Battery maintenance options... how do they compare?
I have a single Group 24 12v battery in my TT. The TT has a WFCO WF-8735-P converter. I own a Harbor Freight (Chicago Electric) float charger that puts out a steady 12.9V (measured) at a rated 600 mA. As of this spring I also now have a 75W solar panel, unmounted, with Morningstar Sunguard SG4 PWM controller.
I am wondering about battery storage. Mostly I've left the TT plugged into shore power. I had to replace the battery this summer, after just two seasons, probably because I was careless and let it go flat a couple of times.
The TT sits for 9 months of the year, then gets used in summertime. I've read that some people feel the WFCO will not do a very good job and may cook the battery. Actually that was part of my problem; after reading such comments I unhooked the shore power for a while, and after 3 weeks was surprised to find the battery was dead (didn't realize a CO detector could suck so much power!). After that, the weakened battery was all too easy to run flat during 3 days of dry camping.
Currently I have the solar panel/controller connected to provide battery maintenance. But since the panel is just sitting on the deck next to the TT, I'm concerned about some storm wind coming along, picking it up and bashing it against something. Or a hailstorm perhaps breaking it. Also when snow covers the panel, it will stop maintaining the battery.
From what I've read, it sounds like that 12.9V from the HF unit might not be high enough to keep the battery at the level of stored charge it's capable of providing. Am I correct?
I looked online at the BatteryMINDer 1500 and the Battery Tender Jr. I am not sure (despite reading documentation) what voltages the Battery Tender charges at during the different stages, so I can't tell if it any better or worse than my other options. But I see the BatteryMINDer (not cheap at $50, but maybe worth it?) charges to 14.4V until it moves to float at 13.4V.
Will the BatteryMINDer and/or the Battery Tender yield significantly better battery performance than the WFCO? Than the HF float charger? Or is there an even better way? TIA.
I am wondering about battery storage. Mostly I've left the TT plugged into shore power. I had to replace the battery this summer, after just two seasons, probably because I was careless and let it go flat a couple of times.
The TT sits for 9 months of the year, then gets used in summertime. I've read that some people feel the WFCO will not do a very good job and may cook the battery. Actually that was part of my problem; after reading such comments I unhooked the shore power for a while, and after 3 weeks was surprised to find the battery was dead (didn't realize a CO detector could suck so much power!). After that, the weakened battery was all too easy to run flat during 3 days of dry camping.
Currently I have the solar panel/controller connected to provide battery maintenance. But since the panel is just sitting on the deck next to the TT, I'm concerned about some storm wind coming along, picking it up and bashing it against something. Or a hailstorm perhaps breaking it. Also when snow covers the panel, it will stop maintaining the battery.
From what I've read, it sounds like that 12.9V from the HF unit might not be high enough to keep the battery at the level of stored charge it's capable of providing. Am I correct?
I looked online at the BatteryMINDer 1500 and the Battery Tender Jr. I am not sure (despite reading documentation) what voltages the Battery Tender charges at during the different stages, so I can't tell if it any better or worse than my other options. But I see the BatteryMINDer (not cheap at $50, but maybe worth it?) charges to 14.4V until it moves to float at 13.4V.
Will the BatteryMINDer and/or the Battery Tender yield significantly better battery performance than the WFCO? Than the HF float charger? Or is there an even better way? TIA.
