Charging batteries

[prelucir]

I know this has been visited, but I cannot recall what I read.

Do my batteries trickle charge when my Bighorn is plugged in to shore power?

Thanks,
John

[bpounds]

I don't think there are many, or any, of the old single stage chargers coming on trailers less than 10 years old. The market got wise to that long ago. And multi-stage chargers got very cheap. The good news is you almost certainly have a multi-stage. The bad news is it is probably a WFCO brand. They work, sorta. Many won't want to go into bulk mode. So you never get a full charge, and it is bad for batteries over time. There are better replacement converters for just about any trailer.

[Sam_Spade]

Veebyes wrote:
Even had to change out the transfer switch.

After a loose connection fried my transfer switch, I just left it out. I now "transfer" by moving the cord from one plug to another.

[Veebyes]

maddog348 wrote:
Veeebyes ~~ why so sour???????????????????

Not being sour. Been down that road already with a factory installed converter/charger. Even had to change out the transfer switch. I will give the switch some credit. It had switched hundreds of times before failing.

There are decent multi stage converter/chargers available. In my quest to 'marinise' my 5er I now have a multi stage inverter/charger.

[Sam_Spade]

maddog348 wrote:
Veeebyes ~~ why so sour???????????????????

Maddog......why so judgmental ???????
I mean REALLY.

[maddog348]

Veeebyes ~~ why so sour???????????????????

[4x4ord]

To get a good answer you would have to let us know what make and model converter charger or inverter charger you have.

There are basically three stages of charging: Bulk; Acceptance; and Float.
Bulk:
When a low battery bank is connected to a three stage charger it will begin charging rapidly. As it starts to "fill" with amp hours the charger will increase its voltage output to maintain a constant charge rate.... likely in the neighborhood of 25 amps per battery in the bank.
Acceptance:
At a predetermined level of charge, which is designed into the charger, the charge voltage will drop to a constant voltage of around 14.2 volts. During this stage the amps the battery bank charges at will be lower and will taper off as the battery nears a full level of charge.
Float:
Once a full level of charge is reached a multistage charger will again adjust its charge voltage down to around 13.6 volts where it will maintain a healthy voltage for your batteries.

A single stage charger will likely operate only at the Acceptance stage. So, the batteries won't recharge as fast as what is ideal and healthiest and when they reach full charge they will be held at a voltage that is higher than what is ideal for the batteries.

[Veebyes]

I suspect that you will have a cheap & nasty converter/charger that is either charging to the max or not at all. Not likely that you have a factory installed multi stage charger.

[Trackrig]

They could do a lot more than trickle charge. Most likely when you first plug into power, you'll have from 30A to 50A going into them. Then the charge should taper off.

Bill

[2oldman]

You'll have to tell us the brand and model of converter you have.

[time2roll]

Yes. Best to verify with a voltmeter direct on the battery terminals. 13.2+ volts is charging.

The 12 Volt Side of Life

[Sam_Spade]

donn0128 wrote:
Yes, as long as A, the converter is turned on, and B, the salesman switch is not turned off.

And C: If everything is working properly.

EVERYBODY who owns an RV NEEDS a multi-meter.

Best $10 (or less) investment you will ever make.

Actually, having a digital voltmeter connected to the batteries ALL THE TIME that they are in use is a good idea too.

[donn0128]

Yes, as long as A, the converter is turned on, and B, the salesman switch is not turned off.