AC Trickle Charging the House Battery - NOT for Storage

[C42]

I lost almost 100% battery voltage overnight two nights ago in my house battery so yesterday I hooked up the trickle charger to my generator and then to the house battery and got it back to 100%. I used it minimally last night - but it was down to 11% this morning and throwing an error code to my Norcold - the "E" code indicating it wasn't getting enough DC power to the controller.



While I research the best battery to use for a house battery, can someone tell me if trickle-charging the house battery from an AC source is going to freak out (damage) any of my DC appliances? I have already read about "DC leakage" causing controllers to balk when they detect "dirty DC" - I assume coming from an AC source...but this is pass-through current. AC trickle charger -> House Battery -> DC appliance...


If there is a better way to do this - please let me know...! In the meantime, there is not ONE AGM battery to be found in my entire county...


Thanks in advance -

[Kevin Cooper]

Do not believe the stories about the DC leakage and dirty DC. Garbage comments.
A trickle charger does not correctly charge low batteries. Your batteries may be sulfated and that charger can’t do anything for that. I suggest you take them to some place that will charge and test your batteries. Or buy a charger that will de-sulfate a battery.
Draining batteries below 11 volts does damage to the battery, so I am told. They may not be any good now.

[Rustynuts]

Have you tested all 4 of your house batteries to make sure they are good? If you have one bad battery, it will pull the others down fast.

[C42]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

Have you tested all 4 of your house batteries to make sure they are good? If you have one bad battery, it will pull the others down fast.

I only have one house battery - :-). This is a 2005 Jayco Greyhawk 29GS.


Thanks for your response though - it is very appreciated!

[C42]

Maybe I should clarify - this isn't just a trickle charger on the battery..it is a full-blown portable charger that drops into a maintenance mode once it is charged. I do realize that once an SLA battery drops too low - it is essentially a paper weight. And thanks for the info on "dirty/leaked DC".

[Rustynuts]

Originally Posted by C42

I only have one house battery - :-). This is a 2005 Jayco Greyhawk 29GS.


Thanks for your response though - it is very appreciated!

Ok but you have posted this in the Super C category which have 2-4 house batteries, this should be posted in the Class C category and it’s always helpful to post your year and model of rv.

[Kevin Cooper]

Limited-time deal: Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12 Volt 100Ah, 3% Self-Discharge Rate, 2000A Max Discharge Current, Safe Charge, Appliances for RV, Camping, Cabin, Marine and Off-Grid System, Maintenance-Free, Gray https://a.co/d/f0P04p8

[C42]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

Ok but you have posted this in the Super C category which have 2-4 house batteries, this should be posted in the Class C category and it’s always helpful to post your year and model of rv.

Yikes...first time I've THAT! Thanks for calling that to my attention!!!! Have a great day!

[Kevin Cooper]

Originally Posted by Rustynuts

Ok but you have posted this in the Super C category which have 2-4 house batteries, this should be posted in the Class C category and it’s always helpful to post your year and model of rv.

RV Model
Jayco Greyhawk 29GS
RV Year
2005

[C42]

Originally Posted by Kevin Cooper

Limited-time deal: Renogy Deep Cycle AGM Battery 12 Volt 100Ah, 3% Self-Discharge Rate, 2000A Max Discharge Current, Safe Charge, Appliances for RV, Camping, Cabin, Marine and Off-Grid System, Maintenance-Free, Gray https://a.co/d/f0P04p8

Hi -


I don't think I can get a decent AGM battery in my current space at the back of the RV (outside). I'm looking at the BestConverter.com site because if I understand correctly changing out the converter is key to going to Lithium. I really need to get converted over...I am leaving for six months on the road in 3 weeks and I don't want to have to worry about this while I'm in the middle of nowhere!


Thanks for the link!

[Kevin Cooper]

I’m a little confused. You said you couldn’t find AGM battery in your county, and now you are saying lithium. Do you really boondock enough to justify the battery and converter cost? Or maybe you just want them.
Best wishes, Kevin

[craigav]

Originally Posted by C42

I lost almost 100% battery voltage overnight two nights ago in my house battery so yesterday I hooked up the trickle charger to my generator and then to the house battery and got it back to 100%. I used it minimally last night - but it was down to 11% this morning... -

I am curious to how you are determining the charge level, in particular 11% which is a very specific number? Many charge level indicators are very inaccurate and may play into what you are seeing. In other words, you may not be starting out at a 100% charge level. Also, with a properly functioning converter, you wouldn't need an additional charger to charge the battery back up. ~CA

[C42]

Originally Posted by craigav

I am curious to how you are determining the charge level, in particular 11% which is a very specific number? Many charge level indicators are very inaccurate and may play into what you are seeing. In other words, you may not be starting out at a 100% charge level. Also, with a properly functioning converter, you wouldn't need an additional charger to charge the battery back up. ~CA

Hi - thanks for your response!

The 11% came from two different sources - one, a hand-held voltimeter and the second the battery charger itself. There was a slight difference between them, but the charger was running when I took its reading - which would have thrown it off a small amount.

The reasons for using the charger/generator is that my generator is FAR more fuel-efficient than using the RV to charge up the battery. My Champion generator runs for 11 hours on 1.5 gallons of gas at 25% (which I never get to..)..the RV at idle is still more "expensive" in terms of fuel. The RV does charge up the battery - I was just trying to save a bit of fuel expense by choosing a less expensive delivery system!

