IIRC they are bettery equalizers http://www.surepower.com/conv.html

The reason you don't find much on them is they are very $, something like 10times a simple isolator so most people just find it cheaper to replace their battery every couple years.

Thanks - but that's not what equalizers and convertors are for. Those are for OUTPUTS. I've used equalizers before (military applications). I'm asking about the INPUT side - the 12vdc charging side. AFAIK, there is nothing other than battery isolators.

I am eager to hear otherwise.

That's a company with some great products, BTW - thanks for the link.

Tom

EDIT: I found some neat DC input 2 and 3 stage chargers. Although the majority are NOT for 12 vdc batteries, there are a few models. The maximum charging amperages are fairly modest and are in any event linked to the ratio between input and output voltages. It would take hours and hours to recharge a deep cycle battery discharged to 50% level (common) and worse for 80% discharge level (feasible with true deep cycle batteries). A battery isolator would still have to be in the circuit ahead of it, I think - maybe not. It looks like these are pretty specialized and I would be surprised to find one in an RV, although I suppose you could get one if you really wanted. Maybe other companies make these in larger capacities...?

I'm going to stick with battery isolators and not worry about getting maximum life from a semi-deep cycle battery. I've got 10 years on one that's holding up fine and three years on another, ditto. END EDIT

Oops, wrong product page then. Its been a while but I e-mailed a reseller of their stuff and asked that question and was quoted a price of well over $1000. So I decided I would just buy a new battery every couple years also and run from an isolator <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This may be an option. http://www.batterystuff.com/battery-chargers/12-volt/marine-chargers/ you could easily put an inverter in your vehicle with a switch to tun on the charger when the engine is running.

To Tom. I am not sure what you are trying to do. I have been playing with rv and solar stuff for years and perhaps I can help. but I don't understand the issue.

Basically I use a Trace regulator to control charging to my RV batteries. It is a 3 stage regulator. I run everything thru it, solar, generatory, alternator and A/c battery charger. I use AGM batteries which are pretty picky about overcharging.

Sorry I missed you in Fla. (wilma). I was at one of the kitchens you were at, but I had other things on my mind and did not think to hunt for you. Can't remember the name of it now, but it was SE of the lake.

So try to explain your need again and keep it simple for my simple mind.

Ron - I think you just answered my question - I can look up TRACE on Google or if you have a link...? My setups are perfectly OK for my current uses - this had more to do with getting a complete answer to the original question. And it's useful to me to know more about the subject.

Yeah, I asked around for you when I had a moment. Was running K5 most of the time (LaBelle) and helped with some difficulties at K15 (Belle Glade) the last few days I was deployed. Need to save up some more vacation time, so not sure if I'll be able to deploy this year. Hopefully none of us will need to...

Thanks for the info!

Tom

The particular model I use is the trace c-40, which is of course a 40 amp unit. It took a direct lightning hit (along with everything else in my camper) and did not fail. YMMV.

Don't have a link, but google trace. They have the manual online.

I use a Radio Shack digital meter with RS-232 to monitor its operation and it has stayed just as I have set it for many years now. Forgot when I bought it, probably 9 years ago.

For the AGMS's I use it in 3 stage mode. Bulk charge at up to 14.4v, then about an hour at 14.1, then drop to a float of 13.1-13.3. It just sits there and does what it is supposed to. Oh, I use their thermal monitor mounted to the side of one of the batteries. I have 4, 105ah Lifeline AGM's in the camper.

Just bought a Kipor 2000w generator ($545 delivered). It is a honda clone 59db, What with the satellite internet system, ham radios and all, the solar is having a hard time keeping up when all the toys are running.

Eventually I hope to have the camper set-up so it can support something like a kitchen or similar with VOIP, Internet and ham radio. Because the internet will be outside of the Red Cross firewall, it will be available for regular e-mail. As you know, the ECRV internet is not for personal use.

Ron

Ron - Those things are VERY cool - inverter + 3 stage charger in one unit - THANKS! These really interest me now that I know they are readily available.

Looks like Trace Engineering is part of Xantrex and they have some awesome products (not cheap, of course): http://www.xantrex.com

Please let us know how you like the Kipor after you've used it for a month or two. That's right in the KW range I've been interested in for an on-board genset.

>>As you know, the ECRV internet is not for personal use<<

Heh - I found out that staff people get freaked if you have a stand-alone personal laptop within 50 ft of a cabled ARC network - VERY paranoid about ingesting anything into the network - good.

Tom