Correct Battery charger

Why do you need a portable charger, doesn't the built in charging system work?

Mbrown wrote:
After Crash Coursing Rv usage the last 2 weeks, I've read that its a smart idea to carry a battery charger..
Went to look at some at an Auto store and couldn't make a decision beacuse of the multiple
Amp/charging options.
Is there a "right one" to get for Rv usage, I have a normal car battery and 2 6 volt
auxiliary
Do I need trickle, starting, or low amp charge ??

Battery chargers certainly have their place, but I've never carried a battery charger in over 10 years. I have a little cheepo charger at home that somebody gave me. I think I've used it once in 5 years.

My reason for carrying a battery charger is I use it from time to time for cars that won't start.... Occasionally it's even my car.

Now mine is an old "Dumb" charger,, (But I provide the smarts so that's ok) But I recall in a parking lot not all that long ago my wife (now my late wife) was shopping and some folks were looking forlorn so I broke out the 100' cord and the booster/charger and after a bit of work got 'em going.. Sent them to the nearby auto store that also installs batteries. Cause my suspicion is they needed one.

The new towed I bought to replace the one my wife totaled when she died.... Well the battery lasted about 2 months and I had to boost it to get to the battery store as well. Major pain in ye old anatomy. But a side effect is I adapted and hooked up the old towed charge leads so I can plug an anderson extension cord in between RV and Towed, No matter if Towed is in front or behind RV. (or beside it on the service side) One of these days I'll add an anderson pair to the generator as well.

Mbrown wrote:
I've read that its a smart idea to carry a battery charger..

What reason did they give for needing one?

I've been camping/RV'ing since 1974 and have never carried one with me.

Maybe your source was referring to needing one while the unit was in storage?

Depending on the converter in the RV you might want to forget a portable, but I'd get a smart charger with a BOOST feature.. That is it should be able to put out 50-100 amps for boost starting a car.. This feature will not be used on your motor home.

As for six volt batteries... Well, yes, I put two six volt batteries in my RV a short time ago, nice new DEKA 230 amp hour jars... However once I hooked up that jumper they magically (Well, it is not really magic, it is simple science, the kind I'm trained in) they became a single big 230 amp hour 12 volt battery.

Think of them that way (As a big 12 volt battery) and watch questions go POOF.

One poster in one of the forums I read replaced just one, and with a smaller six volt..... He ask if this will cause problems.. Let me ask you a question.. Would you want a 12 volt battery where half of it (3 cells) were 230 amp hours and the other half (3 cells) were 190? Right.. neither would I.

This is why your six volt "Twins" need to be identical twins,, Because they are each 1/2 of a 12 volt battery.

Treat them as a single battery. The only exception.. I have had a battery fail within a week of install.. IF that happened Id' not demand replacement of both of them under warranty.

RoyB wrote:
popeyemth - It is my portable back-up battery charger. It is stored in my truck and I Have used it several times for charging batteries from there. My 2KW Generator is also stored in my truck. They both go where I go hehe...


I also love having something to help out the neighbors in need... If I see a neighbor camper in need I will use the Generator and portable charger in lieu of hooking a dangerous and sometimes unknown battery jumper hookup. Only takes a good five minutes to get them charged back up then we can visit some sharing some good ole fresh made bean coffee I always have with me.

I have been known to run my own truck battery down yapping too much on my HAM RADIO setup.

Its all about having PLAN-Bs for me when I am camping off the power grid.

Roy Ken

Thanks for the reply!
Speaking of ham set-ups do you know who was set up at Smokemont on Memorial Day?
Was going to introduce myself but missed them after the thunderstorm .
Thanks,Mike

MBrown,

The posting is a little short on real information. It sounds like you have a motorhome. It is well setup if you have a pair of GC2s for a house bank. It should also have been built with a converter/charger. If what was OE is not very good, you would do well to replace it with a modern 3 or 4 stage unit. This is a much better option than carrying and using a stand alone charger. Yes, many stand alone new chargers are very good, but they do not do well as converters. This means that some of your 12V equipment may not like what that stand alone is doing.

This is a battle I fought for years before the depression killed my boat work business. Owners always want an answer for a fast way to recharge the house bank. Well, it just can't be any faster than the batteries want it. If you are in doubt about this, read up. I was going to include a link, but what I had seems to be broken.

Basically, you can do about 90% in a few hours no matter what you throw at the battery (that is without shortening the battery's life). So, if you need to recharge the house bank faster, get as large a good converter as you can afford and a can of patience. If you put two good chargers on the same bank, one will shut down.

Matt

popeyemth - It is my portable back-up battery charger. It is stored in my truck and I Have used it several times for charging batteries from there. My 2KW Generator is also stored in my truck. They both go where I go hehe...


I also love having something to help out the neighbors in need... If I see a neighbor camper in need I will use the Generator and portable charger in lieu of hooking a dangerous and sometimes unknown battery jumper hookup. Only takes a good five minutes to get them charged back up then we can visit some sharing some good ole fresh made bean coffee I always have with me.

I have been known to run my own truck battery down yapping too much on my HAM RADIO setup.

Its all about having PLAN-Bs for me when I am camping off the power grid.

Roy Ken

Roy, if you have a PD60 amp what do you use the BD 40 amp for ?
Thanks,Mike

be sure to get a smart charger. they are really the only good ones for your batteries. they do only what the battery needs and dont overcharge/boil your batteries. long story, but a small smart charger is truly your best bet