Maintaining RV batteries

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toolmanmike said:
That looks like a good one. After 28 years on the tool route, 4 trucks with 3 using the constant duty relay, I wired only the engine start batteries to the relay and controlled it with a toggle switch. I ran the diesel in the summer for a/c and heat in the winter. The interior lights stayed on most of the time so I needed a lot of current to run it all. The dual 12 volt engine start batteries got charged on the way home. No more boiling them dry.
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Mine had the switch on the dash to activate the solenoid type isolator also, and my 4k Onan generator normally started off the engine battery.
I could connect the coach batteries with that switch if needed to fire the engine or generator.
The original charger/power supply was old and had some issue's and the PD system was the ticket.
I got the charge wizard external indicator, so I could look in the rear view mirror and see the indicator LED flashing it's codes and know what the charger was doing at any given time.
I also wanted to end up with solar panels on the roof but never got around to it.
Our kids would usually bring a TV and an Xbox along, so an inverter was almost always in use at night as well, without having to run the generator.
Those 4 golf cart deep cycles kicked ***, and only once did I ever need a jump to get something going to recharge and that was after dry camping for 4 days without firing the generator.
Luckily my Dad gave me the 15 foot super heavy Semi truck style cables with the RV and I had some friends close by.:D
 
^^^ as I recall mine had a button on the dash that would bring all the juice from all three batteries to the starter in case there was a low battery situation...
 
RVs should come with a decent maintenance charger but they don't at least most don't. I believe they overcharge. On ours, if not plugged in, the RV slowly drains the coach batteries running the gas sensor. To stop this I installed an isolator solenoid with a remote switch and voltage meter right at the doorway. It's fine for a month or more if it's isolated. I'll plug it in for a day or two once a month or so. I also installed a trickle charger for the engine start battery that plugs in to the coach system so it gets a brief charge on those days.
Previous posts did not point out the part about the isolator preventing drain.
 
@Idaho
I read a thread on an RV forum where a guy from Idaho installed an O.D trany in an older Dodge RV.
Was that you by chance ?
 
Lots of interesting characters here in Idaho. I might be one of them, but that was not me :).
I am however planning to put a 833 OD in a 69 Dart.
 
Idaho said:
Lots of interesting characters here in Idaho. I might be one of them, but that was not me :).
I am however planning to put a 833 OD in a 69 Dart.
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Me Too ! Wait... not an OD. Just a 4 speed.

Are you in Ada ?
 
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