Removing the Converter Charger & Installing a 3-Stage Charger Only

Klaybus · 03-08-2006, 05:17 PM

Questions for any RV electrical types...I have a 2004 Cougar 5th wheel & I just installed some "Ample Power" gear. I bought a "Ample Power" 45 amps charger with the "Smart Charge Manager" & have a few questions. As happy as I am with this setup (3 stage charger) the only down side I see is it doesn't have a converter. So as I see it, when I'm plugged into shore power any 12 VDC load I have comes off my golf cart batteries & any 120 VAC load would come off the shore power...Is this corrct? I currently have the breaker thrown off for the "Converter\Charger" that came installed in the coach. I am assuming that leaving this on would not be adviseable as I could be asking for problems like boiling my batteries...
Is anyone else running a setup simular to mine without the benefit of a converter? Thanks for any & all input!

Clay

Gear installed:

Xantrex Link 10 Guage
http://www.energyoutfitters.com/default.htm?http://www..../xantrex_link10.shtm

Power Supply/Charger, 45 Amps, 12-Volts #PSC45-12
http://www.amplepower.com/products/chrg/index.html

Klaybus · 03-08-2006, 05:17 PM

Questions for any RV electrical types...I have a 2004 Cougar 5th wheel & I just installed some "Ample Power" gear. I bought a "Ample Power" 45 amps charger with the "Smart Charge Manager" & have a few questions. As happy as I am with this setup (3 stage charger) the only down side I see is it doesn't have a converter. So as I see it, when I'm plugged into shore power any 12 VDC load I have comes off my golf cart batteries & any 120 VAC load would come off the shore power...Is this corrct? I currently have the breaker thrown off for the "Converter\Charger" that came installed in the coach. I am assuming that leaving this on would not be adviseable as I could be asking for problems like boiling my batteries...
Is anyone else running a setup simular to mine without the benefit of a converter? Thanks for any & all input!

Clay

Gear installed:

Xantrex Link 10 Guage
http://www.energyoutfitters.com/default.htm?http://www..../xantrex_link10.shtm

Power Supply/Charger, 45 Amps, 12-Volts #PSC45-12
http://www.amplepower.com/products/chrg/index.html

Dagwood · 03-09-2006, 04:13 PM

Clay I dont understand what you have done. Did you just add a charger in the batt compartment and run it off 120? Most of those chargers are power supplys also. I believe most converters are just unregulated power supplies. The better ones jave the 3 charging stages built in so you could just replace your converter with that.

Klaybus · 03-09-2006, 06:22 PM

It's a power supply charger. I would just like to leave the OEM gear installed & run off the newly installed gear installed in the basement. Would that be acceptable with the OEM inverter\charger breaker thrown or should I permanently remove it? Remotely mounted it so I could remove the Ample Gear if I ever decide to trade in my coach for something different.

Clay

Dagwood · 03-10-2006, 04:46 AM

Clay I guess its possible to backfeed the entire coach that way but you may run into some fusing issues. /When I replaced my converter on an older coach I just left it in when I traded later. However I was in my shed the other day and that old heavy converter is still there so I should have reinstalled it and kept my new conv with the charge wizard. My new 5th says it doesnt overcharge but I disconnect the batt while sitting in the yard powered up all the time.