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Victron 24v charger
In the 1st year of owning I took off the OEM 24v charger and replaced it with a Samlux 24v smart charger,I don’t leave it on all the time just charge it once in a while, I leave chassis batteries off both switches. I was thinking about replacing the Samlux with a Victron 24v charger I looked at Victron 24v chargers and there is a lot of them, Any thoughts on a model#??
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16 Replies
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I’d go with this one it’s ip67 which means water resistant so you can just place in engine bay. Get the 24v 12a so you have decent charge. The ones that say smart have Bluetooth so you can use your phone to program a profile.
https://www.victronenergy.com/chargers/blue-smart-ip67-charger-waterproof
You can also get this one that’s not water resistant. It goes up to 26a.
https://www.victronenergy.com/chargers/phoenix-smart-ip43-charger#downloads
Just make sure to get a 120v one and not 230v (Europe) or 240v.
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get one with bluetooth. 5-8 amps is all you need. I thinkk they make a 10 amp which is more than enough.
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Thanks Marshall. I think I will pick up one of those. It’s listed as being 15 amp so that will be more than enough as a maintainer. I have some other brand now but looks tired to me and has been in the engine bay for many years.
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Too much charging amps on a battery is not good for them long term. I tend to stick with a charger in the 5amps to 10amps range. The lower the better as long as it will keep your batteries fully charged. They do taper down the amps as the battery state of charge goes up, so the difference in 8 and 12 amps is probably insignificant.
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In 34 years of ownership I can count on my fingers on one hand when a chassis battery charger was needed. Those times were because I was working on the bus and was drawing from the batteries and wanted to bring the charge on the chassis batteries to full.
I stop using the bus around Memorial Day, and begin again around Labor Day. My chassis batteries (changed every five years regardless of condition) never needed to have the charge topped off although if doing a comprehensive pre-trip inspection I would turn on the charger for a day.
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Same with me it has been sitting since October because of surgery so I ran charger for 3 hours yesterday and amp meter was on 0
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We full time and if I don’t keep a charger on the engine batteries they will be dead in about 2 weeks. With the charger on there I have never had a starting issue. I will stick with the charger option.
Jeff and Lindsay
91 Marathon XL -
We full time and if I don’t keep a charger on the engine batteries they will be dead in about 2 weeks. With the charger on there I have never had a starting issue. I will stick with the charger option.
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Don’t you turn off you chassis when you park 12v and 24v?? Even when we travel when we get parked I turn off chassis, I don’t need any of it.
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I never turn off any switch, chassis or house when parked.
If chassis batteries will not hold a charge for months and months something is wrong and it could be phantom loads from a previous owner who did not understand bus electrical systems, or a converter who co-mingled chassis and house circuits.
Whatever the problem, using a charger as a band aid is WRONG.
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Yes there does seem to be an issue with a phantom draw. I do turn off both 24v and 12v when storing during winter months. I just started weekend startups though being we have been getting warmer than normal weather here in northern Illinois this month. No issues with battery drain at all for two winter seasons now.
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No, I do not turn off 12 or 24V disconnects. I want the ability to use my air lock to secure our home when sleeping. Our “new” bus came with the 24V charger installed so I honestly don’t know if this bus would have the same battery issue or not. I am also not going to find out. The batteries are performing well and the bus starts for every new drive. Can’t ask for more than than that.
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Jon said: Whatever the problem, using a charger as a band aid is WRONG.
I agree with Jon 300%. Don’t use the charger as a band aid. Try to find out what’s wrong with your coach. Failing batteries or phantom load are the two most likely causes. Using the charger to band aid failing batteries can be very dangerous because eventually the batteries will COMPLETELY FAIL, won’t take a charge, and you will be stuck replacing them … usually in an awkward place, with batteries hard to find, and in unbelievably terrible weather. BTDT
Jerry and Pam: you mention weekend startups. Do you start the coach and let it idle? Or do you take it out and run it for 50 or 60 miles?
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A couple times we’ve left the key on and if we didn’t have a chassis battery charger we’d be in big trouble.
I also keep a 12/24v jump pack 10,000amps just incase.
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Hey Dick,
So far this month I’ve taken it out once for a 40 miles or so run to get it washed and started it twice and let it idle while I was working on some interior things that I needed to take care of like replacing the bearings in my steering column which had my horn activating at will when I turned the steering wheel and other things inside that I noticed when I shut it down for the winter. Also cycling the generator, checking heat and stuff. I plan to take it out this weekend to make sure the steering wheel horn ghost is gone.
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