Date:         Sat, 5 Sep 2009 15:53:39 -0700
Reply-To:     Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rocket J Squirrel <camping.elliott@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Run time to charge Aux battery
Comments: To: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <976337.19408.qm@web44712.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Or, put this 4-stage charger between your starter battery and your aux
battery:

http://www.sterling-power.com/products-battbatt.htm
http://www.sterling-power.com/products-battbatt-install.htm

The 50A version is £256.83 at
http://www.the12voltshop.co.uk/Shop/battery-to-battery-charger-12v-to-12v-50a.html

--
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
Bend, OR
KG6RCR



On 9/5/2009 2:03 AM Malcolm Stebbins wrote:

> I know very little about electricity!  I checked the archives  and I found this article, but it did not exactly answer my question:
> http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/motorhome/Motorhome-Alternator-Charging-Systems.txt
>
> I have 2, 6 volt deep cycle batteries hooked up and I have about 200-ish amps (I think) in the aux batteries.  This is used to run my Waeco fridge, which takes about 7 amps when it runs, but only runs about every 10 minutes for 2 minutes-ish.
>
> Usually I only park for a day or 2 max, so  all is OK with the aux battery, but  this last trip I stayed parked for 4 or 5 days in a row, and the fridge's 'low battery' light came on.
>
>  My question is:  APPROXIMATELY what is the charge rate IN AMPS for a nice good working system.  I say good system as I have a new Zetec engine with a 100+ amp alternator and the wires are all new and the batteries are relatively new.
>
> I use a SUREPOWER 1315 isolator for the 2 battery sets.
>
> When the battery got low, I took to idling the van for about 15 minutes in the morning, and again 15 minutes in the evening, to help the battery a bit and this seemed to help.  Is this folly?
>
> Thanks   Malcolm
>