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Switching off the house battery charger [message #247893] Sat, 19 April 2014 13:54 Go to next message
biggreen is currently offline  biggreen   United States
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Registered: June 2011
Location: Northeast Florida
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I am preparing to install 2 6 volt batteries to replace the now dead house battery. I know that leaving the coach plugged in for a length of time will overcharge and possibly boil the batteries, so when home, I only leave it plugged in for short periods to maintain a full charge.
My question is when at a campsite with full hookup, I leave coach plugged in the whole time to run fridge, a/c, etc. At the same time I am charging the battery, right?
Is there a way to switch off the charging system when hooked up for a time? Where could a switch be installed? Is it necessary or practical to do so?
Thanks.

Roger
77 ex palm beach 403
N.Fla


R.D. Northeast Florida 77 ex-Palm Beach 403
Re: Switching off the house battery charger [message #247896 is a reply to message #247893] Sat, 19 April 2014 14:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JohnL455 is currently offline  JohnL455   United States
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Just pull the plug in the other half of water heater combo switch outlet. Better bet buy a PD or Iota to save your battery investment.

John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
Re: Switching off the house battery charger [message #247898 is a reply to message #247893] Sat, 19 April 2014 15:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Otterwan   United States
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Are you still running the original buzz box? Most modern battery chargers will not boil you batteries no matter how long you leave them plugged in. AND it doesn't sound like you have a hornet's nest in the coach when they are on. I believe this was particularly distressing to Robin ;o)

1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
Re: Switching off the house battery charger [message #247913 is a reply to message #247893] Sat, 19 April 2014 16:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Keep in mind that the converter it the battery charger and it also supplies 12 volts when parked and plugged in. If you shut off the converter then you also loose 12 volts to your lighting etc and the power will be supplied by the batteries.

I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish under what conditions or how long you plan to stay plugged in. Probably the simplest way to accomplish what is needed to to buy a Progressive Dynamics converter and install it. After that, everything will be automatic when you are on or off of 120 AC volt power.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Switching off the house battery charger [message #247971 is a reply to message #247898] Sun, 20 April 2014 16:44 Go to previous message
biggreen is currently offline  biggreen   United States
Messages: 347
Registered: June 2011
Location: Northeast Florida
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Otterwan wrote on Sat, 19 April 2014 15:34

Are you still running the original buzz box? Most modern battery chargers will not boil you batteries no matter how long you leave them plugged in. AND it doesn't sound like you have a hornet's nest in the coach when they are on. I believe this was particularly distressing to Robin ;o)


Right you are!
I found the manual on my newer buzzbox that says it won't overcharge my batteries.
Thanx


R.D. Northeast Florida 77 ex-Palm Beach 403
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