Most manufacturers add charging systems to RVs, but they are poorly made and will pose a threat to your battery. You don’t want it to over-charge due to this type of system. So it’s best to familiarize yourself with different chargers in order to prevent these accidents. In this article I will present you with various types of charges. When you learn more about them, you will know how to keep you battery charged up with the best RV Battery charger on the market .
This is one of the most basic RV systems that converts 120v of shore power into 12V of DC power. Thanks to this your battery will store energy while you are plugged in. Besides this, it can charge your battery(s) when it has excess capacity. The Converter-Charger works smooth and it is rated in Amps. About 55 amps of DC can power up the whole RV lighting and appliances and even do some charging as well. These types of chargers interact with the main power distribution panel and offer both a 12v and 12v function in one unit. It comes both in a single and multi stage products.
This charger comes in a multi-stage format. If you have a Class A motorhome, then you definitely own an Inverter-Charger. it’s basically the same as the converter-charger but comes with something extra. It has the capability of producing 120 vac from the battery 12v when you lack shore power. Well known inverter chargers are the Magnum and he Xantrex.
Surely the multi-stage RV battery charger is better than the single stage, but bot work well when the battery is new and low on voltage. You can find a great multi charger here or here.
A lot of people turn to innovative chargers that will supply power to their RVs almost indefinitely. Solar panels can be a great option in this situation. Small solar panels have the ability to maintain battery power while it’s out of use. But they need to be of 15 – 20 watts. A large solar panel of 100 – 150 watts can offer more then enough energy to fully power your RV and supply energy for the entire day. If you go for a 14+ voltage you will cover 1 amp needed to power the battery while it’s in stand by mode. This is great since most RVs lose about 0.25 amps per hour without any outside solicitations. Some small solar panels are wired directly to the battery.
Although it sounds like a great option, solar panels take careful planning and a lot of components. You will need the help of a professional to help you with the installation. Make sure you inform yourself thoroughly if you want to opt for this type of charger.
If you are not a fan of solar energy, maybe wind chargers are right for you? You only need a propeller driving an alternator and the wind charger will provide a nice surplus of energy. Sadly, you can’t receive the power you need since a wind turbine is often small in size. But if you camp in desserts or in mountain valleys where you can find an abundance of wind, then this wind charger can be very useful.
Now who needs chargers when you have your own personal generator? These can be bought from any store and produce enough energy to power an entire RV. They provide 120v of power and helps the RV’s Converter or Inverter charger to re-charge the battery. You can find portable generators that have an output terminal that gives out DC current. That current can be used to power the battery directly but it might not be enough to charge it completely. Also, it is a bit risky to power the battery from your generator. If you forget to turn it off when the charge is complete, you may encounter some shocking problems.
The Trickle Charger is an RV Battery Charger or Maintainer that keeps the battery charged at 100%. It’s rather small and uses a single stage unit. The best part is due to the advancement of technology the Trickle Charger has a Float Charge stage. The charger is set to hold a single 12v battery, but you may find multiple outputs in other models. Those models can handle 2 or more at the same time without any problems. If you want to purchease this type of charger I suggest the Battery Minder or the Battery Tender.
Now these are not exactly battery chargers. They are closer more to a battery combiner that switches energy between batteries. This is great option if your RV holds two types of batteries (preferably isolated from each other) . The main charger is connected to the first battery while the Combiner “echos” a portion of the charging amps to the second battery. If you like to bring along a home battery this is an amazing way to charge the engine battery. This way you will have a back-up battery for shore power and to charge the other when it starts to deploy. An amazing combiner is the Xantrex Echo Charger, if that doesn’t suit you, turn to the Magnum Smart Battery Combiner or the Ultra Trik-L-Start.
If you want to buy or upgrade your battery charger, you need to know what’s best for your RV. All types can work well but if you have to choose, go for the multi-stages chargers since they are the best. You can learn more about algorithms and discharging here before you actually go shopping. You also need to keep in mind the places you are visiting or the amount of days you will be away from home. After you form an idea then it’s time to buy the charger you need. Maybe when you try one out you will share your thoughts in a comment!
