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09-26-2020, 10:28 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2020 25' Flying Cloud
Grove City
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 28
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750ma Battery Tender Question
I just replaced my batteries and I would like to put a trickle charger on them to prevent them from quickly draining (again). Couple of questions for all the experts out there. I already have a Battery Tender 750ma charger that I used with my motorcycle. I would like to leave the Battery Tender quick connect wires permanently attached to the batteries for easy attachment.
Would that 750ma be enough to keep the batteries charged on my 2020 25’ Flying Cloud? Also, would it be okay to leave the batteries connected “as-is” in the AS battery box and just hook the Battery Tender to them… much like you would a car? I don’t think hooking a battery tender up to them would hurt any existing connected wiring / components in the AS but I just want to check first.
BTW… Thanks for all the help, this is a great forum.
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09-26-2020, 04:00 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2018 25' International
Slidell
, Louisiana
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,725
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A 750 mA charger will work pretty well. With the switch in store I have about 200 mA in parasitic load and about 400-700 in the Use position, nothing on. If you have wet cells in store mode, it will consume a small amount of water so you will want to check level once a month.
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09-26-2020, 05:12 PM
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#3
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Site Team
2017 30' International
Broomfield
, Colorado
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,555
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750ma Battery Tender Question
I use a batteryMinder for my cars lead acid and run it at 4amps. The batteries will take the current they want. The lowest setting on my unit is 2amps. BatteryMinder is great product.
Make sure to buy one with a desulfate feature...
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09-26-2020, 05:13 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,576
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Mine is 4 amps...up and down...Months at a time
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09-26-2020, 05:15 PM
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#5
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Welcome Aboard 👍
Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry_M
I just replaced my batteries and I would like to put a trickle charger on them to prevent them from quickly draining (again). Couple of questions for all the experts out there. I already have a Battery Tender 750ma charger that I used with my motorcycle. I would like to leave the Battery Tender quick connect wires permanently attached to the batteries for easy attachment.
Would that 750ma be enough to keep the batteries charged on my 2020 25’ Flying Cloud? Also, would it be okay to leave the batteries connected “as-is” in the AS battery box and just hook the Battery Tender to them… much like you would a car? I don’t think hooking a battery tender up to them would hurt any existing connected wiring / components in the AS but I just want to check first.
BTW… Thanks for all the help, this is a great forum.
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Yes..That is exactly what the tender is made for. Consider at least the 2a version.
What style batt's?
Are they in the AS without a draw?
Our BB Lithium's stay in the AS, isolated without a draw all Winter.
I used to completely charge our Lifeline AGM's.
Leave them in the AS, isolated, without any draw all Winter without charging. Still OK at Spring get ready.
I use a 6v Battery Tender on our '53 Ford, 12hrs/day/365 with standard wet cell that is also disconnected, ck bi-monthy.
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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09-27-2020, 09:21 AM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
2016 30' International
Quartz Hill
, California
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 356
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I leave my batteries hooked to Battery Tender for a couple of months at a time
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09-27-2020, 10:54 AM
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#7
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3 Rivet Member
1985 31' Excella
st. Paul
, mn
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 239
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All batteries have a self-discharge rate - refer to manufacturers specifications to know the specs of your battery .
Then after that , as batteries age , they can have an increase of their discharge rate .
Next is any parasitic load the battery may have on it connected to whatever it is used for - disconnect the battery / batteries .
Depending on size of battery bank , 750ma may not be enough - especially if not disconnected .
__________________
85 Excella , 31' , electric brakes , R. twin [ would like it to be a single ] , future upgrades , composting toilet [ replace black water tank with a 2nd fresh ] , solar power , instant hot water heater .
Tow 94 Dodge Ram , 4x4 , Cummins , AT .
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09-27-2020, 12:22 PM
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#8
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1 Rivet Member
1973 29' Ambassador
Sacramento
, California
Join Date: Sep 2020
Posts: 12
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JohnTF I need your help
JohnTF, everything you have done to your excella is what I want to do to my 29ft ambassador. Wanted to ask you in what order did you do those mods? I’ve just completed the cleaning process and kind of stuck where to move next? Any chance we could jump on a call? My email is jessemermuys@yahoo.com if your willing to help out that would be so much appreciated!
__________________
The Aluminum Falcon
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09-27-2020, 03:48 PM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
2020 25' Flying Cloud
Grove City
, Ohio
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 28
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Thanks for the input
Well, I ended up buying a Battery Tender 4a model just to be on the safe side. Attached the quick connect rings to the batteries and plugged her in. Seems to be working fine.
I am a little surprised by how quickly the batteries will drain down compared to other toys I've owned in the past. I was talking to the service manger at our local AS dealer on Friday and he basically said the same thing. Apparently dead batteries are pretty common with AS's compared to other models. He suggested installing a battery disconnect attached to the battery box. I may consider it but, now with the battery charger, it probably isn't necessary.
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09-27-2020, 05:04 PM
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#10
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:SPACE A" S/O 11 Air19745
2006 34' Classic S/O
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,766
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All Airstreams have high parasitic drains. The best answer is isolation switches of the heavy duty marine variety. I have one on the battery bank, solar system, and the inverter/charger. AGMs and Lithiums will last a long, long time islateded. Flooded batteries will last all winter. However, for best battery survival I would recommend a good trickle charger with battery type selection and a de-sulphater function.
guskmg
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09-27-2020, 05:17 PM
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#11
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Larry_M
Well, I ended up buying a Battery Tender 4a model just to be on the safe side. Attached the quick connect rings to the batteries and plugged her in. Seems to be working fine.
I am a little surprised by how quickly the batteries will drain down compared to other toys I've owned in the past. I was talking to the service manger at our local AS dealer on Friday and he basically said the same thing. Apparently dead batteries are pretty common with AS's compared to other models. He suggested installing a battery disconnect attached to the battery box. I may consider it but, now with the battery charger, it probably isn't necessary.
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Has Airstream stopped installing the Zamp connector for external solar at the battery box? (It's just an SAE quick-connect, *should* be wired reverse of the SAE standard... mine was wired to the standard, so I use a reversing patch cord for the solar rather than for the smart maintainer.) That came on mine (not as an option) and I use that to plug in my smart trickle charger.
__________________
— 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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09-30-2020, 01:43 PM
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#12
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1 Rivet Member
Graham
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 8
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Battery Tender 750ma
I use the 750ma BT connected permanently to my single battery Bambi. If battery falls below 70% charge due to not being plugged in, BT will flash “not charging”, the battery must be charged from another source to that threshold before BT will charge. It can take the BT over a day to reach 100%. Otherwise the BT does an excellent job maintaining full charge with is best for lead acid battery health.
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09-30-2020, 02:56 PM
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#13
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Moderator
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Alamo Heights
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LDDuffy
I use the 750ma BT connected permanently to my single battery Bambi. If battery falls below 70% charge due to not being plugged in, BT will flash “not charging”, the battery must be charged from another source to that threshold before BT will charge. It can take the BT over a day to reach 100%. Otherwise the BT does an excellent job maintaining full charge with is best for lead acid battery health.
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That length of time to 100% is a function of the battery chemistry as much as of the low charger output... a much higher-amp "smart charger" will still take 18 hours or so to really get to 100% charge, because it drops way back to low amperage for that "topping" charge.
__________________
— 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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09-30-2020, 04:12 PM
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#14
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3 Rivet Member
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Bullard,Lake Palestine
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 218
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12v
__________________
I always keep a supply of stimulant handy in case I see a snake ......which I also keep handy
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