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07-14-2019, 09:35 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Kentucky
Posts: 10
THOR #12161
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Charging batteries
Having experienced bad problems keeping my batteries charged during my first extended dry camping trip, I am trying to fix the problem before my next dry camping trip. I have replaced 12-volt batteries with 6-volt golf cart batteries and have a multi-stage charge controller. In addition I plan to carry my little portable generator and battery charger to manually charge the batteries if/when use of the on-board generator won’t keep them charged. I will monitor the manual charge to prevent over-charging. MY QUESTION: Do I need to disconnect my batteries from the RV when manually charging?
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07-14-2019, 10:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,328
THOR #6903
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I never have
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07-14-2019, 11:48 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Freedom Elite24FE
State: Texas
Posts: 542
THOR #12434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lwmcguire
I never have
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Me either
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Freedom Elite 24FE, Big Foot hydraulic levelers. Wife is Marilyn, I am called LC
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07-15-2019, 06:41 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Outlaw 29H Class C
State: California
Posts: 106
THOR #7010
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For charging batteries in a bank with >10amps, Battery Tender recommends the charger not be connected directly to any of the terminals. They have a good write up here: http://www.batterytender.com/connecting-chargers
It’s to “balance the voltage drop evenly between both batteries.” Honestly I can’t wrap my head around how an extra piece of cable is different than the leads coming off the battery charger, but they’re the experts so I follow it. And yes, I do it in the rig with everything attached; with one exception, when I was bringing batteries back from the dead when the dealer drained them during warranty work, I pulled the two batteries out and charged each one individually.
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07-15-2019, 10:55 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Missouri
Posts: 2,328
THOR #6903
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I connect at the chassis studs where the 4 batteries cables are bolted
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07-15-2019, 01:35 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Brand: Still Looking
State: Kentucky
Posts: 10
THOR #12161
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Battery question
Thanks to all, especially to Kickstand for steering me to the Battery Tender site. Since my batteries are the same type, age, and condition, and are side-by-side, there shouldn't be any problem charging them while they are connected to the RV.
Here's a bit of oh-by-the-way info.....after reading so many recommendations to replace 12-volt batteries with 6-volt golf cart batteries, I bought two top of the line Trojan 6-volt batteries and put them into the battery holder beneath the entrance step of my 2014 Thor Chateau....only to then find that they are about an inch taller than 12-volt batteries, and the step would not close. Maybe I should have simply given up the idea of swapping, at that point. but instead, I took the step off and re-attached it a couple of inches higher on the RV frame, and installed wood around the perimeter for the raised step to rest on. This worked but unfortunately, I looped the excess length of new wire that connected the adjacent positive and negative posts....toward the rear, not realizing that there is a piece of metal sheeting at the rear of the step that extends down when the step is lowered. This metal cut and shorted out the connecting wire. I fixed the problem by shortening and re-routing the connecting wire toward the front, but now I had no DC power in the RV. I figured that a fuse had been blown but I looked everywhere and could find no fuse, and I didn't know but maybe one of the sealed electrical boxes beneath the bed had been damaged. So....being at the end of my shadetree electrician ability I took the RV on a 100 mile trip to a dealer, who found the fuse hidden between the walls of the RV, after removing the electrical distribution panel. Drive it--fix it, drive it--fix it, drive it---fix it....the only thing that always works in an RV is the owner.
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07-16-2019, 06:30 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Axis 25.4
State: Arkansas
Posts: 2,669
THOR #12231
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Yeah, thats the way it goes. We learn as we go.... esp when we are modifying our RV's.
Thats one reason I went my AGM 6 volts.... They fit under my steps with zero mods. For some reason all of the AGM's that I looked at were a little shorter than the L/A counter part of all the brands I checked.
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2017 Axis / 25.4: Big Foot Levelers, Aims 1200 Watt inverter, Ceramic Window Tint, Full River AGM 6V batteries, Front Hellwig Sway bar / Rear Track Arm, Safe T Plus Steering Stabilizer, PD 4655 converter, Hard Wired Surge Guard, WEboost + WiFi Ranger, LED Headlights/Driving lights, TPMS, Surge tank, Tornado flush, Viair Compressor
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07-16-2019, 07:25 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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my question would be a 'why' can/does your onboard generator not already provide plenty of fast and sufficient charging?
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the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
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07-17-2019, 12:25 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas 25.2
State: Missouri
Posts: 1,038
THOR #4687
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Long & Winding road
Yeah, thats the way it goes. We learn as we go.... esp when we are modifying our RV's.
Thats one reason I went my AGM 6 volts.... They fit under my steps with zero mods. For some reason all of the AGM's that I looked at were a little shorter than the L/A counter part of all the brands I checked.
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AGMs are definitely worth the extra money...Trying to get up the nerve to replace the CHASSIS battery on OUR VEGAS with one....
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07-17-2019, 09:34 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 27.7
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 165
THOR #12085
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This Spring I changed out stock chassis battery for an AGM. Accessed and took out battery through passenger side dash. Under the “desk”. There are a couple of good YouTube videos showing the process.
Worst part is getting the stock battery out. It had no handle. Watch your back. Once out, putting new AGM was a piece of cake. New battery has a nice handle.
In putting dash back together I added heat / sound proofing and a proper hinged access door for future access.
New battery noticeably improved starting.
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Thor Axis 27.7 towing a hot little Chevy Sonic
SE PA
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07-21-2019, 04:52 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Miramar 34.2
State: California
Posts: 133
THOR #14761
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TurnerFam
my question would be a 'why' can/does your onboard generator not already provide plenty of fast and sufficient charging?
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Hey my 5.5 Cummins generator charges Chassis batteries when not connected to Shore power.I do make make sure that my chassis battery switch is not turned off.
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Miramar 2017 34.2, roadmaster front & rear sway bars, sumo shock, Roadmaster stabilizer bar, Koni shocks, F150 crewcab coyote motor , 2004 40th #26th edition 911, E350 2 door coupe, Mini Paceman 2013 6 speed manual toad/ RV
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