Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby monik7 » Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:33 pm

Can anyone give a newbie some information on trickle charges? Do you need one if you disconnect your batteries when not driving for a time and/or in storage? Any recommendations on brands?

Also, how often do you check the water level of your batteries? Do you check both engine and house batteries?

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,

Sandi
Bindi (Maltipoo) and Abby (Shih Tzu/Poodle)
Image

"Without the animals men would die of a great loneliness of the spirit." ~ Chief Seattle
“A dog can change the way you see the world.” ~ Anyone who has a dog
User avatar
monik7
 
Posts: 3015
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby Bethers » Fri Aug 24, 2012 10:12 pm

I don't use a trickle charger, so will leave that question for others.

I don't check my engine battery, but check the water levels in my house batteries monthly. Well, usually I do - it's been two months right now :oops: I'm very diligent about it when in drier climates and usually diligent when not. Will do it before pulling out of here in the next couple weeks. Recommendation - monthly.

Something else I recommend that isn't mentioned often: Check your roof monthly also and anytime you're parked under lots of trees. You never know what might be up there, and a small branch that falls on the roof and you don't remove, can cause damage to the roof or the ac cover, or any other cover, etc.
Beth
“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
"He who treasures the small things in life has found the path to true happiness"
Image
User avatar
Bethers
 
Posts: 17795
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:00 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby Dawn309 » Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:02 am

This is going to be fun. Chuck will be rolling with laughter! I have a fear of heights and never get more than a step stool off the ground or floor. Will have to get over that to check the roof! Let's see if I can manage that one.
Dawn, Rascal, Belle
Sunshine-2012 Coachmen Encounter
Image
http://dawnsrvlife.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/dawn.goodrow.shive
User avatar
Dawn309
 
Posts: 2142
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2012 11:49 pm
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby retiredhappy » Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:25 am

Agree with Beth - monthly for both batteries. First thing I did when I got my Roadtrek was to replace the coach battery with a sealed one. It was in the back storage compartment - you had to remove anything on top of it, unscrew about a dozen screws and lift a wood panel to check it. WAAAAAY too much trouble. the sealed batteries are expensive but totally maintenance free. For some reason I hated the job of checking the batteries more than most other jobs.
Karen West
Baxter, Sophie, & Bailey


..

Image
User avatar
retiredhappy
 
Posts: 4438
Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:59 pm
Location: Kerrville, Texas

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby avalen » Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:37 am

checking the batteries monthly and I will add to that....if they are low add DISTILLED water, not just water. When I lived in my fifthwheel for those
4 years in this dry az desert, they were always low everytime I checked them. I kept a jug of distilled water on hand. I bought it at the grocery store,
so its not hard to find. But you do want to keep those cells covered so as not to cause damage, its no good to have a dead cell.
Somewhere with Ava and Maggie
Image
User avatar
avalen
 
Posts: 9430
Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:13 pm
Location: Apache Junction Arizona

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby Acadianmom » Sat Aug 25, 2012 11:36 am

I have never checked my engine battery or had a problem with one. The ford place checks the battery when they service a vehicle and they let me know the condition. I use to check my coach batteries every month and they always needed water. I was having a problem with my generator starting earlier this year and the guy that checked it said my batteries were wired wrong. Since he worked on it the batteries haven't needed water. I'm getting a little more lax on the checking but I check them before a long trip. You can bet I will take a picture of the wiring before I let anyone mess with the batteries. I wanted to get the sealed batteries but they are too tall for the compartment door where my batteries are.

I have never used a trickle charger because I usually have my mothorhome plugged in. My motorhome has a switch inside to turn the coach batteries off. I know if mine isn't plugged in and I leave the batteries connected they will be dead in a week or less.

Martha
Martha
2010 Coach House
Image
User avatar
Acadianmom
 
Posts: 5933
Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:41 pm
Location: Abbeville, Louisiana

Re: Thttp://battrickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water L

Postby mitch5252 » Sat Aug 25, 2012 12:07 pm

Here's the maintenance charger I use. I plan to get another one for the van for the winter. I have my trailer battery hooked up now to the one I have.

