Trickle Charger Recommendations

[Csmccharlie]

Any recommendations for a good trickle charger?

[chuckster57]

The Converter in your trailer. If your taking the battery out for the winter then Ill let someone that does that also answer.

[Csmccharlie]

Ya was thinking that or anytime its camped unplugged at the house

[LHaven]

A standard 20A household outlet and extension cord is enough just to keep the battery charged via the converter when parked at home; you don't need 30-50A just for that. (But be sure to check the fluid level regularly, it vapors off under charge.)

We have a lot of equipment at the ranch with gel cells that need trickle charging (driveway grader, horse trailer, and even our Jeep when we are away on extended RV trips), so we use this gadget (https://www.amazon.com/PulseTech-Xtreme-QuadLink-Battery-Charger/dp/B07RL3VM2Y) to do them all at once. You can buy just the maintainer without the manifold if you only have one battery, then buy the manifold later if you need it.

[Csmccharlie]

A standard 20A household outlet and extension cord is enough just to keep the battery charged via the converter when parked at home; you don't need 30-50A just for that. (But be sure to check the fluid level regularly, it vapors off under charge.)

We have a lot of equipment at the ranch with gel cells that need trickle charging (driveway grader, horse trailer, and even our Jeep when we are away on extended RV trips), so we use this gadget (https://www.amazon.com/PulseTech-Xtreme-QuadLink-Battery-Charger/dp/B07RL3VM2Y) to do them all at once. You can buy just the maintainer without the manifold if you only have one battery, then buy the manifold later if you need it.


Not familiar with check fluid levels on a battery

[tech740]

I use an auto float charger from harbor freight. I pull the batteries and keep them in a counter in my shed for the winter.

[LHaven]

Not familiar with check fluid levels on a battery

https://www.rvrepairclub.com/video/rv-battery-maintenance-tips-009058

[Canonman]

Not familiar with check fluid levels on a battery

Lead acid batteries are filled with electrolyte. Basically sulphuric acid. As the battery is charged, the electrolyte will boil and outgases thereby lowering the level of electrolyte in the battery. This can be replenished by adding distilled water to the battery as needed to bring the level back to normal. Normal is enough electrolyte to cover the lead plates.
If you look at the battery you'll see 6 screw off caps. You will need to unscrew these caps and visually inspect the electrolyte level in each cell.If you can see the tops of the lead plates add distilled water until they are covered. DO NOT overfill. Just enough to cover the plates.
I use a Battery Tender brand trickle charger to keep the batteries charged when I remove them for winter storage. Otherwise, just keep the trailer plugged in to shore power and monitor the battery electrolyte levels.

[Csmccharlie]

I use an auto float charger from harbor freight. I pull the batteries and keep them in a counter in my shed for the winter.


like this?

https://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html

[markcee]

I've had no issues at all with this Noco Genius (https://www.amazon.com/NOCO-G3500-UltraSafe-Battery-Charger/dp/B004LWVEKS) charger/maintainer.

I pull my battery between trips as we keep the trailer parked at a storage facility. I take it home and keep it connected to this maintainer.

[wiredgeorge]

If you have the battery in the trailer and have it on a Battery Tender, the tender won't keep up and the battery will eventually loose its charge. As already noted, if you have the trailer in your drive, use an extension cord and plug in the camper's power cord via an adapter.

[Customer1]

The RVs just stay plugged in and let the converter take care of the four batteries.

The motorcycles, tractor, and truck are connected to either a Deltran Battery Tender or a BatteryMINDer.

[tech740]

like this?

https://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-42292.html


Yup that’s the one. Not high end or special but works great for what I use it for.

[flybouy]

Spend a little more and get a battery maintainer instead of just a trickle charger. They typically have a higher ampacity, desulfication capability and won’t overcharge the battery. Some inexpensive “trickle chargers” are no more than a constant voltage source at a very small amperage.
I use a battery maintainer for the rv battery while in storage (12V 105 Ah deep cycle) and for the riding mower, generator, etc.

[Csmccharlie]

Yup that’s the one. Not high end or special but works great for what I use it for.

And you leave it on around the clock when you take the better off tee trailer?

[Northofu1]

I store my battery indoors for the winter. I charge it once a month seems to work for me. I do the same thing at work on seasonal equipment.
I use this one.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/motomaster-nautilus-15-8-2a-battery-charger-maintainer-0111973p.html
They go on sale all the time.

[tech740]

And you leave it on around the clock when you take the better off tee trailer?


I leave it in from October to April.

[ChuckS]

I just let the old WFCO converter charge and maintain my GC2 batteries.. check electrolyte level about every other month. No need to remove the batteries if you have shore power available... mine is plugged into a 15 amp outdoor house outlet.

[bbells]

On my trailers without solar i use a portable 230w panel and controller to keep the battery charged in the off season.

