

YC1 · 07-02-2011, 06:40 PM

That would be fine. If you want to be extra careful you could put a fuse in it. I did that in my last mh all the time until I bought the trik-l-start.

bluepill · 07-02-2011, 06:50 PM

Shoud be OK as long as ALL the batteries are about tha same age and same type. Shouldn't mix types - eg AGM with "normal" flooded design.

Also, your panel may not have enough output to keep all the batteries charged. As an example, my panel is only 10 watts - not enough to keep all five of my batteries charged.

If you have shore power easily available the Trik-L-Charge would be fine.

Pairajays · 07-02-2011, 08:35 PM

I'm wondering, did you really mean your solar panel charges the "chassis" batteries. I think that is unusual. Normally solar panels charge the coach batteries. Trik-L-Chargers and Echo charges are normally used to keep the chassis batteries charged after the house batteries are charged.

Jim E

Pairajays · 07-02-2011, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pairajays

I'm wondering, did you really mean your solar panel charges the "chassis" batteries. I think that is unusual. Normally solar panels charge the coach batteries. Trik-L-Chargers and Echo charges are normally used to keep the chassis batteries charged after the house batteries are charged.

Jim E

Thinking back, I once owned a MH that had a tiny solar panel connected to the chassis battery. It would never come close to maintaining the charge on both chassis and house batteries.

Jim E

YC1 · 07-02-2011, 10:32 PM

Re-reading your post I am reconsidering. Your solar panel may be a tiny one and the parasitic drains on your engine batteries may be to much. If you really want to keep them up then disconnect the negative leads of both banks of batteries. That way things like automatic steps or engine computers and clocks won't work on the batteries. I have large solar panels so would not be concerned in doing a jumper on mine. As far as mixing batteries I know it is not the best advice but it is done every day in a lot of MH's via solenoids.