Battery Tender ???

[Stan & BJ]

I have questions about using a Battery Tender to keep the batteries charged in my 2004 Winnebago Vectra. At my former residence I had a 50 amp outlet and kept plugged in to shore power most of the time. This kept my house batteries charged and, via my Trik-L-Start, also kept the chassis batteries charged. At my new residence, I do not yet have 30 or 50 amp outlets installed and am considering using a Battery Tender, which uses only a 110V 20 amp outlet.


1) I assume the Battery Tender should be connected to the house batteries and not to the chassis batteries. Correct? 2) With the house batteries charged, the Trik-L-Start should keep the chassis batteries charged. Correct? 3) The Battery Tender website talks about multiple batteries in parallel and multiple batteries in series. As best I understand, my batteries in my bank of three 12V batteries are connected in parallel and the voltage output is 12V (and not 36 volts as it would be if connected in series). Correct? 4) If so, I would use only a single 12 Battery Tender. Correct?

I will appreciate any and all help from the many pro’s out there. Thanks!

[wa8yxm]

Why not just run a 15 amp cord and turn off everything save the covnerter

15 amps will feed a PDI 9280

[historyljc]

I'm with wa8yxm, you probably don't need anything over what you all ready have.

[ccook129]

dog bone and 115v adapter

[lostagain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccook129 dog bone and 115v adapter

X2....works for me.

[Stan & BJ]

I do not understand any of the replies to date. "Turn off everything save the covnerter"? (What's a "a PDI 9280"?) "Don't need anything over what you all ready have"? "Dog bone and 115v adapter"? ~~ Does anyone have specific answers to my specific questions? Thanks! Stan

[Rocky Larson]

IMHO:

1) I assume the Battery Tender should be connected to the house batteries and not to the chassis batteries. Correct? Yes
2) With the house batteries charged, the Trik-L-Start should keep the chassis batteries charged. Correct? Yes
3) The Battery Tender website talks about multiple batteries in parallel and multiple batteries in series. As best I understand, my batteries in my bank of three 12V batteries are connected in parallel and the voltage output is 12V (and not 36 volts as it would be if connected in series). Correct? Yes
4) If so, I would use only a single 12 Battery Tender. Correct?Yes

Good Luck

[Martind4]

Let me give it a try.

Believe it or not your Vectra will operate on a 120 volt 15 amp circuit, you really don't need a 50 amp or even a 30 amp circuit just to maintain the batteries. That said, with a 15 amp circuit you will not be able to run any heavy loads like the AC, water heater, hair dryers, etc.

The only problem you have to overcome is how to get the electricity from a standard 15 amp household receptacle into the 50 amp plug. To do this, refer to the pictures previously posted and when you go to the camping supply store, tell the clerk what you want to accomplish. They can help get the dogbone adaptors etc.

You don't need a battery tender to do what you want to do, your very expensive equipment already installed will do it very well. We're just trying to save you some money and headaches.

[Stan & BJ]

Thanks, Denny! I did not know my Vectra's charger/converter could run off 15 amp. I thought it had to be plugged into 50 or 30 amps. I already have couple 50-to-30 pigtails (for use in some campgrounds). All I now need to get is a 30-to-15 adapter. From your lucid explanation, I now understand the other one-line replies. Many thanks for your valuable education! Stan (Thanks also for your reply, Rocky.)

[Gregory Dohm]

Battery charger/converter should have no problem working off 15 amps.

I have used Deltran Battery Tenders on my motorcycles for years with great success!

They not only maintain battery charge, better than most original equipment converters, they also put a slight load (periodically) on the battery to remind it of its full cycle responsibilities. They term it 'condition' the battery.

My original charger/converter in my 2004 Winnebago Itasca Sunrise quit on me 2 years ago. I replaced it with a 'better than original' unit which performs a similar function and does not overcharge the batteries....a major fault of the cheaper converters.

Go for the Deltran....some good prices on the web if you take the time to search.

Greg