Barthmobile Portal
charging batteries

This topic can be found at:
https://www.barthmobile.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3631087061/m/4361059042

03-21-2007, 08:50 PM
Mary Ray
charging batteries
I have two batteries run pos to pos neg to neg and they need to be charged. Do I need to disconnect and charge them separately?


Mary

Don't mess with us old folks, we don't get old by being stupid!
1968 Barth trailer, 1975 Barth Motorhome and 1985 Barth Motorhome

03-21-2007, 09:10 PM
bill h
If they are pos to pos and neg to neg, they are most likely 12 volters. I presume each battery has six caps?

Anyway, they can be charged together or separately. Together is easier.

How are you charging them? If you have a charger with an equalizer or desulfation feature, I would suggest disconnecting them from the coach, though.


.

84 30T PeeThirty-Something, 502 powered
03-21-2007, 09:14 PM
Mary Ray
My bad, they are 12 volt. The charger does not have equalizer or desulfation feature, it is just big charger from Sears.

Tnanks for the info.


Mary

Don't mess with us old folks, we don't get old by being stupid!
1968 Barth trailer, 1975 Barth Motorhome and 1985 Barth Motorhome

03-21-2007, 09:55 PM
Gunner
"it is just big charger from Sears."

A note: If these are "deep" batteries common to motorhomes the charger may (will) show a 100% charge long before that state is reached. At that less-than-full-charge-but-reading-full they may have enough juice to crank the engine/power the coach BUT: if time allows, leave the charger on until it starts "cycling".


"You are what you drive" - Clint Eastwood
03-21-2007, 10:07 PM
Mary Ray
Thanks Gunner, they are deep cycle and we are charging on low for a long period of time, but watching them as we go.


Mary

Don't mess with us old folks, we don't get old by being stupid!
1968 Barth trailer, 1975 Barth Motorhome and 1985 Barth Motorhome

03-21-2007, 10:48 PM
Rusty
I don't know what vintage your coach is, but contemporary converters have controls that handle the needs of deep-cycle batteries. In any event, they do need to be desulfated occasionally, or their capacity can be (temporarily) reduced. They can handle a robust charge rate (which is better than a low rate when discharged); if you have an automatic charger, it should adjust. If not, an automatic from Wal-Mart (I have two Schumacher autos) will determine how to go about the charge.

However, if your coach is '90 or older, a new converter is a wise investment. I replaced the one in my coach with an Intellipower 9260C with Charge Wizard for about $150.


Rusty


MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP; built-to-order by Peninsular Engines:  Hi-pop injectors, gear-driven camshaft, non-waste-gated, high-output turbo, 18:1 pistons.  Fuel economy increased by 15-20%, power, WOW!"StaRV II"

'94 28' Breakaway: MilSpec AMG 6.5L TD 230HP

Nelson and Chester, not-spoiled Golden Retrievers

Sometimes I think we're alone in the universe, and sometimes I think we're not.
In either case the idea is quite staggering.
- Arthur C. Clarke

It was a woman who drove me to drink, and I've been searching thirty years to find her and thank her - W. C. Fields