Community Forums

UFO Pilot · 06-16-2008, 01:44 PM

My Winne came from the factory with a Trik-L-Start installed. I believe due to the way it is wired that it only works if I don't use either battery disconnect switch. Does anyone know if I can install a second Trik-L-Start right at the batteries? The factory one is installed behind a panel on the opposite side from the batteries so moving it would be difficult.

UFO Pilot · 06-16-2008, 01:44 PM

My Winne came from the factory with a Trik-L-Start installed. I believe due to the way it is wired that it only works if I don't use either battery disconnect switch. Does anyone know if I can install a second Trik-L-Start right at the batteries? The factory one is installed behind a panel on the opposite side from the batteries so moving it would be difficult.

Ottawa · 06-16-2008, 02:47 PM

Normally it is installed to bridge the Solenoid, and works when the battery disconnect switch have been switched off. That is the way I have installed mine and it works fine.

UFO Pilot · 06-16-2008, 03:42 PM

My MH has been in storage and we have had nothing but sunshine for the last month. I had turned both disconnect switches to the off position. When I tried to start the Coach the chassis battery was nearly dead. I had to use the Coach batteries to start it.

jmerritt · 06-17-2008, 06:28 AM

I have my Trik-L-Start wired so that it only works when the two disconnect switches are on. That way when I am connected to shore power or have the generator running providing power to the coach batteries they will trickle charge the chassis battery. When I disconnect the two sets of batteries the Trik-L-Start is dead so nothing happens to the battery sets when sitting in storage with all battery power off. I am not sure I understand why you would want charging happening between battery sets when in storage and no charging capability present.

John

UFO Pilot · 06-17-2008, 07:36 AM

I have a solar panel that is supposed to charge the batteries.

Scratch & Goose · 06-18-2008, 08:16 PM

Hello;
The solar panels don't charge the battries thru the trik-L-charge, only when you are pluged to shore power.

jmerritt · 06-19-2008, 03:44 AM

In reading the literature and installation info for how the Trik-L-Start works is that whenever the source battery(s) reach a certain state of charge based on voltage then voltage from that source battery(s) will be given to the other battery(s). Nothing about where the charge for the source battery(s) come from just the charge factor of the source battery(s) is what counts. So if the source of charge is solar, RV alternator or generator or shore power makes no difference.

John

Gary RVRoamer · 06-19-2008, 04:30 AM

John is correct - the Trik-L-Start does not care how the house batteries get charged - only that they are at least 0.2v above the chassis battery.

However, I wonder if the solar charger can charge the house batteries when the disconnect switch is off? And if the solar charger puts out enough current to make much difference anyway. The typical little battery maintainer panel is in the 5-12 watt range, which is almost nothing.

Anyway, the simple answer to the original question is yes, you can add a second Trik-L-Start if you like.

diesellabs · 06-19-2008, 05:17 AM

My solar charger --small, 10w I think -- does charge the house batteries even in the 'disconnect' state. Seems to be sufficient so that even the Trik-L-Start will keep the chassis batteries up for a month or so of storage...