Battery Tender

smkettner wrote:
Why Battery Tender? I would use the existing charging system and a Trik-L-Start for the chassis battery if you don't already have one.

Otherwise go with the 5 amp Battery Tender and Trik-L-Start.

http://batterytender.com/products/rv/power-tender-plus-12v-at-5a.html

I would try to keep to just one actual charger.

I keep having battery problems and the batteries are dead in the spring. I have to replace them every three years.

wny_pat wrote:
Bob46,
Don't you have a Trik-L-Start on that Itasca? I thought all late model Winnie models had them.

I do have a battery boost switch on the dash to transfer power from the coach batteries to the engine battery but it doesn't work anymore.
Also, I cover the motorhome in the winter therefore the solar charger can't charge the batteries.

Why Battery Tender? I would use the existing charging system and a Trik-L-Start for the chassis battery if you don't already have one.

Otherwise go with the 5 amp Battery Tender and Trik-L-Start.

http://batterytender.com/products/rv/power-tender-plus-12v-at-5a.html

I would try to keep to just one actual charger.

Bob46,
Don't you have a Trik-L-Start on that Itasca? I thought all late model Winnie models had them.

Bobbo,
Do you think the Battery Tender Plus is strong enough to keep both coach batteries charged since they are connected?

If you are wanting to trickle charge all 3 batteries, you really need 2 trickle chargers. One on the chassis battery and one on the pair of house batteries, positive to one battery and negative to the other battery.

MountainAir05- I want to keep them topped off over the winter. All the batteries are 12 volt.

randallb- Thank you. I know nothing about this so I appreciate your input.

Roberta

Bob46 wrote:
I have two coach batteries that are connected side by side and the engine battery is next to them. The batteries are located under the entrance step of my 2002 Itasca Suncruiser. I want to use Battery Tender(s). What is the best configuration:

3 battery tender plus units- one on each battery

1 battery tender plus on the engine battery and 1 battery tender 2- bank system connected to the two coach batteries

2 battery tender plus units- one connected to the engine battery and one connected to one of the coach batteries that are connected to each other.

Thanks for any advice!

2 units will work.one on the chassis battery and one on the two house batterys hooked together and your good to store

On my HR I had 2-6 volts for the house and 2-12 volts for the chassis. I considered the 2- 6 volts a single 12 with one BT JR (.75A) hooked up to maintain them. The 2-12s I also treated as one 12 volt with another BT JR hooked up to them. On the 2-6s they are connected in series, battery 1 negative post to battery 2 positive post, so the charger red wire goes to positive on the first battery and the black goes to the negative on the second battery. On the 2-12s in parallel I hooked the red to positive on the first battery and the black to the negative on the second battery. The second battery being hooked to to the first + to + and - to -. I find hooking the charger up in this manner on batteries in parallel gives a more even charge.
Randy

Are you wanting to charge the battery or keep them top off? Battery Tenders only put out around 1.5 amps