Deep Cycle Battery Charging From Alternator
Hello, May I ask for advice regarding charging deep cycle batteries from the alternator? I have read older threads, and understand opinions vary. The previous two 100Ah deep cycle AGM coach bat...
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I always find these threads on battery charging fascinating but they also make me nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof. Makes me think you need the engine crew from a nuclear submarine to successfully have batteries in your RV.
I've got 2 Group 29 Walmart Marine batteries I relocated to one of my storage bays, which I reinforced to handle the weight. I used 4 gauge wire to route the power back to the stock terminals in the engine bay where the house battery used to live in my class C.
When I'm going down the road, I have my charging switch enabled to let the alternator charge the house batteries. I've got a volt meter plugged into the cigarette lighter. It usually reads between 13.8 and 14.4 volts when the engine is running. I'm usually on the road for 2 hours to where I'm going, and then I plug into shore power where my ancient (29 year old) B&W Model 6332 converter is plugged into shore power, giving whatever it gives to the batteries.
I seldom boondock anymore, so my batteries are seldom powering anything anyway.
I have no idea if I'm giving them enough juice or too much or what. They usually last about 5 years. From time to time I top them up with distilled water. I hope it's enough.
I've got 2 Group 29 Walmart Marine batteries I relocated to one of my storage bays, which I reinforced to handle the weight. I used 4 gauge wire to route the power back to the stock terminals in the engine bay where the house battery used to live in my class C.
When I'm going down the road, I have my charging switch enabled to let the alternator charge the house batteries. I've got a volt meter plugged into the cigarette lighter. It usually reads between 13.8 and 14.4 volts when the engine is running. I'm usually on the road for 2 hours to where I'm going, and then I plug into shore power where my ancient (29 year old) B&W Model 6332 converter is plugged into shore power, giving whatever it gives to the batteries.
I seldom boondock anymore, so my batteries are seldom powering anything anyway.
I have no idea if I'm giving them enough juice or too much or what. They usually last about 5 years. From time to time I top them up with distilled water. I hope it's enough.
