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Battery Charger – What to buy?
Hello from Northern Virginia
My wife and I are full timing in our 98 Country Coach XL. As we have transitioned into fall, I am thinking more about sustaining the battery life of my bus batteries. The coach we purchased does not have a charger on it. We have the Vanner 60-100 equalizer and the vanner monitor. The bus is in great shape, starts when needed and is keeping us happy. I start the bus up evry 3 weeks and let her run for about 30 minutes to get temps up and fluids circulating. I take the bus up on base and drive for a few miles to let her warm up and roll. So far, things are well.I’d like to keep it that way, espicially if I need to “bug out” of the NCR or just need to move sites. With winter soon to arrive, it will be imperative to be able to start the bus. I don’t want to be caught flat footed.
I’d like to get a marine grade battery charger witht the 3 phase system. Something that automatically switches to float voltage after minimal load to protect batteries from overcharging.I have looked at the ProNautic 24V battery charger online and I am leaning that way but it is very pricey. $741
My questions to the forum are:
a) What are your folks running for chargers? especially the CC owners?
b) Placement? should I mount it on the forward bulkhead by the vanner equalizer or on the Plywood above the battery bank?
c) Wiring, should I wire it to the equalizer or directly to the batteries?
d) Where is the AC power going to come from? I’m a Newbie and still learning this thing.
Thanks to everyone on the forum. I have learned a lot and will continue to do so as long as you folks keep sharing 🙂
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32 Replies
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You should have chargers, if you inverters they are built in
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got uh I will look at mine and see what kind, It is not a 3 stage charger
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Just a general comment…..Unless you are runnning your engine long enough and hard enough to get it up to its max operating temperature long enough to evaporate the moisture generated by starting a cold engine you are likely better to just let it sit without starting or running it.
Having said that, if you do have the option start it, run it and exercise everything. The tires benefit greatly from the flexing that comes with driving, just run it long enough to get all temps in the operating range long enough to evaporate any moisture that might have accumulated from the running prior to warm up.
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My charger is a Iota Engineering model # DLS 27-40
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IChip,
Hope
you don’t have to bug out anytime soon. In my days in the Central
Highlands we called it march order in the artillery, but it was the
same nightmare…Doesn’t
matter what conversion you have, the chassis batteries will be the
same. I like the Guest chargers and if you do the new google search
on the forum, you’ll find all kinds of info rather than me
repeating it. Here’s a post regarding Guest: GuestTradewinds Coach
Kyle Bennett (Service)
Brian Miller (Sales) -
Ditto, I use the Guest 16202 model charger. It has 2 charging circuits, 10 amp each, so that I can charge the chassis batteries’ two parallel banks,which are then series connected. Be sure to wire it properly so that the ground lead, which is not fused, is connected to the parallel connected bank’s ground (neg.), which is chassis ground.
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Chip, as to where to get the power for your charger, you can probably plug into the switched outlet in the engine compartment that is used for your block heater. That way you can use the dash switch to turn it on and off. Since the block heater draws a lot of current, in cold weather I usually plug it directly to the pole so I can run my electric heat through the house system without overload.
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Thanks Jon for the advice on the running techniques. I will run here up and get all the temps into the normal operating ranges. 30 minutes around the Post should be good for her.
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Thanks everyone for the advice. I may rig the charger in the storage bay (12?) in front of the starboard engine bay access door. I need to research a bit more but, I do plan on installing a charger.
Thanks for the info on rwiring as well
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I just picked up this same charger based on reading this post as my old one which is a farm and ranch 24 volt charger was cooking my batteries. Looking at the manual they show connecting the two circuits coming from the charger to TWO batteries wired in series for 24 volts. Reading your post you mention two ‘banks” of bats…I am assuming you are refering to the 4 -12 volt chassis bats that are wired series parallel in the back. Im just wanting to make sure I have the right charger as the installation manual does not show me a diagrahm connecting to 4 batteries…it only illustrates connecting to 2 bats..
This is referring to Brewers post above…
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Hope this helps, as I am not sure of your question:
I have the 16202 model Guest charger. I have four batteries, two banks of two parallel connected batteries. There are four leads which constitute two charging circuits. The (2) leads of one (#1) charging circuit for one bank (parallel connected, 12volts) are separate from the 2 leads of the second (#2) charging circuit for the second bank.
You will note that three of the four leads are fused with 15 amp quick blow Littel fuses. The remaining one, which is a negative (ground), is not. That one goes to the bank that has its minus terminal connected to chassis ground. The ground (negative) lead of the second charging circuit – fused – goes to the second bank’s negative terminal side which is (series) connected to the first bank positive lead so that the total voltage is 24.
It is important that you do not reverse the charging circuits.
I hope I was not confusing, but you may call me at 830-336-3122.
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Sweet…thats exactly what I was looking for. I will be looking at connecting it soon. Thanks for the phone number…may use it 🙂
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Hey Chip my name is Chuck Williams I have a shop in Hopewell Va. (Commonwealth Coach Inc.) . We specialize in Prevost conversions if you need any help. 804-541-0018
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Ken,
Thanks for the instructions for battery connections. Just installed the Guest 2611A and it works very well.
Mounted the charger in the over axle ski compartment on the rear wall. Power comes from the double outlet twist lock outlet that Liberty provides for the Raritan domestic hot water heater in the compartment just forward of the axles.
Testing it as installed for the last couple of days and there is not enough heat given off to be of any danger of melting.
Truk, thanks for the recommendations.
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