We recently purchased a 2013 Itasca sunstar class A. I talked to Winnebago and was told that the chassis battery does not get charged while on shore power. Im looking at the trik-l-start gives 5 amps into the chassis battery until charged. This sounds like more than enough to keep chassis battery topped off. However they also have a amp-l-start that does the same thing but will send up to 15 amp if needed. Seeing it's a new install I was thinking of the amp-l-start. Is this an over kill and extra dollars spent needlessly?

I used the trik-l-start on my old class C for about 10 years. The 30 amp service was on a timer that only came on 1 hour a day. That kept my house batteries and coach battery fully charged through-out the winter months.Highly recommend the trik-l-start.

Unless you know of a special issue save your money and let TLS to the job.

I use a NAPA trickle charger on my chassis battery for over the winter storage. My battery is now 10 years old and doing fine. I wired it in so all I have to do is throw a switch.

Hi,I have the Trik-l-start and it does a fine job.

I would ask the question again. The specs say it has an automatic dual charging system. Somewhere I thought I saw that they were installing the trik-l-start as standard equipment. That is a beautiful RV. Grab a voltmeter and check the battery banks yourself before buying the device. Plug in to shoreline or run the generator and see if both banks are close to the same voltage or at least the engine batteries are seeing around 13.5 volts.

Charging Chassis Battery | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 28, 2014
Hi,

While a bi directional relay is top drawer, if you have solar then the Trik-l-Start does a great job. It is diode based so there is the usual 0.5 volt drop.

I did check my charging relays and each one draws 0.88 of an amp. If you are plugged in that's not a problem, but with short winter days that might be 50% of the solar harvest.

Anyone know what the Blue Sea or the Echo charger relays consume?
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
I much prefer a bi-directional charging relay like the Blue Seas
It will allow full potential to pass from the converter if necessary.
JaxDad
Explorer III
Dec 28, 2014
Dusty, although that switch activates a 'constant duty' relay, it would be better and safer to merely get a short piece of light wire with alligator clips on each end and just clip it one between the two heavy wires on the relay.
Dusty_R
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
We have a 2003 Itasca Spirt 24'. It has the momentary switch on the dash that temporally joins all batteries together. When the mh is parked for more than 2 weeks I block that switch on.

Dusty
RJsfishin
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
Being you have to wire it anyway, why not connect the chassis positive to the house positive, let'm all charge together. I ran the connecting wire thru a switch on the dash, I have full control.
Canadian_Rainbi
Explorer
Dec 28, 2014
We use the Xantrex Echo Charger which charges the chassis battery from the house battery when needed and the house battery is at 13.0V or higher. It will charge at up to 15A. Even when we're dry camped and on solar it keeps the chassis battery up nicely.

One advantage of the trik-l-start charger though is that it is a sealed unit and impervious from battery charging fumes and moisture.
YC_1
Nomad
Dec 28, 2014
I would ask the question again. The specs say it has an automatic dual charging system. Somewhere I thought I saw that they were installing the trik-l-start as standard equipment.

That is a beautiful RV. Grab a voltmeter and check the battery banks yourself before buying the device. Plug in to shoreline or run the generator and see if both banks are close to the same voltage or at least the engine batteries are seeing around 13.5 volts.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 28, 2014
Hi,

I have the Trik-l-start and it does a fine job.
tenbear
Explorer
Dec 27, 2014
I use a NAPA trickle charger on my chassis battery for over the winter storage. My battery is now 10 years old and doing fine. I wired it in so all I have to do is throw a switch.
time2roll
Nomad
Dec 27, 2014
Unless you know of a special issue save your money and let TLS to the job.