New batteries - maintaining charge while stored

[Chuck Wheeler]

Alan,

I have 6+ years on my T105s. They are great batteries, but I got less than two years out of the previous set before I replaced the "battery boilers". I don't think you will ever have a very long battery life using the original chargers as it is just too hard to manually regulate the charge. I have one 60amp progressive dynamics charger. We do not have any inverters so you may need a larger charger if you have a greater dc load. The one time I left the battery switch on and ran the batteries completely down the 60 amp charger brought the batteries up so I could start in about 20 minutes. I made sure that there was NO parasitic load with the battery switch shut off and do not leave power on when stored. If we go for a month without making a trip I turn power the charger on for 24 hours and let it go through a charging cycle.

- Chuck Wheeler-

1982 FC 31SB Fort Worth TX

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From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of xz3kg7
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:03 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] New batteries - maintaining charge while stored

I just installed some new Interstate batteries in my 87FC35.

My last T105s lasted 3 years, which probably isn't bad, but not particularly good either. I have the old "battery burners".

What is the best way to keep the batteries charged while the coach is not in use? I never have quite figured out how my chargers work. there seem to be two breakers relative to the charger(s). Also, I think in a compartment on the drivers side there are one or two things plugged in that maybe be one or both of the chargers/inverters..??

Is one breaker a charger and the other an inverter? If so, if one actually has a plug on it I should be able to put a timer on it, right?

Thanks for any advice,
Alan Johnson
87FC35