[blubuckaroo]

We store both our travel trailers at an RV storage that has no electricity to plug into.
I remove the batteries (3) and take them home when not used.
I keep maintained on a four bank Battery Tender.
Our portable generator is plugged in there also.
Here's the unit...
https://www.batterytender.com/4-Bank-International-Charger-12V-1-25A-Each-Bank-USA-Western-Hemisphere

[kcamp99186]

It may be my camper has less draw, but I've had a Battery Tender mounted in a small electrical enclosure on the front frame for 5 years. It has always kept my battery fully charged and ready. Just replaced the original battery this spring. I simply plug the tender in each time I park and since it is right in front I always remember to unplug/plug it, so far! Lol

[Bandit12]

Go to your local Napa auto parts store. Ask them for part #90-003. That is for a hanging 6/12 volt 3 amp battery maintainer. I believe they are on sale now thru the end of the month for about $45. You can check online to make sure.

[bobz89013]

I figure my Battery Tender works great for my bikes and quads so I stick with that brand. If you fo get one make sure it has auto shut off so you don't boil the battery dry.

[JRTJH]

A point to remember about connecting a battery maintainer, trickle charger or battery charger to any battery "physically connected to the trailer wiring: As long as there is any source providing greater than 12.6 volts to the trailer wiring, the WFCO charger circuits will be "disabled"....

The WFCO senses "line voltage on the DC battery connection to determine charge status of the battery"... If the WFCO senses the output voltage of a battery maintainer on the wiring, then it will disable all charging from the WFCO charge circuits.

While this may not "damage anything", if the battery maintainer is limited to "topping off a charge, not charging a depleted battery", if there is a condition where the battery loses a full charge, the battery maintainer can't build up a charge and the WFCO is "turned off by the maintainer's voltage on the wiring... So, if you "lose power overnight or for a day" you may find that your battery is completely dead when you check it in a month....

If you're going to leave the battery in the trailer and add a battery trickle charger/battery maintainer, then disconnect the battery from the trailer wiring (to prevent phantom drains and to deactivate the WFCO charger from the influence of the additional battery charger.

[blubuckaroo]

This may be a bit of a Hi-Jack, but I think it's still on topic.
The batteries in my trailer have a warranty, but are sealed with a label that says "REMOVAL VOIDS WARRANTY."
So how the heck am I suppose to do the maintenance?:confused:

[LHaven]

This may be a bit of a Hi-Jack, but I think it's still on topic.
The batteries in my trailer have a warranty, but are sealed with a label that says "REMOVAL VOIDS WARRANTY."
So how the heck am I suppose to do the maintenance?:confused:

This typically indicates you bought a "maintenance-free battery."

I don't believe I've ever had a maintenance-free deep-cycle(ish) battery. I didn't know anybody made one.

[blubuckaroo]

This typically indicates you bought a "maintenance-free battery."

I don't believe I've ever had a maintenance-free deep-cycle(ish) battery. I didn't know anybody made one.

I Know!
These batteries are the RV/Marine clones for a deep cycle.
There should be a false advertising law about this.
A car battery shouldn't be called a deep cycle on its label.:banghead:

[flybouy]

I don't understand the advantage of using a battery maintainer while the battery is still on the camper. You have to have 120v ac to it so why not use the converter?

[kcamp99186]

I'm not sure it matters a lot, but I just didn't want 120v on my trailer all the time, or having my power cord dissappear. I can't park it in our development. Worry about rodent damage and possible fire issues. Although I've had no rodent issues after the first year when I learned to seal up the underside properly. Probably worry about nothing in my case.

[flybouy]

I'm not sure it matters a lot, but I just didn't want 120v on my trailer all the time, or having my power cord dissappear. I can't park it in our development. Worry about rodent damage and possible fire issues. Although I've had no rodent issues after the first year when I learned to seal up the underside properly. Probably worry about nothing in my case.

If you are plugging it into a 120v ac outlet where it's stored then I'd use the converter in the camper. You should have an EMS in any case. If you're concerned about the power cord "walking" then use an adapter (dogbone" at the camper inlet with a #14 grounded extension cord. They don't cost much and I'm guessing that's what you are already using to the separate battery charger now. The "possible fire issue" I think would be minimal especially with an EMS installed. JMHO

[Steve d]

i use the converter and a household 24 hr timer and set it for 3 hours a day. It does over charge and use battery water.

[flybouy]

i use the converter and a household 24 hr timer and set it for 3 hours a day. It does over charge and use battery water.

It may not be "overcharging" as any flooded cell battery being charged will cause the electrolyte to evaporate at little. Over time, that evaporation will become sever enough to expose the plates and destroy the battery. That's not a result of overcharging but lack of maintenance.

If your converter is actually overcharging the battery than it's defective and needs to be replaced.

[Tonseth]

Noco genius. They come in several different amps. Great charger.

[08quadram]

I leave my camper plugged in to standard outlet all summer. When I park it for the winter I pull the battery and leave it in the garage on a couple of wood blocks. No charger or maintainer all winter. Throw a charger on the day before i get the trailer out for the summer. Very seldom takes much of a charge.