Winter charging question

[VagabondBob]

I have a 2017 Isata 3. Northern Wisconsin...I put my trickle charger onto the "live" port on lower dash to feed the Engine battery. To provide power to the charger I have it plugged into the wall socket. My lithium batteries are stored inside the garage. I have the camper hooked up as normal to my 30 amp service line. I have to have the breaker on in the control panel for the inverter to get power to the outlets. QUESTION: Does anyone think I am doing something wrong having the inverter running with the batteries missing and the battery disconnect off? I worry about the inverter on without the current having its power not going to any batteries... Thank you for any replies.
Bob

 

[bikendan]

Moved thread from the Tech and Repair section to the Motorhome section's Dynamax sub-forum for better help from other Dynamax owners and possible factory support.

 

[Aussieguy]

what inverter you got....
are you confusing it with a converter? (Charger)

or do you have a Inverter/charger combined?

either way.. while on shore power it should provide 12v for your alliances and charging
no battery required

if there is no battery there will be no charging current...
charger circuits sits there at idle waiting to send power to something...
turn a light on ... less than a amp of current..... will flow.
connect a almost flat battery.......... 50amps can flow.

It is designed to handle UPTO a certain amount of amps...
no amps (current) won't hurt it ....
when it is not producing load current it is also not consuming power from the grid/battery except for a small amount it needs for it's own overheads.

a simple test would be
Make sure starter battery is NOT connected and in parralell with house circuit
NO solar is connected or ON .... too

all your 12v appliances, lights fans and waterpump will work , they will draw current from the Inverter /charger

 

[TitanMike]

I have a 2017 Isata 3. Northern Wisconsin...I put my trickle charger onto the "live" port on lower dash to feed the Engine battery. To provide power to the charger I have it plugged into the wall socket. My lithium batteries are stored inside the garage. I have the camper hooked up as normal to my 30 amp service line. I have to have the breaker on in the control panel for the inverter to get power to the outlets. QUESTION: Does anyone think I am doing something wrong having the inverter running with the batteries missing and the battery disconnect off? I worry about the inverter on without the current having its power not going to any batteries... Thank you for any replies.
Bob

Is your inverter also a "charger"? Or did you mean "Converter"?

Converters today do not require batteries to be connected as they are far better regulated than converters of old.

If your Inverter is also a charger I would expect the same however to be sure it's best to consult the inverter/chargers instruction manual. If you don't have one they are usually available online by searching make and model.

I suspect ha ing batteries disconnected is not a problem as the inverter's internal transfer switch merely passes. 120vac straight through when shore power is connected.

As said before, the manufacture will have the correct answer.

 

[kenandterry]

I have a 2017 Isata 3. Northern Wisconsin...I put my trickle charger onto the "live" port on lower dash to feed the Engine battery. To provide power to the charger I have it plugged into the wall socket. My lithium batteries are stored inside the garage. I have the camper hooked up as normal to my 30 amp service line. I have to have the breaker on in the control panel for the inverter to get power to the outlets. QUESTION: Does anyone think I am doing something wrong having the inverter running with the batteries missing and the battery disconnect off? I worry about the inverter on without the current having its power not going to any batteries... Thank you for any replies.
Bob

If you’re close enough for shore power, why not just plug your trickle charger into a 15amp extension cord, and run the trickle charger directly to the engine battery posts? Most trickle chargers come with alligator clips to connect directly.

 

[VagabondBob]

Aussie guy, thank you for the reply. You are right I was confusing the charger with the inverter. Where I have it plugged in seems to only work when the inverter is on. You answered my question very well as you went into the way it works. I appreciate that very much

 

[VagabondBob]

It’s a matter of what power I have near the camper. I’m going to replace my 30 amp terminal in the garage with one that will have a 20 amp outlet on it. Also that will make it easier. I don’t like running an extension cord out leaving it in the snow. I also don’t prefer to have to open the hood in take off the battery clips by putting it inside the camper it is more self-contained, but when I change the box out in the garage, I will do it your way thank you for the reply.