[C42]

Originally Posted by Kevin Cooper

I’m a little confused. You said you couldn’t find AGM battery in your county, and now you are saying lithium. Do you really boondock enough to justify the battery and converter cost? Or maybe you just want them.
Best wishes, Kevin

The AGM statement is a reflection of my desire to get something in place quickly. But, I don't think I will be able to manage an AGM installation. They're simply too heavy for me to easily handle.

I don't boondock...yet. All of this is preparation for my departure in three weeks cross-country.

(I don't like what I have seen of traditional RV parks so far. They look like sardine cans piled in together. I'm sure some aren't like that - but...enough are. I live on 650 acres of woodland by myself...so, I look at RV parks and start feeling just a little claustrophobic! )

So, my intention is to boondock as much as possible...it's not that I have this burning desire for Lithium (although it's getting there). I just want the ability to move and know that I can cover my basic energy needs.

I am thinking that at this point, some sort of power station and a couple hundred watts of portable solar panels may be the simplest thing to do. Then get a battery monitor (none of those available locally either, even from Walmart) with a new battery and keep my eyes on it. Until I develop more skills, or get to a more populated area that has businesses that can assist...I think that will be "Plan D".

[craigav]

Originally Posted by C42

Hi - thanks for your response!

The 11% came from two different sources - one, a hand-held voltimeter and the second the battery charger itself. There was a slight difference between them, but the charger was running when I took its reading - which would have thrown it off a small amount.

The reasons for using the charger/generator is that my generator is FAR more fuel-efficient than using the RV to charge up the battery. My Champion generator runs for 11 hours on 1.5 gallons of gas at 25% (which I never get to..)..the RV at idle is still more "expensive" in terms of fuel. The RV does charge up the battery - I was just trying to save a bit of fuel expense by choosing a less expensive delivery system!

Some RV'rs just plug their RV into a smaller generator and avoid running anything requiring higher power requirements (ie: the A/C). In any case, what charger are you using and in particular the charger amps of the charger? ~CA

[Kevin Cooper]

This weighs 26 pounds.
LiTime 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery Built-in 100A BMS, Up to 15000 Cycles, Perfect for RV, Marine, Home Energy Storage https://a.co/d/924ssBy

[Jagiven]

I would expect this is just an old battery that just dies. I hope for 10 years on a battery, but I normally get 9 years. When mine die, they die as your describing.

At home I just keep my TT plugged in all the time, the on board charger does a great job. At our old place I could not plug in for long periods. I did make sure I could 100% disconnect everything. As some rigs do not.

Have you tried Sam's for an AMG battery, that's where I got mine

[C42]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

I would expect this is just an old battery that just dies. I hope for 10 years on a battery, but I normally get 9 years. When mine die, they die as your describing.

At home I just keep my TT plugged in all the time, the on board charger does a great job. At our old place I could not plug in for long periods. I did make sure I could 100% disconnect everything. As some rigs do not.

Have you tried Sam's for an AMG battery, that's where I got mine

Thanks for responding...


Unfortunately, this battery is less than 4 months old...and also unfortunately(!) there is no Sam's Club up here. We're "lucky" to have Walmart. I have been to Walmart, Runnings, AutoZone, and an RV place - no AGM batteries.


But - I have spoken to Camco this morning and apparently - to move that house battery to lifepo4 only means a new converter ($200.00+/-) and a lithium battery...I will confirm this on Monday with the manufacturer. But, if that is all we're looking at - I'm definitely "in" on that solution. I will probably need to find an installer but might wait until I am in a larger city for that and "make do" in the meantime.

[JimD]

Bought a couple of Renogy agm batteries from Amazon and they work very well.

When you mentioned hooking up a charger to your generator I had a question. Was this the rig's built-in generator or an external one? If built-in you didn't need to hook up a charger as your converter should put out more than an external charger. My converter is rated 60 amps. I have some external battery chargers that only go up to 15 amps. If you had a garage type charger then it may put out more.

The battery(s) will drain down even if you don't use your rig. I have solar on my house batteries which keeps them fully charged all the time. If I won't be using my rig for 3 or more weeks I will hook up a little 1 amp trickle charger to the chassis battery to keep it fully charged.

Keeping trickle chargers on all batteries is not a bad idea. Also having a voltage display that is easily checked is a must. That is the first thing I installed in my new motor home way back when. Not only does it keep tabs on battery voltage but it also lets me know what level the converter is charging at. I had to replace my converter after a year because I noticed it quit going into boost mode.

Watching my voltage display while dry camping is somewhat entertaining (don't know why). When I see it get down to 12.3 or less I know it is time to take action. This mainly happens at night if I am using the inverter to run my TV stuff. I will turn off the inverter at 12.3 which gives a little buffer to the dreaded 12.1 volts you don't want to go below.

[ruralIN]

"When you mentioned hooking up a charger to your generator I had a question. Was this the rig's built-in generator or an external one? If built-in you didn't need to hook up a charger as your converter should put out more than an external charger. My converter is rated 60 amps. I have some external battery chargers that only go up to 15 amps. If you had a garage type charger then it may put out more."

She mentioned in response to a previous post it was a Champion and fuel usage info. Quick search shows -2500-Watt Ultralight Portable Dual Fuel Inverter Generator (gas/propane) matches that info.