Storage and trickle charge

[tnrzryd]

I’m looking at a new storage location for my 2017 Aspire 44B. Covered storage. 110 available for 2 hrs a day. How would this work for me? Would I only be able to trickle charge chassis batteries?

[amosnandy]

Originally Posted by tnrzryd

I’m looking at a new storage location for my 2017 Aspire 44B. Covered storage. 110 available for 2 hrs a day. How would this work for me? Would I only be able to trickle charge chassis batteries?

Actually if you are just plugging in the RV via the shore power cord, you will be charging the house batteries first. Look in your manual to see how the chassis batteries are charged.

Most have a BIRD or similar so whenever the inverter/charger is on it charges both. Often they are set up so most of the charge goes to the house batteries with a trickle charge to the chassis batteries. That should be sufficient.

Also your manual should tell you if it charges both sets of batteries with the battery disconnect shut off some do, some don’t. Mine has a little device in the generator compartment called “trickle-charge”. When I tur the salesman switch off the light on it goes out, so I assume it’s not charging the chassis batteries.

I had it in for service for two weeks and did not shut any of the disconnects off, but I also have a 40watt factory solar panel on it. So I assume the 6-8 hours of sunlight most days was enough to make up for the parasitic draw. Doesn’t do you any good in covered storage.

[01blueox]

I just hookup a battery tender trickle charger to the chassis battery while sitting at home as it's the only one that goes down on my MH.

[Dr. Mike]

We have our coach in a totally enclosed storage with 20 amp service. I have all power turned off, but what I cannot figure out is why sometimes the batteries hold 13.4 volts and other times 12.7 volts.

Be safe

Dr. Mike

[RayandWendy]

13.4 probably just came off a charging cycle and hasn't had time to stabilize. 12.7 is done charging just actual battery voltage.

Later...
Ray

[ronlin11]

My coach is stored inside with 20amp 24/7. To charge the chassis batteries your house charge must be 13.2 or above. I am in AZ and during the summer the heat drives my house charge down to 13.0. During the winter it is up to 13.4 or 13.5. I have hooked up a battery tender to the chassis batteries and plugged it into the plugin at the rear of the coach (engine warmer plugin) and this solves the problem.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by Dr. Mike

We have our coach in a totally enclosed storage with 20 amp service. I have all power turned off, but what I cannot figure out is why sometimes the batteries hold 13.4 volts and other times 12.7 volts.

Be safe

Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike,

It is the way your Magnum chargers are set up. If you still have AGM batteries your Final Charge setting under the SETUP button should be set to Float not Multi. If set to Multi your house batteries will only receive a 4 hour trickle float charge each time the voltage drops to 12.5v. Overall this does not sound bad but the problem is the low amount of charge current for that 4 hour period is not enough to fully recharge the bank to 100% SOC. You will slowly sulfate your batteries.

[brobox]

Don,
I was hoping you could answer Tom's question on how the charges on the Entegra would handle 2 hours on. We have a U-haul indoor storage here and that is all they allow is 2 hours a day. I've often wondered how that would work on a large coach.

[tnrzryd]

Originally Posted by brobox

Don,
I was hoping you could answer Tom's question on how the charges on the Entegra would handle 2 hours on. We have a U-haul indoor storage here and that is all they allow is 2 hours a day. I've often wondered how that would work on a large coach.

I’m also hoping Don can answer my question about the 2 hr limit. What I’ve been doing is shutting down all the cutoffs. The coach rarely sits for more than a couple weeks and so far no issues with chassis or house batteries. Have not been utilizing the 110/20amp.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by tnrzryd

I’m looking at a new storage location for my 2017 Aspire 44B. Covered storage. 110 available for 2 hrs a day. How would this work for me? Would I only be able to trickle charge chassis batteries?

Tom,

With a two hour window per day for charging on a 15-20 amp plug I would have everything turned off (fridge (at the circuit breaker), lights, basement fridge etc.). On the Magnum remote dial shore power back to 10 amps. Have the inverter turned OFF at the Magnum remote.

When the charger gets power your batteries will either go into float or Bulk depending on where the Magnum remote voltage is, 12.5v or less it will charge in bulk, above this it will go to float.

When your house batteries get to 13.3v or above the chassis batteries will get a charge via the Precision Circuits BIM for up to an hour.

For the first while I would monitor the coach to see how everything is working and to make sure the shore power breaker does not trip. You can check both battery banks (house and chassis) on the EC-30 panel (if you have this).

If things are not working properly let me know.

[tnrzryd]

Thanks, Don. I will give this a try when I get it back from NIRV where’s its being serviced. I’m sure I’ll have more questions once I try it.