Forum Discussion
BFL13
Dec 03, 2018Explorer II
I did mean that you only ever get any battery full on shore power after getting home or to a FHU site. While camping you can only do 50-90s at most on generator, but you want 14.x for that whole recharge.
You have to arrange that when you start the recharge on shore power, you can still do the 20% or better charging rate too. (If not done one at that rate recently). I have to turn off any alternator charging before leaving for home. I have to split the 450AH bank so the 75 amp charger will be over 20% of the 250AH AGM (its spec says no more than 100 amps) and use the 55 amp or my 40 amp charger on the pair of 100s. 20% is 40 amps and their max is specified as 27 each for 54.
(I can't use higher than 75 at home because that would pop the breaker in the house, and my little gen is maxed at 75 too. )
So keeping an eye on the Trimetric, it gets down to under 0.5a per 100 at the 14.x specified charging rate for each battery. (14.1-14.4 for the 250, and 14.5-14.9 for the 100s)
If I don't get to it right away, I have seen the amps start back up again after hitting bottom. That means I have gone past full, and am overcharging. Batteries are warming up. Stop the recharge!
Now I can rejoin the bank as one 450 and put the whole thing on Float at spec 13.5-13.8 (250 and 100s same Floating specs) and leave it till next camping trip.
Point being, that AGMs are not "hands free" "fire and forget" like some might imagine. They have their advantages too of course.
You have to arrange that when you start the recharge on shore power, you can still do the 20% or better charging rate too. (If not done one at that rate recently). I have to turn off any alternator charging before leaving for home. I have to split the 450AH bank so the 75 amp charger will be over 20% of the 250AH AGM (its spec says no more than 100 amps) and use the 55 amp or my 40 amp charger on the pair of 100s. 20% is 40 amps and their max is specified as 27 each for 54.
(I can't use higher than 75 at home because that would pop the breaker in the house, and my little gen is maxed at 75 too. )
So keeping an eye on the Trimetric, it gets down to under 0.5a per 100 at the 14.x specified charging rate for each battery. (14.1-14.4 for the 250, and 14.5-14.9 for the 100s)
If I don't get to it right away, I have seen the amps start back up again after hitting bottom. That means I have gone past full, and am overcharging. Batteries are warming up. Stop the recharge!
Now I can rejoin the bank as one 450 and put the whole thing on Float at spec 13.5-13.8 (250 and 100s same Floating specs) and leave it till next camping trip.
Point being, that AGMs are not "hands free" "fire and forget" like some might imagine. They have their advantages too of course.
About Technical Issues
Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,283 PostsLatest Activity: Jul 17, 2025