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07-15-2015, 04:17 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member 
1969 21' Globetrotter
Louisville
, Kentucky
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
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Inverter charger broken
I have an inverter charger from AIMS. It completely died this morning out of the blue. It's just passed a year but I'm pretty sure they're still going to repair it. But that involves sending it in.
I live full time in my globetrotter and I'm connected to shore power until October. I was just unsure of an inexpensive way of charging my batteries to power my DC appliances while my unit is being repaired?
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07-15-2015, 06:15 PM
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#2
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3 Rivet Member 
1968 24' Tradewind
1967 17' Caravel
Northborough
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 136
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Go to Sears or Walmart and buy a cheap battery charger, one that will charge up to a 40 amp rate. Hook it up as needed to bring your battery back up when it gets a bit drained.
Don't leave it on all the time as it can overcharge the batteries. Its always a great backup to have. I've had my Sears model for over a decade... looks like hell but works great.
I used it in a campground to recharge my vehicle when some part of the electrical system is left on and drained the battery enough it would not turn over... give it a couple hours on that charger and away you can go.
Chuck
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07-15-2015, 06:37 PM
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#3
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Moderator

2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,722
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I second the recommendation for a battery charger, but you probably don't need the 40-amp rate. Generally on automotive chargers the high rate listed is a very short-burst capacity for starter boost. Even the built-in ones generally don't need to charge at their high rate for very long unless you have a large battery bank.
The main thing to look for is one that says it's automatic, so if you forget and leave it plugged in it'll dial back the charge rate once the battery is fully charged.
Here's one from Wal-Mart.
__________________
— David
Zero Gravitas — 2017 Flying Cloud 26U | WBCCI# 15566
He has all of the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire. — Sir Winston Churchill
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07-15-2015, 07:02 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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07-15-2015, 07:33 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master 
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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Do you travel with the coach or are you stationary?
If you are stationary you don't need a battery at all. As long as you are plugged in to shore power. Most modern converters will do you just fine without a battery.
Sent from my iPod touch using Airstream Forums
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07-15-2015, 08:59 PM
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#6
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1 Rivet Member 
1969 21' Globetrotter
Louisville
, Kentucky
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 8
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Thanks for the suggestions. Could an automatic battery charger be left on for a couple of weeks and charge while having power drawn from the battery at the same time? My only DC appliances that really get regular use right now are my fantastic fan and an Atwood on demand water heater?
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07-16-2015, 09:31 PM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member 
1968 24' Tradewind
1967 17' Caravel
Northborough
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 136
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Trickle charge
Most of these chargers have the trickle charge option which is designed for leaving on a battery that is basically being stored... The newer multi-stage chargers will do a better job by ratcheting down the voltage drive to meet the needs of the battery's condition based upon its current state of charge. These cost a bit more but do not require babysitting. They are very similar to the charger built into the charger/inverter. As I said earlier my charger is over 10 years old and has seen a lot of use and abuse and still works like a champ.
It does not have all of the new tech to do automatic multi-stage charging. Most of the new ones you would buy today would have those features simply they are so inexpensive to include to any charger but a very basic one.
Sears, WalMart, Pep Boys, AutoZone, and all of the other automotive chain stores should offer at least on charger if not more... Sears has one of the largest selections. Stop asking and just go buy one before your battery dies! Every time you drain a battery you take life out of it... the deeper you draw the more life you remove. It can take thousands of shallow cycles but only hundreds of deep cycles. Drawing it down to flat can shorten its life significantly.
Chuck
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07-17-2015, 06:11 AM
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#8
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"Cloudsplitter"

2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,127
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"AIMS. It completely died this morning out of the blue."
Well that's a bummer....especially since AIMS has a good reputation & $$$$$.
How about a couple hundred dollar spare...no inverter, but a 3 stage could stay plugged in 24/7.
Bob
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