Community Forums

BobJones · 08-01-2020, 04:17 PM

Hi guys!

Just wondering if anyone has done an Echo Charger install? I picked on up the other day and installed it last night.

Red Wire to House +
Black Wire to house -
Red Wire w/white to Starting battery +

Indicator light is green but voltages look like this;

13.45v House
13.12v Starting Batts

I thought that if it was working properly they would both read the same voltage?

BobJones · 08-01-2020, 04:31 PM

Update: I thought I would kill the power at the pedestal, give it a few minutes, and then see what happens. When the power came back on the charging circuit went active on the inverter and the house batteries went up to 14+

I then measured the starting batts and they were also up at 14+ so it seems to be doing what it should. I just thought that both house and starting batts would equalize. Perhaps that's wrong.

twinboat · 08-01-2020, 05:06 PM

They would equalize, but it will take some time thru the echo charger wiring.

Did your start batteries discharge before your echo charger install ?

BobJones · 08-01-2020, 06:13 PM

They were a bit discharged. I just checked it again and the starting oes are a little lower then the house ones but they are both over 14v so I think you nailed it - it takes time and I probably shortcut the process by killing the power and re-starting it.

Outbound · 08-01-2020, 08:41 PM

They should level out at approx. 13.4 or 5 when on shore power with batteries charged without engine running. IMHO

BobJones · 08-08-2020, 01:31 PM

The best I'm seeing so far is

Coach 13.64
Starter 13.34

So it is working as I've been monitoring it. I wonder if the starter batteries will always be a bit lower due to the parasitic draw that is present on them?

Either way, it appears to be working as planned. Perhaps the Echo Charger will always be charging?

richard5933 · 08-08-2020, 02:11 PM

In my experience with an Echo Charger the parasitic battery (in this case the start battery) will always be a slight bit lower than the primary.

BobJones · 08-08-2020, 04:59 PM

Good to know. Thank you for posting that. I was considering shutting off the start batteries to check for equalization but in my mind it defeats the purpose.