Community Forums

Monacoach · 01-02-2017, 05:29 PM

While in an rv park as we are now, I would like to hook up a battery charger to keep the chassis batteries charged. I have it sitting in a compartment ( not the same compartment as the batteries) and was wondering if these chargers need breathing space. I would like to close the compartment. I will try to post pics....

palehorse89 · 01-02-2017, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monacoach

While in an rv park as we are now, I would like to hook up a battery charger to keep the chassis batteries charged. I have it sitting in a compartment ( not the same compartment as the batteries) and was wondering if these chargers need breathing space. I would like to close the compartment. I will try to post pics....

If you have a selectable one, with 2/10/50 amp switch, I would just set it to its lowest setting and it will be fine. They only get warm/hot when pushing out high amps. to charge. Set it up,turn it on and after a bit, check it out and feel it. A low amp charge to maintain them will work fine.

Monacoach · 01-02-2017, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

If you have a selectable one, with 2/10/50 amp switch, I would just set it to its lowest setting and it will be fine. They only get warm/hot when pushing out high amps. to charge. Set it up,turn it on and after a bit, check it out and feel it. A low amp charge to maintain them will work fine.

Its fully automatic but with the batteries fully charged it will just charge at around 13.2 ish. I will close the compartment and check occasionally for heat.

Monacoach · 01-02-2017, 05:56 PM

Was dark

wa8yxm · 01-03-2017, 08:21 AM

Do they need breathing space.. yes, but not much.

There is, however, a better option depending on your RV

1: Some RV's have a BIRD (Bidirectional Isolator Relay Device) so the house converter keeps the chassis nice and full.. mine does in fact, if needed not only will the house charge the chassis, but thanks to a tie-line my car as well !!!!!.

2: Trick-l-Start (or the more expensive Echo Charge from Xantrex) Both of these are the other half of a BIRD

(A basic isolator is half a bird, charges house when engine is running, that's all.. the Trick-L-Start, when the house charger gets the house up to near full will let the house also charge the chassis.. Echo does the same easy 3 wire hookup (HOUSE positive, ENGINE positive, Ground) hook it up at the isolator relay for easy connections. )

vsheetz · 01-03-2017, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monacoach

Its fully automatic but with the batteries fully charged it will just charge at around 13.2 ish. I will close the compartment and check occasionally for heat.

Agree.

Monacoach · 01-03-2017, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

Do they need breathing space.. yes, but not much.

There is, however, a better option depending on your RV

1: Some RV's have a BIRD (Bidirectional Isolator Relay Device) so the house converter keeps the chassis nice and full.. mine does in fact, if needed not only will the house charge the chassis, but thanks to a tie-line my car as well !!!!!.

2: Trick-l-Start (or the more expensive Echo Charge from Xantrex) Both of these are the other half of a BIRD

(A basic isolator is half a bird, charges house when engine is running, that's all.. the Trick-L-Start, when the house charger gets the house up to near full will let the house also charge the chassis.. Echo does the same easy 3 wire hookup (HOUSE positive, ENGINE positive, Ground) hook it up at the isolator relay for easy connections. )

I was looking at buying some kind of maintainer. Cant find the trickle start anywhere.