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Post Info TOPIC: Charging crank battery
Old Crofter


Senior Member

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Charging crank battery
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Hello again folks, question time again. I had flat crank battery last outing, 24volt in the bush, managed to borrow a charger from a guy in a big bus that I powered from my in house generator. My batteries are 2x 12 volt wired to give 24 volt. My vehicle is an ISUZU 450 2008 model with all the computers etc (I think) I connected pos etc right way round and as the charger had a boost switch I ran with that for about 5 minutes and then started the ISUZU. Problem solved, (for now) have now ordered a 24 v charger to go in the baggage hold for next time. 

#1 do I need to disconnect battery terminals before charging?

#2 if I turn the battery isolation switch to off is this the same as disconnecting the wires?

Hopefully I have wasted my money buying the charger as now isolate when parked up for any period of time. At least if someone else has flat battery and comes asks we can help. 

Your constructive thoughts pls. 

Bob

 



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Bob

Sit, watch and wait.
jules47


The Happy Helper

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Posts: 12023
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Hey Bob - we have had a 10w(?) solar panel mounted on the roof, directly to the cranking battery - no need to worry when we sit still for a while, worrying about the motorhome battery going flat. Works well

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jules
"Love is good for the human being!!"
(Ben, aged 10)
Peter_n_Margaret


Guru

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Posts: 4375
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#1 No.
#2 Yes.

Do you have solar?
If yes, you could connect the house batteries and the crank battery together via a Voltage Sensitive Relay (RedArc, and other brands) as a permanent arrangement and in the future either start the MH from the house batteries or charge the crank battery via the solar.

Cheers,
Peter

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OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 
Jaahn


Guru

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Posts: 1947
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Hi Bob smile

I had an Isuzu MH before and the batteries always went flat after a while. Stuffed the batteries after a while.  But I had a 24 V house battery system too so I put a connecting heavy wire in and a heavy switch. That solved the immediate problem.

However after looking at the electrical system over time I realised people had added things over time and some of the additions were a bit haphazard. In short there was a continuous smallish current drain that was the problem. So I just spent quite a bit of time finding the hidden items and either getting rid of them or rewiring them into the ignition switched circuit, or to the house batteries. So really that is the correct answer to the problem as the starting batteries should stay charged for a long time without a problem. The normal current drain is miniscule.

Things to chase: 12v converter, relays for aftermarket accessories, rear camera power, cab radios, for a start !

Cheers Jaahn     



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