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Topic: Charging house batteries (Read 8 times) previous topic - next topic
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Charging house batteries
Yahoo Message Number: 149578
Hi again; Sorry that I left out that I do have the PD 9160A converter with the Charge wizard.  This was installed in April 2007 just after I picked up my new LD RK at the factory.  Being 7 years ago I forgot! I also have a propane heater mounted on the rear wall of the LD and use that as much as we can (rather than the furnace).  We also do not use TV's at all.  Our analog TV is used to hang photos from! So we do try to conserve energy as much as possible.  We left the Meriwether Lewis campground at 8am this morning with dark grey skies, some snow flurries, and temps in the low 30's with my Trimetric measuring 68%.  By 10am the sun was shining although it remained windy and cold all day.  By 2pm the Trimetric was back to 100%! Yesterday with rain and cold the genset running for 5 hours total, with the PD 9160A converter, could not charge the two house batteries.  Idling the engine battery is a waste of time and gas.  What else can I do? Would a separate battery charger be an answer?  I have never had one and space is limited but I am ready to try anything.  I think there was recent comment about a new super duper charger? Thanks for the responses.

Mike
2007 RK
Re: Charging house batteries
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 149580
A couple things:

What type of Solar setup do you have?

I use 4 panels with 470 watts capacity. With my Blu Sky solar charge controller and any type of sun I can usually get 100% charge by noon. This is with (2) Trojan T-145's. I too am a mild electricity user, although if boondocking generally run 1000W inverter for about 6 hr.s a day. It'a a cheap unit and not terribly efficient but it came installed with the rig.

My best converter will get my batteries to 98% generally within 7 hr.s with a 65% capacity start on Blu Sky battery monitor. That last 2% takes longer.

I do use an External charger on occasion when no sun and I have A.C. hookup. An old Napa 12/10/8/6 amp charger I have had for years works. There's probably much better ones available now. Just make sure your charger is matched to battery type, i.e. don't charge GEL or AGM batteries with a lead/acid battery charger.

Bob
 
Re: Charging house batteries
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 149628
"Sorry that I left out that I do have the PD 9160A converter with the Charge wizard.  This was installed in April 2007 just after I picked up my new LD RK at the factory. Yesterday with rain and cold the genset running for 5 hours total, with the PD 9160A converter, could not charge the two house batteries.  Idling the engine battery is a waste of time and gas."
 You have a problem - likely the converter is not connecting to the batteries, or the batteries are bad. Also, what solar charge controller do you have? The Heliotrope models are NOT multi-stage units, and can cause more rapid battery deterioration that they should. I would certainly never install AGM batteries with those charge controllers. Note that the batteries will charge from whatever source is supplying the higher voltage. Once your converter has switched to the lower maintenance voltage, the Heliotrope will continue charging at 14V+ as long as in full sun.
 I would first check the fuses to the batteries on the converter control panel.

Steve
2004 FL
2013 Honda Fit