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11-19-2022, 03:37 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Massachusettes
Posts: 370
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Battery charging
I keep my 1999 Monaco Windsor plugged into shore power all winter to keep the house batteries trickle chargered. I was wondering is there a way to connect the engine battery to keep it topped off also? Can I run some jumper wires from the house batteries to the engine battery.
Thanks in advance.
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1999 Monaco Windsor with a 330 Cummins.
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11-19-2022, 05:58 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Southeast Texas
Posts: 1,721
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Battery charging
Yes you can jumper them together, as long as all are the same type, thats what most rv’s come with, a solenoid that ties both banks together when charging voltage detected.
This is something you can add fairly easily, just need to connect the positive as the negative side is already connected.
If you have lithium house youll have to use a separate charger for lead acid on the chassis bank.
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1998 HR Endeavor Cummins ISB 275 / Banks Allison 3060
20014Jeep Wrangler JKUR with M&G air brake with breakaway
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11-19-2022, 07:12 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2021
Posts: 1,868
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I recommend a VSR = voltage sensing relay. It senses charge voltage from either direction meaning your alternator or charger/inverter and it charges everything all the time. Those old solenoids, birds whatever they are called are outdated. The only caveat with my VSR is I no longer have the "battery boost" switch at the driver's seat. So, if I need to boost chassis with house batteries I have to walk back and push the button. If my chassis batteries are dead, I want my head in there any way to see what the deal is. Since installing, I have has zero issues with battery charging. I would not mess around with jumping cables, that is asking for a mistake.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/buyagain/r...NTTFLIn0%3D%0A
This particular one is likely not robust enough for the boost feature, meaning 140 amps can be easily be overrun by an engine start, but I still have inner peace.
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2004 Safari Cheetah PDQ 330 Cat
2020 Ram EcoDiesel toad
USAF SERE
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11-20-2022, 05:58 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FL
Posts: 11,441
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A jumper will do but as suggested, can be hazardous. One spark inside a battery compartment can end in disaster. The battery compartment should be well-ventilated before installing or removing a jumper.
As mentioned there are many inexpensive options for adding a device to work permanently. Yandina makes some neat tricks, amp-l-start is another that is often suggested here.
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Certified Senior Electronic Technician, Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications repair Service Center Owner, Original owner HR 2008
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11-20-2022, 06:02 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,413
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Do you have a Lambert le-45 or similar in your battery control center ?
It's job is to maintain the chassis battery when the house batteries are charging.
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11-20-2022, 03:05 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Braidwood Il.
Posts: 8,300
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Bad thing about jumped together if you drain one set drain both.
The Lambert maintainer mentioned has green heatsink and will cycle \click on and off, if chassis batts pull over 15amps to prevent overheating.
Several of us have installed Bluesea MLT-ACR it can replace boost solenoid, Lambert charger and diode isolator. Provides bidirectional charging, house from alternator and chassis off the charger. Down side is need to run a few extra wires to dash. Several threads pics and diagrams. Many do it after boost solenoid failed .
__________________
95 Monaco Crown Royale
M11 400hp, 4060 trans.
Aquahot, Generac Guardian7.5k
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11-20-2022, 08:28 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 61
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when my b.i.r.d. relay module went bad I bought a small battery charger from walmart hooked it up to chassis batteries presto stayed charged till I got it fixed. But seems something went bad on my last trip the relays not working again!!! going to break out my small charger again till I have time to get to the relay again.... always something....
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Bob
2005 Beaver Patriot Thunder Vicksburg 43'
2007 Hummer H3x toad
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11-21-2022, 11:05 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Northeast Ohio
Posts: 478
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Can you read the voltage on the engine battery at rest? If it's above 12.6 then it's being charged with the house batteries.
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2000 Fleetwood Southwind 32V - Ford F53 V10 6.8L 208"WB 20,500 GVWR
2022 Palomino Puma Destination 39FKL
Of all the things I have lost, I miss my mind the most.
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11-21-2022, 11:36 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: On the continental divide
Posts: 2,622
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OP,
Why not use 2 Battery Tender trickle chargers ?
When I park the coach in the barn for the winter, I just hit the salesman's switches and attach a tender to the coach and another to the chassis battery.
Come back 3 months later and all is fine.
Mike in Colorado
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2004 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37c, 8.1 gasser, (Jezebel) Ultra RV ECM / TCM, plugs wires, and rear track bar, PPE deep Tx pan w/ temp gage, Bilstein's, Sailun's & Sumo's all round, pushed by a 2002 Grand Caravan, on a Master Tow Dolly OR a WR-250 on a rail.
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11-29-2022, 02:06 PM
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#10
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Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Sequim, Wa
Posts: 66
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flyer15015
OP,
Why not use 2 Battery Tender trickle chargers ?
When I park the coach in the barn for the winter, I just hit the salesman's switches and attach a tender to the coach and another to the chassis battery.
Come back 3 months later and all is fine.
Mike in Colorado
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I agree, I let my house batteries charge on the inverter/converter and I have a separate battery tender for my chassis batteries it’s been working fine for many years now.
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Tony and Coleen, Sequim Wa
06 Monaco Diplomat 38 PST 400HP ISL
96 Gulfstream Sun Voyager- sold
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11-29-2022, 02:57 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,804
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Hi AttilaKara72; As Twinboat mentioned, do you have the Lampert Le45 battery maintainer? I have one in my 01 Windsor and it keeps the house and the chassis batteries charged. Also was equipped on my previous 2000 Windsor. Worked great!
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11-30-2022, 06:18 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: SE Arizona
Posts: 324
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The best, and safest answer is to install a combiner. It will float both banks at the highest level of charge possible, and automatically disconnect either bank if a battery in that bank has a problem. Magnum makes a nice unit. The 3 wire install takes just a few minutes to accomplish.
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11-30-2022, 07:58 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 29
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Charging system for Monaco
Quote:
Originally Posted by AttilaKara72
I keep my 1999 Monaco Windsor plugged into shore power all winter to keep the house batteries trickle chargered. I was wondering is there a way to connect the engine battery to keep it topped off also? Can I run some jumper wires from the house batteries to the engine battery.
Thanks in advance.
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Just a thought : I have two solar panels on my 2001 Monaco Diplomat. I also have eight house batteries in two packs in the rear two battery compartments along with the engine batteries. I charge the whole works with my solar panels without plugging in. I have a series of connecting wires that use the solar panels wiring coming down beside the fridge and travelling to the battery packs. I also use a switch to separate the rear 4 battery pack from the rest, so I can use the rear pack as a reserve. I have pictures of the works but have to dig for them. You can definitely benefit from this but if you are cramped for space and don’t want to use this method; You can definitely join in your engine batteries to take advantage of the charging process.
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