Chassis Battery Maintainer

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Can anyone recommend a battery charger to help maintain the chassis batteries while the coach is stored?

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Jim, based on what I’ve seen about dead chassis batteries from previous discussions, if there are other wires connected to your chassis batteries, they could be draining them. If you check your batteries and notice that only the large battery cables are connected, you can simply shut off the main disconnect and won’t need a battery tender.

If you can simplify things and manage with less, go for it!

[MyPrevost]

Jim,

The circuits that are connected directly to the batteries are likely the issue, especially since your bus model has three circuits directly from the chassis batteries related to the DDEC.

If you trip rear circuit breakers 19, 20, and 21, along with the main 24V and 12V chassis battery disconnect switches, you shouldn’t need a maintenance charger. Just monitor the battery voltage for a few days with everything turned off or tripped to confirm this.

The only downside is that any active DDEC codes will be lost. However, if you haven’t had any warning lights, it’s likely you don’t have any codes to worry about.

[MyPrevost]

Dale and Jon,
Thanks for the wisdom.
I will do that.
Jim

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Jim,

If you’re not planning on storing the bus for long and want to avoid the hassle of shutting off circuit breakers, a three-stage charger like the one many of us use can work well for you.

Trukman can guide you on how to hook it up.

Mike

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Just a heads-up—no big deal, but I ordered the Guest charger from Hodges Marine for a bit less. They charge $6.95 for shipping and don’t apply sales tax. Since I’m in Nevada and the Amazon warehouse is in “Flooded Fernley,” I’d have to pay sales tax there. Every little bit counts, especially since I’m in the mortgage business and need to keep expenses down!

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Jim,

A few weeks ago, I installed the Guest battery charger that was recommended for my coach. The unit is well-constructed, sealed, and straightforward to install—I got mine from Amazon. I used the engine heater circuit to power the charger, just like many others have done.

While I understand the benefits of isolating the circuits, in my situation, it made more sense to go with the battery tender. The installation was clean, simple, and efficient. I’m really pleased with it!

Hector

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I’m planning to order a charger/maintainer soon. What features make this model a solid choice? It mentions having a 12V output—shouldn’t I be looking for a 24V one since my system operates at that voltage? Also, how do I go about wiring it?

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James,

Here is my previous post on the wiring for the Guest Charger..

https://myprevost.net/forums
Tom Chilcote
Trans-Specialists RV Batteries
tom@transpspecialists.net

[MyPrevost]

James, I connected my Guest charger exactly as Tom described, and it works flawlessly. I tapped into the block heater junction box and routed that line into a box with a 110V switch and receptacle. This setup provides a rear switch for my block heater and two plug-ins, one designated for the charger. The charger stays on while parked and is unplugged during my pre-flight checks. I can also turn it off using the “Block Heater” switch in the driver’s compartment.

The block heater wire is a common choice for most POG members when no other 110V line is near the batteries. The installation is straightforward, and the Guest charger is well-sealed and maintenance-free, ensuring there’s no risk of overcharging the batteries. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Tom (he helped me), or I’m happy to assist as well. My contact info is below the “Dale” map.

Good luck!

Darl

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Darl,

Thanks for reminding about the phone number..

James, I’m on the map, call anytime if you need help.
Tom Chilcote
Trans-Specialists RV Batteries
tom@transpspecialists.net

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