Charging Battery?

[JohnG4706]

I just got my new Puma 23FB and drove it home on Dec 29th, about 750 miles.

Does the TT battery charge while I'm driving? I've plugged in the TT in storage and the battery shows fully charged while hooked up to my TV. But when I disconnect the TV, the battery drops to 25%.

I had my SUV checked and the battery and charging system checked out OK.

Or, do I need to get a Battery Tender Plus? The storage lot doesn't have power available. I do have a 2000W Champion generator that has a hook up for charging batteries. Which is best? Charging with the generator or via the generator and the Battery Tender Plus? Which is faster? Or, taking the battery home and charging with a Battery Tender Plus on my outside deck?

Thanks for your comments.

[wa8yxm]

Does the battery charge while you are towing: From your description it sounds like the answer is yes.. However the answer depends on how the TV is wired, (If properly the answer is yes).

The thing you did not ask: HOW FAST DOES IT CHARGE? (very very slowly)

On my motor home there is a fairly fat (like 4GA) cable between the isolator and the batteries, it is perhaps 10 feet long, so it charges fairly fast.

On your Towed there is like 20-30 feet of perhaps 10ga or smaller wire.

What does this mean.> Think of water pipe.. The 4GA is like a fire hose
The 10ga is a small garden hose

Does this explain it?

Plug in, let the converter run for at least 24 hours, then test.

[Dakota98]

Don't rely on the coach monitor for battery SOC. They are not accurate enough.

Determine what converter you have & if it has a "Charge Wizard" or not. Learn about the Wizard HERE.

You should bring the battery up to 100% by checking it with a multimeter before putting it on a trickle charger for the winter at home.

Install a disconnect switch as stated above. Blue Seas or Perko

For future use, get yourself a good temp compensating Hydrometer to check SG.

Read this article by Trojan to understand proper battery care.

[wing_zealot]

Your battery is showing charge when hooked up to the vehicle because the gauge is reading the truck battery. when unhooked from the vehicle you get the true reading. You need to fully charge your battery before you put the TT in storage. Then you need to unhook your battery while the TT is in storage. You can do that by either installing a disconnect switch at the battery, or take the positive cable off. (I have a disconnect switch - actually it's a fuse in the line I just pull the fuse). Fully charged in storage you battery will last months. When ready to go again, just re-connect the battery and you're good to go.

If you don't disconnect the battery, parasitic draws will kill the battery in about 10 - 14 days - not good!. Do that to many times and you will be needing a new battery.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Slow charging is the word of the day for the connector to your vehicle.

Consider adding a modest solar system. The batteries will last a lot longer and generator use will drop.

Until you get storage charging figured out, you will need to bring the battery home.

[Lynnmor]

JohnG4706 wrote:
I just got my new Puma 23FB and drove it home on Dec 29th, about 750 miles.

Does the TT battery charge while I'm driving? (Yes, but very slowly) I've plugged in the TT in storage and the battery shows fully charged while hooked up to my TV. (The almost useless gauge says that it is receiving 12V from somewhere.) But when I disconnect the TV, the battery drops to 25%. (The battery ain't charged.)

I had my SUV checked and the battery and charging system checked out OK.

Or, do I need to get a Battery Tender Plus? (That would be best.) The storage lot doesn't have power available. I do have a 2000W Champion generator that has a hook up for charging batteries. Which is best? Charging with the generator or via the generator and the Battery Tender Plus? Which is faster? (You would need to run the generator for hours.) Or, taking the battery home and charging with a Battery Tender Plus on my outside deck? (A cool, dry place would be best.)

Thanks for your comments.

[old_guy]

take it home and won't hurt to have some one check the battery for a bad cell