regis101 wrote:
Do you have any brand preferences? I can hit the inter webs for info.
I haven't had any reason to research chargers and converters lately. With the way and pace the technology is improving, I wait until I'm ready to buy one before digging into the literature.
I really. really dislike making any brand recommendations ... it's backfired too often, usually because I don't fully understand the person's needs and resources.
Even when I'm working under a consulting contract, I usually give the customer several suggested alternatives. When they insist on me making the choice, it's spelled out in the contract with caveats regarding possible downsides.
Bear in mind that a motorhome converter is basically just a (nominal) 12 VDC power supply and is intended to just supply current to the coach circuits. In that respect, the plug-in "wall warts" are just as good, although slightly less powerful and convenient.
All you really need is a 120/12 volt step-down transformer and a bridge rectifier. Fancier converters/power supplies use electronic circuits instead of the transformer and often have added circuitry to "smooth out" the supplied current, especially for delicate electronics.
On the other hand, quality battery chargers have much more sophisticated circuitry to match the output to the battery's state and even temperature, in order to better charge the battery and especially extend its life.
This is why I prefer separate converters and battery chargers, under the principle of "the right tool for the right job." Any compromise that combines the two tools is precisely that -- a compromise that doesn't necessarily do either job as well as possible.
With that said, I have always had good luck with Schumacher battery chargers ... but I usually buy the more expensive models. I also had a Sears Diehard charger (which I believe was actually made by Schumacher) that lasted decades ... right up until my second ex-son-in-law left it out in the rain. I also have reason to believe Optima chargers are good, although I haven't had any experience with them. (The assumption is their chargers are good in order to maintain the premium reputation of their batteries.)
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: We're talking about traditional lead acid batteries, including AGM batteries like Optima's. Gel cell batteries are a completely different story and require special chargers. More advanced batteries, such as lithium and newer technology, are even more finicky when it comes to charging, which is the reason for frequent news stories about devices catching fire.
Note: Whenever I find a battery warming pad or blanket, I throw it away. Instead, I use an automatic multi-stage battery charger to keep the battery warm and fully charged in temperatures below freezing and especially in severely sub-zero temperatures common in interior Alaska. (The charging process, including "maintenance" stage, keeps the battery warm.)
