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Dmk960 · 10-03-2012, 05:15 AM

I have a 04 Itasca Suncruiser that has 2 batteries for the coach hooked up in parallel, and one separate battery for the chassis. I also have a factory installed solar charger on the roof that trickle charges the coach batteries throughout the season(s). My question is, can I place jumper cables crossing the chassis battery with the coach batteries during the winter months in order to keep the chassis battery charged without hurting the system? I do have a battery disconnect switch as well. Would that be left in the on position as well?

Thanks for all responses!

clyon51 · 10-03-2012, 06:04 AM

I would go this route:

http://www.lslproducts.com/TLSPage.html

Anytime house batteries are being charged/maintained, so is the chassis battery. Install and forget and works great!

It will not pull down the house batteries if they aren't charging. If you ran a direct wire, the chassis batt would continuously pull off the house batt.

In storage, I would alway use the diconnect switch. Even then you can still have a draw from the CO2 and propane detectors, depending on how your coach is wired.

As long as your solar has enough watts and sun to maintain 3 batts, I see no problem.

bbeane · 10-03-2012, 06:04 AM

Yes you could do the jumper cable thing, however if one battery has a problem as you now have a 3 battery system, it could create a problem with all of them. Battery disconnect switch off, that way you are not feeding any house systems.

Bigd9 · 10-03-2012, 06:21 AM

I don't know how your coach is wired and your question about weather to use the disconnect switch or not is a good one. If it was me, I would use the disconnect switch and then check to see if any current is flowing into the batteries from the solar cell. More importantly, is there any current flowing out of the batteries from some unknown location. Are you sure the solar charger doesn't already charge both sets of batteries? I don't see any reason you couldn't jump across all of the batteries if you find out your unit only charges the coach batteries. If your solar charger is like mine was, it is so minimal it only puts out 0.8 amps peak. That is if everything is perfect. Clean glass, direct sun, no snow, etc. Don’t expect a lot out of it.

Interesting question, and I would love to see the end results of your decision.

Dave44 · 10-03-2012, 05:45 PM

On my MH when the disconnect switch is off the CO and gas detectors still draw from the batteries. My unit is parked in my driveway so I plug it in year-round, just keep an eye on battery water.
Dave

Dmk960 · 10-09-2012, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clyon51

I would go this route:

http://www.lslproducts.com/TLSPage.html

Anytime house batteries are being charged/maintained, so is the chassis battery. Install and forget and works great!

It will not pull down the house batteries if they aren't charging. If you ran a direct wire, the chassis batt would continuously pull off the house batt.

In storage, I would alway use the diconnect switch. Even then you can still have a draw from the CO2 and propane detectors, depending on how your coach is wired.

As long as your solar has enough watts and sun to maintain 3 batts, I see no problem.

I ordered, hopefully this works! Seems simple enough! Thanks!