12valve@heart

It's time to replace the 12v deep cycle battery that came with my Jayco FS3500 TT and I refuse to let the original Magnatek 940-2 kill a new set of batteries. Which converter/charger is the recommended solution? Based on research here, I'm looking at one like this Inteli-Power 60 Amp RV Converter With Charge Wizard but if there is a better option, I'm looking for suggestions.

Thanks in advance

irocpractice

12valve,this looks like it should fill light duty needs.Are you going to use 1 12v or 2 6v batteries for the trailor?

johnh

the better and cheaper option is disconnect the batt's when not using, my trailer hasn't been used for 6 months other than relatives staying in it....but it stays plugged in the battery's are in the garage.... the only thing that doesn't function is the slide out

Jeff in TD

That Inteli-power 60 amp with the charge wizard would be my choice, assuming you are running 2 or 4 batteries.

It should recharge much faster, and not drive off water or overcharge once it's in float mode.

What are you going to run for batteries?

12valve@heart

I haven't done my shopping yet but depending on physical size and cost, I'm hoping to be able to run a pair of 6v batteries. Don't do much dry camping but would like that ability if the need arises.

12valve@heart

I had heard that it was best to keep the battery connected to buffer the voltage from the converter. Is that misinformation? I have run mine w/o a battery for brief periods of time but never for an extended period of time.

johnh

i have thought about that, so i am trying it without a batt .besides that the batterys are going in my boat when the weather gets better..with fuel prices the way they are ,i don't think I'll be towing it very far. so right now it's parked.... i would love to sell it, but who needs a 12 year old 29 foot fiver....

surfram

The Inteli-power 60 amp with the charge wizard would be my choice. The charge wizard is supposed to prevent over charging. I added the charge wizard module to the inteli-power converter in my Sunnybrook and I leave my trailer plugged in at the house fulltime.

FiverBob

Your conception is absolutely correct. Check the output voltage of a converter without a battery - - it is quite high. That places a lot of pressure on sensitive electronic items such as the refrigerator panel. It will also burn out light bulb faster.

I highly recommend switching to 2-6v golf cart style batteries over the typical 12v RV/Marine one that is incorrectly called a deep cycle. Then, couple that with the smart charge converter such as the one you are checking out - - it will hold your batteries life time much longer. The normal cheap single voltage converter will burn batteries in a hurry if you leave the rig plugged in very long.

Jeff in TD

Back a few years, a lot of trailers came with really cheap, non-electronic converter/chargers that were little more than a transformer and diode. A battery was really needed to stabalize voltage and reduce noise.

I think the newer ones are maby more tolerant to not having a battery hooked up, but I still think the converter upgrade is worthwhile.

In addition to making unhooking the battery a moot point, the charge wizard will maintain the battery with a float charge, and will also charge faster when you are plugged in (or more importantly if you get into dry camping and have to charge off a generator).

As far as batteries go, I've had good luck with Trojan 6v's. The T145 might be a good choice if you have room for the height. If you don't plan on dry camping much and want to spend as little as possible, though, you might get by with a single 12v.

Sixpack

This is the unit have charging my (4) 6 volt golf cart batteries.
I gutted the stock location and installed the new unit where the old unit was. The only way to tell I changed it is you can see the "Charge Wizard". Works great!

12valve@heart

Thanks for the feedback.

How much benefit is the remote pendant?
I'm looking at a new PD9260C for $165 including the remote pendant? Is that a decent price or do I need to keep looking?

Jeff in TD

Dinking briefly on the internet, that doesn't sound too bad...

ed

I bought The Inteli-power 60 amp with the charge wizard about three years ago and have gone through two sets of heavy duty RV batteries. The converter boiled my batteries when sitting for a while. I put a toggle switch on the hot wire going to the breaker box and turn the switch off when parked at home. I obtained two Marathon dry cell 1,000 CCA batteries that had a ten year warranty, and weigh about 80 lbs each and installed them in our fifth wheel and they work great and nothing to boil out and eat up metal housings. I also put two of these same batteries in my 03 Dodge Diesel and they work great in it also.