trik-l-start

BFL13 wrote:

ksg5000 wrote:

Tom N wrote:
The trik-l-start does not take power from your deep cycle house batteries and give it to your starting battery. Technically, it takes power from your charger/converter and charges your starting battery. The starting and house batteries are completely isolated.

Trik L Start does take power from your house batteries - it just won't take power from those batteries unless your converter is operating.

Here's a Trik L Start FAQ that may help.

So my cunning 12v plug to 12v plug described earlier, is superior! It doesn't need the converter. It also works with solar keeping the house batteries up. (Where you don't have solar to engine battery in the set-up)

I also have those USB to 12v cig lighter plugs, but not sure if they can be used. Needs a male to male USB cable if there is such a thing. I have one that has two USB slots: 1A and 2.1A. Two of those gizmos and some USB cable that somehow gets you male to male ends would do the same as what my cunning plug to plug does.

Your "cunning" 12V (cig) plug to (cig)plug may not work on NEWER RVs or vehicles with BCM (Body Control Module) Cig plug outlets. Many newer vehicles no longer have a 100% hot power port 24/7 and the BCM will turn the port off after 10 or 15 minutes after key is off. In the case of BCM controlled power ports, backfeeding the power port does have potential for damaging the BCM since the output of the BCM is FET transistors and not relays.

Best way is something hardwired like Trik L start (12V DC-12V DC) or a battery Tender type of device (120AC to 12V DC). Being cheap may cost you more in the end if you are not careful.

There are plenty of 3 stage battery tender type of devices out there that work fine, I bought a 5A charge off brand one from Amazon for $35 for my home generator starting battery, so far has done a great job of keeping the gen battery ready to go into action. Paying $35 for a Battery Tender brand that has .5A charge to me didn't make sense..

BFL13 wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
The Trik-L-Start only charges the engine battery when the house battery charge is higher and prevents discharging the engine battery back to the house battery. A direct battery to battery connection such as via the cig plugs could allow the house system to pull the engine battery down below it's useful limits if not carefully monitored. Not recommended...

Yes, only to be used if there is 120v to the converter or if there is solar to keep the house batteries up.

However, if all the trik-l-start needs is for the house batteries to be higher in voltage, then why does it need the converter if solar can keep them up (during daylight)?

The Trik-L-Start doesn't care how the house battery is being charged, only that it is.

Boon Docker wrote:

Tom N wrote:
The trik-l-start does not take power from your deep cycle house batteries and give it to your starting battery. Technically, it takes power from your charger/converter and charges your starting battery. The starting and house batteries are completely isolated.

Quote from LSL website: Connects between your house and starting batteries - No extension cords or AC wiring needed.

True, but your diagram does not show the charger/converter connected to the house batteries. Without the charger/converter connected to the house batteries the engine battery will not charge. The trik-l-charger supplies a charge from the charger/inverter to the engine/starting batteries. The engine/starting battery is normally only charged by the engine alternator. Again the house batteries does not supply power or charge the starting engine battery.

Dutch_12078 wrote:
The Trik-L-Start only charges the engine battery when the house battery charge is higher and prevents discharging the engine battery back to the house battery. A direct battery to battery connection such as via the cig plugs could allow the house system to pull the engine battery down below it's useful limits if not carefully monitored. Not recommended...

Yes, only to be used if there is 120v to the converter or if there is solar to keep the house batteries up.

However, if all the trik-l-start needs is for the house batteries to be higher in voltage, then why does it need the converter if solar can keep them up (during daylight)?

The Trik-L-Start only charges the engine battery when the house battery charge is higher and prevents discharging the engine battery back to the house battery. A direct battery to battery connection such as via the cig plugs could allow the house system to pull the engine battery down below it's useful limits if not carefully monitored. Not recommended...

ksg5000 wrote:

Tom N wrote:
The trik-l-start does not take power from your deep cycle house batteries and give it to your starting battery. Technically, it takes power from your charger/converter and charges your starting battery. The starting and house batteries are completely isolated.

Trik L Start does take power from your house batteries - it just won't take power from those batteries unless your converter is operating.

Here's a Trik L Start FAQ that may help.

So my cunning 12v plug to 12v plug described earlier, is superior! It doesn't need the converter. It also works with solar keeping the house batteries up. (Where you don't have solar to engine battery in the set-up)

I also have those USB to 12v cig lighter plugs, but not sure if they can be used. Needs a male to male USB cable if there is such a thing. I have one that has two USB slots: 1A and 2.1A. Two of those gizmos and some USB cable that somehow gets you male to male ends would do the same as what my cunning plug to plug does.

Tom N wrote:
The trik-l-start does not take power from your deep cycle house batteries and give it to your starting battery. Technically, it takes power from your charger/converter and charges your starting battery. The starting and house batteries are completely isolated.

Trik L Start does take power from your house batteries - it just won't take power from those batteries unless your converter is operating.

Here's a Trik L Start FAQ that may help.

thanks everyone

Tom N wrote:
The trik-l-start does not take power from your deep cycle house batteries and give it to your starting battery. Technically, it takes power from your charger/converter and charges your starting battery. The starting and house batteries are completely isolated.

that is very interesting. the wires only go to and from the batteries.
thanks

pianotuna wrote:
Love my trik-l-start

X2!