bobndot wrote:
I now often just recharge the coach batteries by idling it periodically when camping.
Phil, did you install a DC to DC charger ?
No .... with the V10 idling the V10's alternator charges both the chassis battery and coach batteries.
I think (not sure, though) that the Winnebago design inter-connects both our coach battery bank (2 Grp 31 115 AH each deep cycle AGMs) and the chassis liquid acid battery in a direct parallel arrangement with each other.
I have installed on the driver's side dash three digital meters - one to show chassis battery voltage, one to show coach battery bank voltage, and one to show how much current is either going into the coach battery bank (positive ampere reading) or leaving the coach battery bank (negative ampere reading).
With the coach battery bank about 50% depleted, when I start up the V10 and idle it I've seen as much as 70 amps from the stock Ford 130 amp engine alternator going into the twin Group 31's in the coach battery bank. This current reading of course tapers off over time and I usually turn off the idling V10 when the current flowing into the coach batteries reads around 10-15 amps.
Rarely do I need to do this idle-charging longer than about one hour. It's super quiet ... and of course I can heat or air condition our entire coach interior at the same time while I'm doing this coach battery charging via use of the excellent high capacity Ford Econoline heating and A/C systems.
So since we're not full-timers, I've never installed solar and have instead used either 1) the idling V10, or 2) the built-in Onan generator, or 3) our 650 watt Honda portable genny ... to deal with all of our coach battery charging when camping. We never have any fumes inside the coach when using these methods because we can pressurize the interior to keep any fumes from entering.
I read somewhere that the V10 consumes about 7/10 of a gallon of gas per hour when idling, so it probably will take many years before I rack up enough idling fuel costs to equal the cost of a decent solar system. I can use my charging methods rain, shine, or shade and I can use the idling V10 method for the ultimate in quietness if other campers are nearby. Also, I can pretty much use the idling method "outside generator hours" in certain situations due to it's quietness.
