House Battery charging

[k7acz]

I have a 2006 Jamboree on a 22BCHEV Chassis. Can I keep my house batteries (2 ea type GC2 6 volt) fully charged by having the RV connected to shore power? Does this model have the charger that reverts to a trickle charge when the batteries are fully charged? Reason I'm asking when I checked the batteries the water level was below the plates and now I need to purchase new batteries. Is it safer to use a seperate battery maintainer type charger conncted directly to the battery. I have found several sources for my reeplacement GC2 battery with the removal caps to fill with water but Die Hard has a 6 volt GC2 golf cart battery that does not need to have water added (sealed unit). Does anyone have any experience with these Die Hard batteries? Thank you

[IAMICHABOD]

pianotuna wrote:


The WF series are not good. Consider replacement with something else.

I would agree,I would replace it with a Progressive Dynamics unit.

Call Randy at Best Converters They will give you the best one for the replacement.He has helped me and many others on this Forum.
Ask Randy

[pianotuna]

k7acz wrote:
OK, I don't see how I reply to everyones Individual posts so thanks to all who responded. My electrical panel shows Model number WF8914. Yes, I do have the exact same BiRd unit on the side of my battery unit. Your photo looks exactly the same as my Jambroee. I would post a picture but I don't see how I show a picture in my post like you guys. Maybe someone can point me in the right direct. TU agn for your help.
Alan Zack, CWO, USCG, Ret

The WF series are not good. Consider replacement with something else.

[IAMICHABOD]

Here is a link that will walk you thru photo posting Photo Posting Link

[k7acz]

OK, I don't see how I reply to everyones Individual posts so thanks to all who responded. My electrical panel shows Model number WF8914. Yes, I do have the exact same BiRd unit on the side of my battery unit. Your photo looks exactly the same as my Jambroee. I would post a picture but I don't see how I show a picture in my post like you guys. Maybe someone can point me in the right direct. TU agn for your help.
Alan Zack, CWO, USCG, Ret

[AJR]

I had a 2003 TT that had most likely the battery charger that is in your 2006/5 unit. I say that because it would boil the water out of the batteries as you described. Dang… The solution is a plug-in gadget on your current charger that makes the charger into a three tier charger that will never hurt the batteries by overcharging. Boiling off the water. It worked very well with golf cart batteries.

Come on you older folks, what is the name of that gadget?

[IAMICHABOD]

I have a 2006 Tioga on a Chevy chassis also made by Fleetwood.
unless it has been changed out you will have a WFCO converter,these old ones will boil your batteries.You need a newer 3 stage one to replace it.

I replaced mine with one,Like this one I keep it plugged in all the time and check the batteries monthly and very seldom have to add water over the more than 12 years that I have owned it.

Also look in your Battery Bay to see if you have a BIRD like this one,many of the Fleetwood RVs of this era had them,as mine does. When plugged in to will keep all of your batteries including your chassis battery,that is what it is designed to do.

Click For Full-Size Image.

As for the Die Hards my experience with them was not good I would stay with the ones that you can check the water.

[bobndot]

Yes solar. My 100w panel on my roof keeps my two coach and one chassis battery topped off. I never have to worry about them draining down while parked. I use an mppt controller .

[Grit_dog]

Yes your rv does or did have a converter/charger.
You should probably verify the old batteries are toast and verify the converter is working before worrying about which brand of battery to buy.
And FLA/SLA or AGM are fine. Since you don’t say whether the die hard battery is sla or agm.

[pianotuna]

How old were the batteries?

Another option to storage charging is a modest solar charging system.

[CA_Traveler]

X2 Also post the float voltage, but you may need new batteries first for a reliable reading.

Is the Die Hard a AGM? They definitely cost more.

[opnspaces]

That vintage I would almost guarantee you the charger is not 3 stage. A replacement is probably around $250 try Bestconverter.com
Link I've read a lot of positive reports on this forum about them.

[Matt_Colie]

K7acz,

If you come back with the make-model some one might tell you to keep or pitch it.

Nobody can answer your question without knowing the make and model of you current converter. I can tell that the coach is old enough that I may not be a very good one and it maybe be worth your while to change it out for a new multi-stage number.

Matt_C