Engine battery and house battery questions.
My coach sat for about 8 weeks. Went to move it and the engine battery was dead, drained, kaput. House batteries were fine, they were replaced recently with new deep cells. Anyway I used the bypas...
Forum Discussion
RVcoffee,
Your rig will need to be kept connected to shore power so that the converter charger will keep the house battery(s) charged. You will also need to connect a smart trickle charger ("Battery Minder" to your starting battery to keep it charged. If you add a Trik-L-Start device as described above, it will divert some charging power from the house battery(s) and keep your starting battery charged. Installing my Trik-L-Start was not easy, had to run a long heavy gage wire along frame and up through fender well to get power to the starting battery and added a 15amp circuit breaker for safety. It works well to keep starting battery charged. Don't forget to check electrolyte levels in all batteries, add distilled water to keep plates inside batteries covered using a "turkey baster" type battery filler. Keep battery terminals and connectors clean and tight. Periodically disconnect and clean terminals and connectors with wire brush. Get a cheap digital multi-meter at Harbor Freight, etc., to check battery voltage and proper operation of converter/charger, checking electrical continuity, etc. The more you learn about 12 volt dc system the better you can keep system working and supporting operation of appliances, furnace, etc. when you need them. Learn where the circuit breakers, fuses, and GFI outlets are located and what they control.
Your rig will need to be kept connected to shore power so that the converter charger will keep the house battery(s) charged. You will also need to connect a smart trickle charger ("Battery Minder" to your starting battery to keep it charged. If you add a Trik-L-Start device as described above, it will divert some charging power from the house battery(s) and keep your starting battery charged. Installing my Trik-L-Start was not easy, had to run a long heavy gage wire along frame and up through fender well to get power to the starting battery and added a 15amp circuit breaker for safety. It works well to keep starting battery charged. Don't forget to check electrolyte levels in all batteries, add distilled water to keep plates inside batteries covered using a "turkey baster" type battery filler. Keep battery terminals and connectors clean and tight. Periodically disconnect and clean terminals and connectors with wire brush. Get a cheap digital multi-meter at Harbor Freight, etc., to check battery voltage and proper operation of converter/charger, checking electrical continuity, etc. The more you learn about 12 volt dc system the better you can keep system working and supporting operation of appliances, furnace, etc. when you need them. Learn where the circuit breakers, fuses, and GFI outlets are located and what they control.
