Posted 2009-05-31 8:52 AM (#105747) Subject: Generator Battery overcharging
Location: Central Arkansas
I have two deep cycle batteries under the neck of my trailer to run the LQ. I have a seperate single battery up in my hay pod beside my generator that is dedicated to the generator. The gen battery has a trickle charge coming to it from the converter. My husband thinks that leaving the trailer plugged in when it's home is over charging the generator battery. He wants to me to get a shut off put on it. We have a shut off on hand that you would manually have to climb up, open the pod, flip the lever everytime you want to turn it on and off. But, I would rather have one that is all automatic and can tell the battery has a full charge so it stops the trickle charge thus preventing the battery from overcharging. It would need to be "in Line" or 12v and not 110.
They only charge if the battery calls for a charge. How often do you run your generator? I can go several months and mine fires right up without being on a trickle or battery tender charge.
Posted 2009-05-31 9:39 AM (#105752 - in reply to #105747) Subject: RE: Generator Battery overcharging
Location: Central Arkansas
We have used those in the past but I have no 110 plug in the haypod. I am trying to avoid having to climb up on the roof before and after each trip. I would have to plug it in to an extension cord then unplug it before I left. So, I would think that it will need to be hardwired in the tickleline somehow.
Posted 2009-05-31 11:37 AM (#105754 - in reply to #105747) Subject: RE: Generator Battery overcharging
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
You don't need 110 in the hay pod. Mount the charger down below, plug it in where ever the trickle charger is getting it's 110 or wire it into your 110 shore power and run the 12 volt up to the haypod/generator battery. The charger doesn't have to be at the battery.... It can be mounted under your kitchen table. Just run two 12 volt wires a + and a - to the battery from where the charger is mounted. Put an inline fuse in the 12 volt + wire just in case it was to become pinched or grounded. You could use a single "battery minder" to charge the two RV batteries as well as the generator battery. It won't sit and over charge the batteries like a "trickle charger" will do. It shuts down when the batteries have completed their charge....
Posted 2009-05-31 11:40 AM (#105755 - in reply to #105747) Subject: RE: Generator Battery overcharging
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Does the generator charge its dedicated battery when it's running? If it does, then you should not need any additional charging during its non usage times.
Constant usage of a converter, usually will overcharge a connected battery. Only the newer, more expensive models, have the circuitry to maintain a full charge in constant usage, and a partial trickle charge during storage.
If its up to snuff, your battery should last several months without a recharge. If your generator has a charging circuit, I would disconnect and cap, the charger feed line from the LQ.
Posted 2009-05-31 3:18 PM (#105762 - in reply to #105747) Subject: RE: Generator Battery overcharging
Location: Central Arkansas
The trailer has 50 amp service. The converter is the big one by Progressive Dynamics that has the LED lights beside each fuse to alert you which one is blown. It also has an area below that you can plug some type of adapter for diagnostics, if I had to guess. It's suppose to have all the battery protection stuff on it. But, I am not sure if that would include all 3 batteries or just the 2 coach batteries.
The generator is rarely large and I am told it takes alot more juice to start as it is a diesel. I know from experience that it will charge a dead battery in about 20 minutes. This is kind of over my head so I appreciate y'alls input.
Posted 2009-06-02 10:02 PM (#105863 - in reply to #105769) Subject: RE: Generator Battery overcharging
Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico
Is the generator battery "in line" with the coach batteries or does it have its own wiring? If it's got it's own wiring it may not be hooked up to the charge wizzard.