Image

http://batterytender.com/battery-tender-junior-12v-at-0-75a.html
mitch5252
 
Posts: 9229
Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:47 pm
Location: NW TN

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby Bethers » Sat Aug 25, 2012 2:04 pm

I used a battery tender on my scooter. Necessity to keep that battery charged. They work great.
Beth
“Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
"He who treasures the small things in life has found the path to true happiness"
Image
User avatar
Bethers
 
Posts: 17795
Joined: Sat Jul 12, 2008 9:00 pm
Location: Arizona

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby WickedLady » Sat Aug 25, 2012 2:39 pm

I use the Schauer Charge Master. It is automatic and never overcharges. I remove my battery and store it in my shed over winter. Seldom have to add distilled water as the Schauer maintains the battery perfectly.
WickedLady
 
Posts: 2001
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:48 pm
Location: Long Beach, WA

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby OregonLuvr » Sat Aug 25, 2012 7:21 pm

I have the Battery Minder. Same thing as the Tender. My MH will be parked (sigh) now until the end of Sept GTG. I plug into electric where I store my RV and then attach my trickle charger to the engine battery, plug it into my wall receptacle and it keeps it well charged. Also will desulphate it at the same time so I think that is a good thing. Not good to let your battery fully discharge....so this solves the problem of me having to go over and start it every week. Besides at the price of gas this is a much better deal. Wasn't expensive either. I can use my coach batteries to boost and start my engine but I am more worried about the engine battery as I have stupid stuff that drains the battery I am sure. Battery disconnect switch isn't needed at this time as I am plugged into 15amp.....just cant run anything else until I am getting ready to go somewhere, then start my generator to exercise it and keep me cool during the loading process. Good for both of us. LOL

I check my batteries monthly. Just checked them when I attached the trickle charger and added a wee bit of water, noticed I need to clean my connections...too hot yesterday so will do that when I detach the charger. I have to remove a step to get to my batteries but it isnt a big deal just awkward sometimes so best done while I am already in there.

karen
Karen

Emma Tibetan Spaniel
Image
User avatar
OregonLuvr
 
Posts: 3424
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:57 pm
Location: Roseburg, Oregon

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby monik7 » Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:50 pm

Well, I've determined I have sealed batteries, so don't need to worry about checking water levels. Still don't know about the trickle charger if I disconnect chassis and house batteries in storage. If anyone knows about this, would be grateful for any information. Thanks,
Sandi
Bindi (Maltipoo) and Abby (Shih Tzu/Poodle)
Image

"Without the animals men would die of a great loneliness of the spirit." ~ Chief Seattle
“A dog can change the way you see the world.” ~ Anyone who has a dog
User avatar
monik7
 
Posts: 3015
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby WickedLady » Sat Aug 25, 2012 9:48 pm

I think batteries lose their charge over time even when not being used.
WickedLady
 
Posts: 2001
Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:48 pm
Location: Long Beach, WA

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby ellenw » Sun Aug 26, 2012 8:11 pm

Sandi - We're going to learn SO much at the NW GTG! After all the brain picking I hope to do, they may pack me out of there by Saturday! :lol:
Ellen (and Tucker of course!), traveling in "Joy," a 2012 Jayco Greyhawk 26DS

http://www.JoyfulMeanderings.wordpress.com


Image Image Image
User avatar
ellenw
 
Posts: 440
Joined: Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:19 am
Location: currently Spokane, Washinhton

Re: Trickle Chargers and Checking Battery Water Level

Postby monik7 » Sun Aug 26, 2012 9:18 pm

ellenw wrote:Sandi - We're going to learn SO much at the NW GTG! After all the brain picking I hope to do, they may pack me out of there by Saturday! :lol:


Yes Ellen, I hope they don't get sick of my questions. I've read and re-read the manuals I got, but I really think you have to just get out there and do things yourself. I know I was petrified the first time I actually had to dump. Read the directions and said a prayer just before going out. It was a cinch. No problems. :P Hope everything else proves as easy. I think it's the maintenance that scares me the most. My next project is to go out and actually open up the generator and check the oil. I've gotten all the equipment to put air in the tires but they haven't needed any yet. Will definitely check them before leaving for the GTG. Maybe then I'll have to try the air compressor for the first time. :?
Sandi
Bindi (Maltipoo) and Abby (Shih Tzu/Poodle)
Image

"Without the animals men would die of a great loneliness of the spirit." ~ Chief Seattle
“A dog can change the way you see the world.” ~ Anyone who has a dog
User avatar
monik7
 
Posts: 3015
Joined: Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:49 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area


Return to Maintenance/Tech Issues

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 28 guests