Portable battery charger. What do you carry?

McKenziek wrote:
I've had many over the years but most are cheap and don't last long. I'm looking for a good portable 12 volt Smart charger that can desulfate and get my batteries to full charge if needed.

What do you carry in your RV tool box?

So I have been for the last 50-years. Everything I have tried automatically undercharges the batteries (no effort needed) and "pulse charge desulfation" turned out to be less effective than a 2-amp constant amperage charge rate.

Why do you good folks carry a portable charger?
Help me out what am I missing?
Is it that you do not have an
On board hard wired converter
Or a capable solar system
or the engine alternator is not connected to the battery bank

No portable charger in our stuff. I got jumper cables though.

KJINTF wrote:
Why do you good folks carry a portable charger?
Help me out what am I missing?
Is it that you do not have an
On board hard wired converter
Or a capable solar system
or the engine alternator is not connected to the battery bank

It has been a habit for me i guess. Years ago my converter shot craps out in the small town land. I got a 6 amp charger from Walley's, finished out the season on it, repaired the RV, and threw the charger in the basement. I think it is time to unload and tyhrow that thing in the barn - been years. :W

The B&D1093 portable has a far better charge algorithm than any of the crappy converters on the market plus it's temp compensated and built in equalizing. For me the temp compensation comes in handy on the really hot days.

Hi mena661

Guess that's why the Paramode converter has temp compensation
Most good converters do
Just sounds easier to me to use the hard wired option rather than connect up a portable unit

One day soon when you get your 800watts of PV solar array you will leave the portable charger at home. Your solar array will easily get the Equalization done when needed and will have temp compensation

because things happen
who wants a ruined trip because of discharged batteries and a dead converter
this forum is full of posts about a trip saved from a dead converter or even dead alternator/regulator because of having a portable charger on hand

KJ, the only converter that I'm aware of with temp comp is the Paramode. None of the others have that. I liked that about the Paramode but I didn't like its low charge voltage. You have to step up to the much more expensive inverter/chargers to get temp comp. That's not an option for a lot of people because of their prices.

KJINTF wrote:
Why do you good folks carry a portable charger?
Help me out what am I missing?
Is it that you do not have an
On board hard wired converter
Or a capable solar system
or the engine alternator is not connected to the battery bank

Because many of us have a Xantrex converter and because they are so darn unreliable you have to carry a spare.

Hi,

I like a belt and suspenders so I carry the aforementioned Vector and a "dumb" charger from Harbor Freight. So far, I've only used them to try to help others.

Battery Charger/Engine Starter, 10/2/50

Mine is a bit earlier model: