Battery Boilers

[thomas_sorrentino]

I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the old
battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the spring.
In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My thought is
to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body have
any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without boiling
them out!

Tom Sorrentino
1987 PT38
Bedford Hills, NY

[Tom Warner]

Tom I would strongly encourage you to install a refurbished heart
2500 inverter/charger to your coach as soon as you can. It is one of
the best upgrades you can do to your coach if you wire it up
correctly to feed all of your inside A/C receptacles and the
microwave. And easy installation that I have already done and have
pictures. The refurbished ones are just as good and cost less then 1/2.
http://www.partsonsale.com/heartfreedomrefurb.html $699.

tom warner

At 07:03 PM 1/23/2007, you wrote:
>I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the old
>battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the spring.
>In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My thought is
>to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body have
>any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
>chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without boiling
>them out!
>
>Tom Sorrentino
>1987 PT38
>Bedford Hills, NY
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[ernieekberg@...>]

Tom, last year I installed 4 new Trojans. I kept my old battery boiler and it
has been working fine since. I do, however, check the fluid levels once a month.
I would like to have a new inverter/charger, but I have to be employed, first.
Ernie-83PT40 in Texas, making plans to head north, soon, very soon, where the
jobs are
----- Original Message -----
From: thomas_sorrentino
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 5:03 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Battery Boilers


I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the old
battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the spring.
In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My thought is
to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body have
any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without boiling
them out!

Tom Sorrentino
1987 PT38
Bedford Hills, NY





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Mike Hohnstein]

Yup, that's what I did. Put a couple panels on the roof too.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: Tom Warner
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 6:15 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Battery Boilers


Tom I would strongly encourage you to install a refurbished heart
2500 inverter/charger to your coach as soon as you can. It is one of
the best upgrades you can do to your coach if you wire it up
correctly to feed all of your inside A/C receptacles and the
microwave. And easy installation that I have already done and have
pictures. The refurbished ones are just as good and cost less then 1/2.
http://www.partsonsale.com/heartfreedomrefurb.html $699.

tom warner

At 07:03 PM 1/23/2007, you wrote:
>I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the old
>battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the spring.
>In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My thought is
>to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body have
>any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
>chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without boiling
>them out!
>
>Tom Sorrentino
>1987 PT38
>Bedford Hills, NY
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[fwernlein]

I would echo the advice of Tom, in that at least you should protect
your battery investment - perhaps by what I did, keep one of the
boilers as a spare/reserve (unplugged, but set up) and replace the
other with an fully automatic multi-stage charger. I used a 45amp
IOTA and it is plug in and forgetaboutit. You still of course need
to check the water level about once a month. This simple "fix" will
save you a lot of worry and effort at a very reasonable cost.

But, to answer your specific "how long to charge" question: It
depends on what you are taking out of the batteries. There can be
no set answer, the variables are basically what you take out you
want to put back in...to get a full charge. If using a fully manual
system as you now have, you will have to experiment to find out
your "charge time" per day, based on your individual battery drain
factors and set the timer accordingly.

1: In my OEM system, if just in storage mode; master switch off and
no real loads: I used one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a
day. Seemed to work fine.
2: when "living/camping" with lights, fan, pump...I found that one
charger on all the time worked fine; if you see your voltage
dropping and not recovering, plug the second one in to top off.

Frank
85FC33
Woodbridge, VA.


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
wrote:
>
> I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the
old
> battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the
spring.
> In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My
thought is
> to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body
have
> any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
> chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without
boiling
> them out!
>
> Tom Sorrentino
> 1987 PT38
> Bedford Hills, NY
>

[thomas_sorrentino]

Thank you for all the answers. I do plan on putting in an
inverter/charger like Tom reccommended. I won't be able to get to it
until spring though. We're going to Fl. in Feb. and then leaving the
coach in Mrytle Beach and hopefully attending both rally's. So the
coach won't be home until April.
Frank I think you gave me pretty much what I was looking for.
(storage mode; master switch off and no real loads: I used
one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a day. Seemed to work fine.
Thats what I'll start off with! Thanks Again

Tom Sorrentino
1987PT38
Bedford Hills, NY



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
wrote:
>
> I would echo the advice of Tom, in that at least you should protect
> your battery investment - perhaps by what I did, keep one of the
> boilers as a spare/reserve (unplugged, but set up) and replace the
> other with an fully automatic multi-stage charger. I used a 45amp
> IOTA and it is plug in and forgetaboutit. You still of course need
> to check the water level about once a month. This simple "fix"
will
> save you a lot of worry and effort at a very reasonable cost.
>
> But, to answer your specific "how long to charge" question: It
> depends on what you are taking out of the batteries. There can be
> no set answer, the variables are basically what you take out you
> want to put back in...to get a full charge. If using a fully
manual
> system as you now have, you will have to experiment to find out
> your "charge time" per day, based on your individual battery drain
> factors and set the timer accordingly.
>
> 1: In my OEM system, if just in storage mode; master switch off and
> no real loads: I used one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a
> day. Seemed to work fine.
> 2: when "living/camping" with lights, fan, pump...I found that one
> charger on all the time worked fine; if you see your voltage
> dropping and not recovering, plug the second one in to top off.
>
> Frank
> 85FC33
> Woodbridge, VA.
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
> wrote:
> >
> > I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the
> old
> > battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the
> spring.
> > In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My
> thought is
> > to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body
> have
> > any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
> > chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without
> boiling
> > them out!
> >
> > Tom Sorrentino
> > 1987 PT38
> > Bedford Hills, NY
> >
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

For what it's worth, I turn off the dc and the charger, and let the
batteries "rest". With no load you don't need to charge them more that once
a month. I leave the coach plugged in do the frost heaters will work. Our
coach rarely sits more than a month without going someplace.

- Chuck Wheeler -
82 FC 31 SB
Fort Worth, TX


_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of thomas_sorrentino
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:43 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery Boilers



Thank you for all the answers. I do plan on putting in an
inverter/charger like Tom reccommended. I won't be able to get to it
until spring though. We're going to Fl. in Feb. and then leaving the
coach in Mrytle Beach and hopefully attending both rally's. So the
coach won't be home until April.
Frank I think you gave me pretty much what I was looking for.
(storage mode; master switch off and no real loads: I used
one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a day. Seemed to work fine.
Thats what I'll start off with! Thanks Again

Tom Sorrentino
1987PT38
Bedford Hills, NY

--- In WanderlodgeForum@
yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
wrote:
>
> I would echo the advice of Tom, in that at least you should protect
> your battery investment - perhaps by what I did, keep one of the
> boilers as a spare/reserve (unplugged, but set up) and replace the
> other with an fully automatic multi-stage charger. I used a 45amp
> IOTA and it is plug in and forgetaboutit. You still of course need
> to check the water level about once a month. This simple "fix"
will
> save you a lot of worry and effort at a very reasonable cost.
>
> But, to answer your specific "how long to charge" question: It
> depends on what you are taking out of the batteries. There can be
> no set answer, the variables are basically what you take out you
> want to put back in...to get a full charge. If using a fully
manual
> system as you now have, you will have to experiment to find out
> your "charge time" per day, based on your individual battery drain
> factors and set the timer accordingly.
>
> 1: In my OEM system, if just in storage mode; master switch off and
> no real loads: I used one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a
> day. Seemed to work fine.
> 2: when "living/camping" with lights, fan, pump...I found that one
> charger on all the time worked fine; if you see your voltage
> dropping and not recovering, plug the second one in to top off.
>
> Frank
> 85FC33
> Woodbridge, VA.
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@
yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
> wrote:
> >
> > I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the
> old
> > battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the
> spring.
> > In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My
> thought is
> > to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body
> have
> > any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
> > chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without
> boiling
> > them out!
> >
> > Tom Sorrentino
> > 1987 PT38
> > Bedford Hills, NY
> >
>






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gregory OConnor]

Tom, Lowes sells a small portable automatic float smart charger for
$40.00. Its a Victory or Victor or Vector or something like that. I
was impressed with all it claims to do. When you are away this
thing may do the charge job for you.

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
wrote:
>
> Thank you for all the answers. I do plan on putting in an
> inverter/charger like Tom reccommended. I won't be able to get to
it
> until spring though. We're going to Fl. in Feb. and then leaving
the
> coach in Mrytle Beach and hopefully attending both rally's. So the
> coach won't be home until April.
> Frank I think you gave me pretty much what I was looking for.
> (storage mode; master switch off and no real loads: I used
> one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a day. Seemed to work fine.
> Thats what I'll start off with! Thanks Again
>
> Tom Sorrentino
> 1987PT38
> Bedford Hills, NY
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
> wrote:
> >
> > I would echo the advice of Tom, in that at least you should
protect
> > your battery investment - perhaps by what I did, keep one of the
> > boilers as a spare/reserve (unplugged, but set up) and replace
the
> > other with an fully automatic multi-stage charger. I used a
45amp
> > IOTA and it is plug in and forgetaboutit. You still of course
need
> > to check the water level about once a month. This simple "fix"
> will
> > save you a lot of worry and effort at a very reasonable cost.
> >
> > But, to answer your specific "how long to charge" question: It
> > depends on what you are taking out of the batteries. There can
be
> > no set answer, the variables are basically what you take out you
> > want to put back in...to get a full charge. If using a fully
> manual
> > system as you now have, you will have to experiment to find out
> > your "charge time" per day, based on your individual battery
drain
> > factors and set the timer accordingly.
> >
> > 1: In my OEM system, if just in storage mode; master switch off
and
> > no real loads: I used one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a
> > day. Seemed to work fine.
> > 2: when "living/camping" with lights, fan, pump...I found that
one
> > charger on all the time worked fine; if you see your voltage
> > dropping and not recovering, plug the second one in to top off.
> >
> > Frank
> > 85FC33
> > Woodbridge, VA.
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the
> > old
> > > battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the
> > spring.
> > > In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My
> > thought is
> > > to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any
body
> > have
> > > any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or
two
> > > chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without
> > boiling
> > > them out!
> > >
> > > Tom Sorrentino
> > > 1987 PT38
> > > Bedford Hills, NY
> > >
> >
>

[Tom Warner]

Chuck most Forward controls have 450AH of batteries ( four 6V deep
cycles). The normal phantom drains on them is 5amps or more that
means you will use up 50% of your batteries in about 45 hours or less
then 2 days. One month and they would be ruined and totally dead.

Have you added extra batteries or do you turn off all of the DC circuits?

tom warner
vernon center,ny
1985 PT 40

At 09:19 PM 1/23/2007, you wrote:
>For what it's worth, I turn off the dc and the charger, and let the
>batteries "rest". With no load you don't need to charge them more that once
>a month. I leave the coach plugged in do the frost heaters will work. Our
>coach rarely sits more than a month without going someplace.
>
>- Chuck Wheeler -
>82 FC 31 SB
>Fort Worth, TX
>
>
> _____
>
>From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of thomas_sorrentino
>Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:43 PM
>To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery Boilers
>
>
>
>Thank you for all the answers. I do plan on putting in an
>inverter/charger like Tom reccommended. I won't be able to get to it
>until spring though. We're going to Fl. in Feb. and then leaving the
>coach in Mrytle Beach and hopefully attending both rally's. So the
>coach won't be home until April.
>Frank I think you gave me pretty much what I was looking for.
>(storage mode; master switch off and no real loads: I used
>one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a day. Seemed to work fine.
>Thats what I'll start off with! Thanks Again
>
>Tom Sorrentino
>1987PT38
>Bedford Hills, NY
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@
>yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
>wrote:
> >
> > I would echo the advice of Tom, in that at least you should protect
> > your battery investment - perhaps by what I did, keep one of the
> > boilers as a spare/reserve (unplugged, but set up) and replace the
> > other with an fully automatic multi-stage charger. I used a 45amp
> > IOTA and it is plug in and forgetaboutit. You still of course need
> > to check the water level about once a month. This simple "fix"
>will
> > save you a lot of worry and effort at a very reasonable cost.
> >
> > But, to answer your specific "how long to charge" question: It
> > depends on what you are taking out of the batteries. There can be
> > no set answer, the variables are basically what you take out you
> > want to put back in...to get a full charge. If using a fully
>manual
> > system as you now have, you will have to experiment to find out
> > your "charge time" per day, based on your individual battery drain
> > factors and set the timer accordingly.
> >
> > 1: In my OEM system, if just in storage mode; master switch off and
> > no real loads: I used one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a
> > day. Seemed to work fine.
> > 2: when "living/camping" with lights, fan, pump...I found that one
> > charger on all the time worked fine; if you see your voltage
> > dropping and not recovering, plug the second one in to top off.
> >
> > Frank
> > 85FC33
> > Woodbridge, VA.
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@
>yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the
> > old
> > > battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the
> > spring.
> > > In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My
> > thought is
> > > to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body
> > have
> > > any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
> > > chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without
> > boiling
> > > them out!
> > >
> > > Tom Sorrentino
> > > 1987 PT38
> > > Bedford Hills, NY
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

I have three cutoff switches. The original by the driver, a second that
disconnects all electronics, and a third that disconnects the charger and
removes the ac from it. I found the the new electronic chargers also have a
"phantom" drain. With all switches off I have NO load on the batteries. I
did this because at times I have had to leave our BB where there was no
shore power.

- Chuck Wheeler -
82 FC 31 SB
Fort Worth, TX


_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Tom Warner
Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 10:11 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery Boilers



Chuck most Forward controls have 450AH of batteries ( four 6V deep
cycles). The normal phantom drains on them is 5amps or more that
means you will use up 50% of your batteries in about 45 hours or less
then 2 days. One month and they would be ruined and totally dead.

Have you added extra batteries or do you turn off all of the DC circuits?

tom warner
vernon center,ny
1985 PT 40

At 09:19 PM 1/23/2007, you wrote:
>For what it's worth, I turn off the dc and the charger, and let the
>batteries "rest". With no load you don't need to charge them more that once
>a month. I leave the coach plugged in do the frost heaters will work. Our
>coach rarely sits more than a month without going someplace.
>
>- Chuck Wheeler -
>82 FC 31 SB
>Fort Worth, TX
>
>
> _____
>
>From: WanderlodgeForum@
yahoogroups.com
>[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@
yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of thomas_sorrentino
>Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 7:43 PM
>To: WanderlodgeForum@
yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Battery Boilers
>
>
>
>Thank you for all the answers. I do plan on putting in an
>inverter/charger like Tom reccommended. I won't be able to get to it
>until spring though. We're going to Fl. in Feb. and then leaving the
>coach in Mrytle Beach and hopefully attending both rally's. So the
>coach won't be home until April.
>Frank I think you gave me pretty much what I was looking for.
>(storage mode; master switch off and no real loads: I used
>one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a day. Seemed to work fine.
>Thats what I'll start off with! Thanks Again
>
>Tom Sorrentino
>1987PT38
>Bedford Hills, NY
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@
>yahoogroups.com, "fwernlein"
>wrote:
> >
> > I would echo the advice of Tom, in that at least you should protect
> > your battery investment - perhaps by what I did, keep one of the
> > boilers as a spare/reserve (unplugged, but set up) and replace the
> > other with an fully automatic multi-stage charger. I used a 45amp
> > IOTA and it is plug in and forgetaboutit. You still of course need
> > to check the water level about once a month. This simple "fix"
>will
> > save you a lot of worry and effort at a very reasonable cost.
> >
> > But, to answer your specific "how long to charge" question: It
> > depends on what you are taking out of the batteries. There can be
> > no set answer, the variables are basically what you take out you
> > want to put back in...to get a full charge. If using a fully
>manual
> > system as you now have, you will have to experiment to find out
> > your "charge time" per day, based on your individual battery drain
> > factors and set the timer accordingly.
> >
> > 1: In my OEM system, if just in storage mode; master switch off and
> > no real loads: I used one "boiler" unit on a timer for 2 hours a
> > day. Seemed to work fine.
> > 2: when "living/camping" with lights, fan, pump...I found that one
> > charger on all the time worked fine; if you see your voltage
> > dropping and not recovering, plug the second one in to top off.
> >
> > Frank
> > 85FC33
> > Woodbridge, VA.
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@
>yahoogroups.com, "thomas_sorrentino"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I just installed all new batteries and cables. I still have the
> > old
> > > battery boilers and probably will have them at least until the
> > spring.
> > > In the mean time I keep the coach plugged in to 30 amps. My
> > thought is
> > > to keep the battery chargers plugged into a timer. Does any body
> > have
> > > any experience as to how long to keep them on per day? One or two
> > > chargers? The goal is to keep the batteries topped off without
> > boiling
> > > them out!
> > >
> > > Tom Sorrentino
> > > 1987 PT38
> > > Bedford Hills, NY
> > >
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]