Maintaining batteries

[Tiger42]

Will a 1.5 amp charger maintain 2 batteries tied together while the coach is not in use?

If so what is the procedure to hook it up?


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[Trempert]

Originally Posted by Tiger42

Will a 1.5 amp charger maintain 2 batteries tied together while the coach is not in use?

If so what is the procedure to hook it up?


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Assuming they are in parallel (most likely since they are probably 12V batteries) they act like one battery. Just hook up the charger and you are good to go. Check the water level if you are going to charge them for long periods of time as it could evaporate more quickly while you are charging.

[Limey]

Don't use a charger to maintain batteries, it will probably fry them. You need a battery maintainer such as the brand "Battery Tender".

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by Limey

Don't use a charger to maintain batteries, it will probably fry them. You need a battery maintainer such as the brand "Battery Tender".

A 1.5 amp charger will not burn up two 850 amp hour batteries.
That sounds like he has a Battery Tender.
It will maintain them but will not do any damage.

[WDK]

If your going to be plugging in a charger, or battery tender unless it's solar, why not just plug in your coach and make sure your battery disconnect switch is in and the charger on your coach will charge the batteries. If it's a newer coach the smart charger is the best thing for your batteries.

WDK

[Still Kickin]

Originally Posted by Tiger42

Will a 1.5 amp charger maintain 2 batteries tied together while the coach is not in use?

If so what is the procedure to hook it up?


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Assume two things; 1. your referring to a trickle charger being 1.5 amps 2. Your house batteries are already at full charge, prior to the maintain charging your asking about.Your good to go then.

Also, over the long haul, you will not "use up" the fixed life as fast that all electronic gizmos have, like the more expensive on board unit. Just sayin'

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by Trempert

Assuming they are in parallel (most likely since they are probably 12V batteries) they act like one battery. Just hook up the charger and you are good to go. Check the water level if you are going to charge them for long periods of time as it could evaporate more quickly while you are charging.

If you are going to charge two batteries in Parallel. Then you hook the positive to the first battery and the negative to the second battery. Do not put the charger on only one battery.....:

[Trempert]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

If you are going to charge two batteries in Parallel. Then you hook the positive to the first battery and the negative to the second battery. Do not put the charger on only one battery.....:

It doesn't matter. The batteries are not smart enough to know what end of the cable you hooked the charger to.


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[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Trempert

It doesn't matter. The batteries are not smart enough to know what end of the cable you hooked the charger to.

X2, but it doesn't hurt one way or the other.

[Witch Doctor]

Originally Posted by OldCoot

X2, but it doesn't hurt one way or the other.

According to living on 12 volt that is the way to equalize the charge. But people can do what they want. I'm not buying there batteries. By your logic then just hook up the plus and minus and use your negative from the first battery to ground. That is what you are doing by charging only one battery. It's just my answer to the OP right or wrong.....

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

...By your logic then just hook up the plus and minus and use your negative from the first battery to ground....

????

[Witch Doctor]

I have no dog in this. That's the only way that I would charge same as hooking the batteries up 1) with one battery you hook pos to trailer and neg. to ground. In parallel you hook pos to pos neg from the first bat to the second battery then from the second battery you go to ground. You charge the same way. That is the way I do it and will keep doing it. My batteries are 4 years old cheapo interstate. Had the 30 amp off for 48 hrs this week and the meter at my panel read 12.7. Gees must be doing something right. I also have a load meter, put that on and tested after 48 it show green, bought it at harbour freight. This is my opinion on how to charge my batteries hooked in parallel

[Tiger42]

Iggy, that is what I wanted to do use one tender to maintain 2 battries, just wasn't sure how to hook ir up.
Thanks guys for the input.

[bend302]

I use a battery tender while my Georgetown is in storage (2 12 V batteries). And I hook the positive to the front battery and the negative to the rear most connection. Works great.

On my unit, a 2005, I must not have a very smart on board charger because I boiled my old batteries dry in just a few days. Ended up shortening their life. Now use the battery tender on the newer ones.


When I go to Florida in the winter, I leave my van in the storage unit with the battery tender to keep that battery alive until I return.

I also put a battery tender on the battery on my golf cart over the winter.

I am a big fan of battery tenders.

Bill

[Donamac]

Speaking of batteries, my 2014 Georgetown has two coach batteries (can't insert picture right now). I am trying to determine if they are sealed, maintenance-free or is there a way to open and check the water level. Anyone?

[prairiecamper]

Originally Posted by gljurczyk

If you are going to charge two batteries in Parallel. Then you hook the positive to the first battery and the negative to the second battery. Do not put the charger on only one battery.....:

This is actually the correct way to hook up to multiple batteries in parallel.

[Krazymace]

Originally Posted by WDK

If your going to be plugging in a charger, or battery tender unless it's solar, why not just plug in your coach and make sure your battery disconnect switch is in and the charger on your coach will charge the batteries. If it's a newer coach the smart charger is the best thing for your batteries.

WDK

This is what I do. Why make it more complicated?


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