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Old 01-09-2025, 08:30 PM   #1
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Charging Batteries

I have a 2001 Tradewinds and am wondering if my chassis batteries are supposed to be charged while I am plugged into my house 50amp plug? Anyone on here with the same mh know if the two chassis batteries are able to be charged while plugged in to 50amp house plug.
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Old 01-10-2025, 06:21 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Obtain High View Post
On your 2001 Tradewinds, whether the chassis batteries charge while plugged into a 50-amp house outlet depends on how the system is configured:


1. Factory Setup:

  • Most older motorhomes, including the 2001 Tradewinds, do not charge the chassis batteries directly when plugged into shore power. Typically, only the house batteries are charged via the converter or inverter/charger.
2. Dual Battery Charging Options:

  • Battery Isolator or Separator:
    • Some motorhomes have a battery isolator or separator that allows the chassis batteries to receive a small trickle charge from the house batteries. Check if your model has this feature.
  • Auxiliary Charging Relay:
    • Some rigs include an auxiliary relay switch to manually combine the chassis and house batteries for charging. Test this feature if installed.
3. Aftermarket Solutions:

  • If your chassis batteries aren't charging, you can install a Battery Maintainer/Trickle Charger or a device like the Trik-L-Start or Amp-L-Start:
    • These devices draw power from the house battery and keep the chassis battery charged when plugged into shore power.
4. Verify Charging Setup:

  • Use a multimeter to check the voltage of your chassis batteries while plugged into shore power:
    • If charging: Voltage will increase (typically ~13.2-13.8V).
    • If not charging: Voltage will remain static (~12.6V for fully charged batteries).
Recommendation:

If your chassis batteries aren’t charging, installing a Trik-L-Start is an affordable and reliable solution. It’s easy to install and ensures your chassis batteries stay topped off when plugged into shore power. Let me know if you'd like installation guidance!
Trike- L- Start is out of business, nothing is available. Time to update your fact sheets.
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Old 01-10-2025, 06:26 AM   #3
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You may have a Lambert LE415 battery maintainer in that year rig. That siphons some power from the house battery and sends it to the chassis battery. It will be in the battery control center.
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Old 01-10-2025, 12:45 PM   #4
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Last new thing for rv

I haven't read down through the answers much yet but it did catch my eyi. So I'll be a twit and say metal spice rack to screw on some where. Ya I'm from michigan and I can't wait to bust out of the ware house 3 weeks in to winter and im READY to head somewhere warm. Hope to find some fun answers and I'm sure I will. You ALL have a great and safe and Godly new year.
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Old 01-10-2025, 12:51 PM   #5
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National RV typically used a custom control to connect the battery banks when either one was being charged. You need to confirm if that is working. If the house battery is charging when the engine is running, the guts are all there. Then when plugged in or on generator confirm house battery voltage is rising, then at some point the relay will combine the chassis battery(s). My Tropi-Cal had booth chassis and house battery voltmeters in the control center. Does yours? That is the easy check.
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Old 01-10-2025, 12:51 PM   #6
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I have a 2000 winnebago journey and the chassie batteries do not charge on shore power. I believe thay do not charge on the generator neither, but i have not tested that. I think that is pretty standard in the industry. For prolonged stays i would just put a trickle charger on the chassie batteries. Cheap and easy thats me. But maybe your looking for a project
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Old 01-10-2025, 11:27 PM   #7
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Yes, National RV RV Custom Products (BCC) does charge chassis batteries when connected to shore power. That is if everything is working correctly. Most common failure point is the contacts of the interconnect relay.
Go to the link below for troubleshooting guide and schematic of the BCC.
https://rvcustomproducts.com/111979
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Old 01-14-2025, 04:53 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sgtjoe View Post
I have a 2001 Tradewinds and am wondering if my chassis batteries are supposed to be charged while I am plugged into my house 50amp plug? Anyone on here with the same mh know if the two chassis batteries are able to be charged while plugged in to 50amp house plug.
My 2000 tradewinds does not charge the chassis batteries so I simply put a jumper cable from the +ve house batteries to the +ve chassis batteries and they all get charged together. When I'm ready to hit the road I take the jumper off. It has worked for the past 6 years!
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Old 01-14-2025, 05:21 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by the docktor View Post
My 2000 tradewinds does not charge the chassis batteries so I simply put a jumper cable from the +ve house batteries to the +ve chassis batteries and they all get charged together. When I'm ready to hit the road I take the jumper off. It has worked for the past 6 years!
I have owned 2 National RV coaches and worked on many. From the factory it used a bi-directional voltage sensing circuit to operate the battery combiner relay. Same relay as used for the engine/generator boost. For the batteries to combine either bank has to reach ~13.6 volts and up. Once combined they will stay together until the voltage drops to under 13 volts. I would check that the house battery charging system is working and that it is bringing the battery bank up to that required voltage. Depending on the size of the charger and state of charge of the house battery bank, this may take some time. That is part of the design. For an early coach you may have only a battery charger-power converter, and it may have limited capacity. Some of those early chargers also do not work well with low voltage input or generator. Do the house batteries charge of the engine? Does the "Boost" function effectively. If yes, then you need to confirm house battery voltage is raising during charge, and that the connect relay is being operated by the control board. If no, then you need to check the relay. They often make bad contact.
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Old 01-15-2025, 06:59 AM   #10
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My BCC has a burn mark on it and it doesn't charge the coach batteries plugged in. I added the Amp-L-Start to mine
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Old 01-15-2025, 07:15 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by d23haynes57 View Post
I have owned 2 National RV coaches and worked on many. From the factory it used a bi-directional voltage sensing circuit to operate the battery combiner relay. Same relay as used for the engine/generator boost. For the batteries to combine either bank has to reach ~13.6 volts and up. Once combined they will stay together until the voltage drops to under 13 volts. I would check that the house battery charging system is working and that it is bringing the battery bank up to that required voltage. Depending on the size of the charger and state of charge of the house battery bank, this may take some time. That is part of the design. For an early coach you may have only a battery charger-power converter, and it may have limited capacity. Some of those early chargers also do not work well with low voltage input or generator. Do the house batteries charge of the engine? Does the "Boost" function effectively. If yes, then you need to confirm house battery voltage is raising during charge, and that the connect relay is being operated by the control board. If no, then you need to check the relay. They often make bad contact.
You need one of these.

https://www.westmarine.com/blue-sea-systems-ml-acr-automatic-charging-relay-with-manual-control-500a-14122147.html?&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&ut m_campaign=%5BADL%5D%5BPLA%5D%20Most%20Categories_ Test&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_lEeqgoKrEv6BKOe0q Yht43_8WP&gclid=Cj0KCQiA1p28BhCBARIsADP9HrNxh5o-OOzmnF9tj97chAOANGPYGltmdQBRTBMbXAUjQEEQQII7PFYaAg WFEALw_wcB

One more example where the RV industry is 30 years behind on technology
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Old 01-15-2025, 10:23 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chboone View Post
Yes, National RV RV Custom Products (BCC) does charge chassis batteries when connected to shore power. That is if everything is working correctly. Most common failure point is the contacts of the interconnect relay.
Go to the link below for troubleshooting guide and schematic of the BCC.
https://rvcustomproducts.com/111979
I have a 2001 tradewinds 36 ft 7373 on freightliner chassis and this is right on the
bcc on my coach the relay that failed is behind the board. it can be replaced by removing the board.
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