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Starting Battery Charger

Yahoo Message Number: 103157
Our starting battery is not being charged by the trickle charger that is in the compartment where the battery is. Does anybody know if there is a fuse between the charger and the battery that may effect this process? The battery was new May this year, the terminals are clean so have ruled those out. I have to use the battery boost every time we go to start after it has sat for a month or so. Never had to do this before so am thinking it is the trickle charger.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ken Mikkelson

2005 Inspire 51494

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103161
If your coach has an Echocharger then there are two fuses - one between the Echocharger and the house batteries and one between the Echocharger and the chassis battery. If the green light on the Echocharger is green then the house battery fuse is ok so you should check the chassis battery fuse. If either fuse is blown you need to replace it with a 20 amp Slo-blow fuse. A standard fuse will blow almost intantly.

Bob

'05 Intrigue 11872

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103162
Ken I've seen that topic discussed many times over the years. Personally I replaced the chassis battery within the first 3 years after buying our coach new because it was always dead after sitting for any period of time even though plugged into power. Decided to take matters into my own hands and ignore the "echo charger". I put a Battery Tender brand smart charger in the battery bay, hitched to the chassis battery, and ran an extension cord from an outlet in one of the bays every time the coach is parked for even 3 days. That was 8 years ago and my battery is still working perfectly every time I start up. Haven't even had to add water but once in all that time.

Jeff Thurston

'03 Intrigue 42 Ovation
'13 Equinox AWD 4-down toad

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103165
Jeff,

I was thinking about this, but do you need to take out the echo charger? Having thought about this while typing this I think I still need the echo charger for the house batteries, right?

Ken Mikkelson
2005 51494

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103167
Ken I simply ignore the echo charger since I believe it is there solely for charging the chassis battery once the house ones are charged. I have been told they were notoriously ineffective from the start, so take the chassis battery condition in your own hands. Good luck, and safe travels.

Jeff Thurston

'03 Intrigue 11630

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103175
I too have read many Echo charger related posts, they can be problematic, but they also can do an OK job on maintaining your chassis battery.

Costs nothing to check to see that the lights are all indicating 'OK' on the charger front. Do check the front, and back of the unit.

If all look good. And if you have any doubts on the condition/health of the chassis battery, get it load tested to validate if it is OK, or bad, or going bad.

For all the posts that you read on Echo chargers, I suspect greater then a 10-1 ratio of owners with Echo chargers are having no problems with their units.

That being said, if you don't mind the under $100 costs for a good Battery Tender, and running an extension cord to power it, they are very effective and maintaining and desulphating(SP?) of batteries. But, the battery still needs to be a healthy battery. And, I also have been pleased with the full change over we did to a MS2812 Magum Inverter/Charger, and all of the related components. (We're all ready to help you spend money!.

Final question/suggestion. What shape are the battery posts in? Cleaned, as in disconnecting the cable, and getting down to fresh metal on posts and cable attachment. A clean battery, and posts/connections - make charging maintenance much easier:)!

Best of luck to you,

Smitty

04 Allure 31017
04 Allure Sold to a nice new owner! Now enjoying a 07 Magna Rembrandt 45' ISX600 #6775
"We're ONDROAD for THEJRNY!" (Toad and Coach license plates, say Hi if you see us!)

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103176
Our 2004 Allure (which we purchased  used in 2009) came with one solar panel and a controller mounted  in the bedroom closet, intended to charge both house and chassis batteries.. Since then, we went to RV Solar in Yuma (I think that  is the name) and had three more solar panels installed. In the  process, the output of the original panel and controller was  directed to the chassis battery, and the output of the new three  panels and their controller was directed to the house batteries.     

All three of these batteries are LifeLine (?) 8D AGMs, purchased  new in 2011, and since this installation, we have had no issues  with house or chassis batteries maintaining their charge.

This arrangement sure has made boondocking easier for us, and we  seldom need to use the generator (unless we need both air-conditioners)

Ken, #31035

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103181
The easiest/quickest way for me to confirm that my echo  charger  is working is to check the voltage on the  engine battery with a voltage meter while plugged into shore power.  If it's above 13 volts,  it's working.  It's been working fine for 10 year or so. I had issues with the fuse (s)  blowing in the beginning which may have been caused by cable/battery-terminal sparks during battery battery replacement.

Larry 03 Allure 30856

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103184
I had this problem a few months back and found it was the two 20 amp fuse holders that were the problem. They are located in that same bay. I bought two new ones from NAPA that twist and lock and have had no problems sense.

Craig

2005 Allure
#31256
 

Re: Starting Battery Charger

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 103187
I posted on this topic several years ago.  On my new 2008 Intrigue the CC factory installed a SECOND 8 amp fuse in the Echo Charger supply line to my chassis batteries.  This fuse is NOT required by the Echo Charger so I don't know why the factory installed it.  It was an 8 amp fuse whereas the Echo Charger, at full steam, puts out 15 amps - blew the 8 amp fuse that didn't need to be there and was very hard to find.  I bypassed this 8 amp fuse holder and never had another issue with depleted chassis batteries.

Brad Burgess