need a battery charger

That's Great, thank you! I didn't realize the conv/charger will do that. I was going by what I remember of my parents trailer from the late 70's.
Thanks for schoolin' me! Terry
Thanks for the manual shadow catcher

Depending on the converter and yours should be a 45A WAFCO it should keep your barry charged. However you might want to find out if it is correctly (they have a reputation for failure). A VOM/multi meter is your friend,Here is thee manual. WAFCO manual

TerryandKim wrote:
Golden_HVAC I understood that the on board converter/charger wasn't for charging the batteries up but rather more for maintaining the charge and giving the batteries a little boost while travelling.

Your understanding is wrong.....in most cases.

Your batteries will charge any time you are plugged into shore power.

In most configurations, they will also charge when driving down the road.

In most cases, that is plenty.

It is more important to NOT let the batteries discharge to a low level and then stay that way. They need to be kept charged during non-use or storage and then they are ready to go any time.

The factory charger / converter on a modern RV will fully charge them and do a great job of not overcharging them.

It was units built before about 1990 that had 'Converters' that are not voltage regulated, and on low voltage input will barely charge the battery. To avoid overcharging they have two circuits, one about 40 amps to run the lights while on shore power, and the other transformer is only 5 amps, just to charge the battery a little while on shore power to avoid overcharging it if the voltage is to high. But they have not been installing this sort of converter in RV's since reliable electronic ones came out in 1989.

Your unit should have come with a 45+ amp converter/charger that is a silver box, and has heavy duty wires running to the battery or 12 volt DC distribution box. It will charge your battery in about 4 hours to 90% full, and fully charge it in around 12 hours, and let it sit between 13.1 and 13.4 volts, regardless of the input voltage (between 95 and 130 volts).

Just check the water level once a month or so, until you get an idea of how often you need to add water. If you need to add water to frequently, then the voltage might be a little to high. But if you need to add 1-2 quarts every three months, it is about average.

Most portable chargers can only put out around 15 or 20 amps. The one listed above is rated at 40 amps full time, and probably cost well over $100. You can get one if you like, but it will be rarely used unless you do a not of dry camping, and don't buy a $200 solar panel rated at 140 watts, to charge it in silence. Solar has become a lot less expensive than in years past. My 120 watt panels cost $429 back in 1999, much less per watt than my pair of 45 watt panels for $750 back in 1994. You could rent a nice sized house for $750 a month back in 94.

Of course only used distilled water in the battery.

Good luck,

Fred.

Golden_HVAC I understood that the on board converter/charger wasn't for charging the batteries up but rather more for maintaining the charge and giving the batteries a little boost while travelling. If I'm taking my batteries out of storage from the winter will I not need to charge them before heading out camping? How do I do that if I don't have a charger - do I hook up the trailer and run my truck until theyre charged???

When and how do you plan to use it ?
Most any name brand dual voltage charger will work.
Avoid the Harbor Freight house brand.

I carry a back-up battery charger with me in case the built-in converter/charger goes out when camping...

I use the the B&D VEC1093DBD model which is a 40AMP Smart Mode portable charger setup. I run it off my generator when needed to be used. Each battery in battery bank will need to see around 20AMPS DC current when hit with 14.4VDC Boost voltage if you want them to get re-charged to their 90% charge state in a three hour generator run time. To get to the full charge state this will take over 12 hours to finish which is too long a period for me to run my 2KW Generator setup out the woods...

I think you can still purchase the VEC-1093DBD... This is a real popular battery charger amoung the RV guys... Got mine from AMAZON a few years ago...



My on-board converter/charger to keep my three batteries working in my POPUP trailer battery bank is a PD-9260C 60A Smart Mode charger setup. I run this off my 2KW Generator when allowed to run my generator in the woods each morning for three hours.



Roy Ken

Why do you need a 6 volt battery charger?

You pair up the 2 6 volt batteries to make 12 volts, and use the charger built into your RV from the factory.

The advantage to a pair of golf cart batteries is they offer the capacity and water storage of a 8D battery in two lightweight 67 pound packages. If you ever moved a 130 pound 8D battery, you will know what I mean. It is nice they are 'light'. When I removed my 4 batteries and replaced them, I got a work out that day! They are heavy. But 8D battery is much more weight!

The portable chargers are not as good, and normally only rated at 20 amps or less for 24 hour a day duty. Many say 50+ amps start capacity, but will advise in small print to only have it in start mode for 30 seconds, then unplug it for 20 minutes. It really overheats the poor charger, and will put out 15+ volts for that time it is in the start mode, causing battery damage if you forget it, and let it stay to long in high output mode.

If you are upset with your factory converter, then check with BestConverter.com

Good luck!

Fred.