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07-13-2015, 02:50 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oregon
Posts: 138
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What to do?
My TT is brand new. It has the standard WFCO converter and dual Interstate SRM-24 12 volt batteries wired in parallel.
I keep the trailer parked next to my house so I can use it for the occasional football game or spending the night in there with the kids.
For camping, we usually have hookups but I will be boondocking 2 or 3 times per year. I'm not interested in running microwave, TV, etc. when boondocking.
I have a small generator I can borrow for boondocking. I'm thinking of buying a 3 stage battery charger to charge the batteries when boondocking.
When the TT is at home, my thought is to leave it hooked up to power. Then before a trip, put the batteries on the charger to make sure the batteries are in good shape. Then when boondocking, top off the batteries using the charger connected to the generator.
Does all this sound about right? Thanks!
__________________
2014 Ford F-150
2015 Apex Nano 193BHS
2018 Nights Camped: 7
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07-13-2015, 03:12 AM
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#2
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Burton, MI.
Posts: 4,522
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If you are leaving it hooked up to power at home, then why would you need to charge the batteries?? Doue your converter not charge the batteries when plugged in? If you are leaving it plugged in, and it is charging the batteries, check your water in the batteries and a regular basis.
__________________
Scott & Vicki
2018 Silverado 3500HD Dually 6.6L Duramax/Allison
2018 Columbus 366RL 1492 Edition
Camped 2012 19, 2013 110, 2014 129, 2015 97
2016 93, 2017 79, 2018 84, 2019 59, 2020 0,
2021 4 reserved
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07-13-2015, 05:04 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Goodyear, Arizona
Posts: 33,775
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Not sure why you wouldn't give your converter a chance to prove itself?
We've been using our HTT's WFCO to recharge our two 12v batteries, for nearly 9 years now.
Never needed a separate battery charger.
And we dry camp 90% of the time and use our Honda 2000 to recharge them.
__________________
Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
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07-13-2015, 10:13 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Posts: 2,004
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If that small generator you can borrow is a 2000 watt then it will more than likely put out about 8 amps to charge your batteries. You are better off buying a 3 stage charger as you mentioned. Get yourself at least a 15 amp charger, the higher amps the better.
__________________
2007 Surveyor SV230 - 200 Watts Solar/MPPT Controller - 220 AH Battery Bank (Two-GC2) - 600 watt PSW Inverter - (2) 2000 watt Inverter Generators - LED Lighting
2009 F150 - 5.4 Litre with Tow Package
Boon Docking 99% of the time.
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07-13-2015, 10:58 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Oregon
Posts: 138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bikendan
Not sure why you wouldn't give your converter a chance to prove itself?
We've been using our HTT's WFCO to recharge our two 12v batteries, for nearly 9 years now.
Never needed a separate battery charger.
And we dry camp 90% of the time and use our Honda 2000 to recharge them.
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Good point, I need to give it a fair chance. Another problem I'm having is that I installed the hard wired surge protector, and it's giving me an Open Ground fault when I try to plug into the generator. I found online where I can devise a small ground fault loop, but the generator only has one outlet so that exact solution won't work. I think I'm gonna focus on making that generator work and avoid spending the money if I can on a charger.
I will also monitor the batter water levels, actually I'm gonna go do that right now while I'm thinking about it!
__________________
2014 Ford F-150
2015 Apex Nano 193BHS
2018 Nights Camped: 7
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07-15-2015, 11:31 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Posts: 2,004
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I thought you were going to connect the generator charging system alone to your battery, which is not the quickest way to charge a battery.
When I need a quick top up for my batteries I plug the genny into the trailer and also connect a 40 amp smart charger direct to the batteries.
__________________
2007 Surveyor SV230 - 200 Watts Solar/MPPT Controller - 220 AH Battery Bank (Two-GC2) - 600 watt PSW Inverter - (2) 2000 watt Inverter Generators - LED Lighting
2009 F150 - 5.4 Litre with Tow Package
Boon Docking 99% of the time.
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07-15-2015, 11:52 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,102
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I would not have the trailer plugged into the generator and have a second battery charger on the batteries. The chargers (wfco and smart charger) may start to work against each other, you should only have one charger on the batteries at a time.
__________________
Ontario
Current: 2019 Sunseeker 2290S
Previous (2012-2016): 2012 Vibe 6501
1 Prospector Canoe, 2 Mtn. Bikes & 4 Hiking Boots
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07-15-2015, 02:24 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Mountain Foothills of Southern Alberta
Posts: 2,004
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Vibe
I would not have the trailer plugged into the generator and have a second battery charger on the batteries. The chargers (wfco and smart charger) may start to work against each other, you should only have one charger on the batteries at a time.
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OK thanks, that is good to know.
__________________
2007 Surveyor SV230 - 200 Watts Solar/MPPT Controller - 220 AH Battery Bank (Two-GC2) - 600 watt PSW Inverter - (2) 2000 watt Inverter Generators - LED Lighting
2009 F150 - 5.4 Litre with Tow Package
Boon Docking 99% of the time.
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