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malechi's avatar
malechi
Explorer
Jun 13, 2016

Battery charging question

If my travel trailer batteries (2 6V golf cart) are hooked up to the converter as normal, can I also connect a battery tender and charge the batteries that way? I'm thinking of hooking up my generator to the RV as normal and running a battery tinder to the batteries to charge faster while plugged into the trailer's AC plug (thus being powered by the same generator connected to the trailer

7 Replies

  • malechi's avatar
    malechi
    Explorer
    Jun 13, 2016
    Sounds good! Thanks for the information


    smkettner wrote:
    PD4045 works very well. Verify that voltage steadily climbs to 14.2+ volts when you expect a fast charge. If not there should be a button in the fuse panel to change the mode. Battery Tender is unnecessary.

    Plan on running the generator about three hours to get the battery from ~50% to 90%+
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Jun 13, 2016
    PD4045 works very well. Verify that voltage steadily climbs to 14.2+ volts when you expect a fast charge. If not there should be a button in the fuse panel to change the mode. Battery Tender is unnecessary.

    Plan on running the generator about three hours to get the battery from ~50% to 90%+
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jun 13, 2016
    This modified the meaning of the question....

    "I'm thinking of hooking up my generator to the RV as normal and running a battery tinder to the batteries to charge faster while plugged into the trailer's AC plug"

    The phrase -out of context- means the answer can be attuned to whatever the meaning of the word "IS" comprises.
  • malechi's avatar
    malechi
    Explorer
    Jun 13, 2016
    What came with the trailer is the Progressive Dynamics PD4045KA, The website says that...

    "Built-in Charge Wizard constantly monitors voltage status and automatically manages your battery. Inteli-Power 4000 Mighty Mini models can recharge the battery to 90% in 3-6 hours using our patented Charge Wizard technology."

    I'm using 2 6-volt batteries. Is this good enough?
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Jun 13, 2016
    Yes.

    No harm will come of it. Battery will only charge same or faster depending on what model of Battery Tender brand charger and what model converter you have. If spending money I recommend upgrading the converter.
  • MEXICOWANDERER's avatar
    MEXICOWANDERER
    Explorer
    Jun 13, 2016
    No

    Nine out of ten times the higher voltage device shuts off the battery tender completely. True with most switched converters. Save the lifespan of the battery tender for battery maintenance charging.

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