CF30SK Mod - Battery Switch

Hamops · 01-08-2009, 09:15 AM

I've always had a way of isolating my batteries but the system that I was using was cumbersome and the isolators were becoming difficult to use. I needed an isolator that was easy to use. I looked at all the types available and they just didn't fit for one reason or other. I came upon a 150A switchable overload that suited my needs.

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<DIV align=center>This is the switch. The battery is connected at the bottom and the top terminal to the load. The red button releases the switch to open it and drops the red handle. To reclose the switch, you have to raise the red handle until it snaps.

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<DIV align=center>The switch is mounted on the right side of the battery compartment. I use two 12VDC batteries connected in parallel.

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<DIV align=center>This is one of the orginal battery isolators that I was using. Each battery has one of these isolators. I haven't removed them yet.

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vanhal · 01-10-2009, 01:21 PM

sure is a great way to do it we use them in our tow trucks

love your pics great job

spinella · 01-11-2009, 02:12 AM

nice write up. pictures are always nice to see.

b1gdog · 06-10-2009, 11:29 AM

The battery cut out is just what I need. I run 2 (two) interstate 12V RV deep cycle batteries in our TT. I checked the batteries this morning and one of them had 3 boiled dry cells so the short of it is I cost myself money by not paying attention to them. I don't understand --- ???. When we get back after using the TT I always just park it in its spot next to the garage and plug it in and then it sits till we use it again. Does the converter continue charging even when its not using power but "IS" plugg??. What should I do ? should I disconnect my batteries ever time I park it and not plug the trailer into shore power till the next usage or just put a battery disconnect on and disconnect the batteries till I use it again and just leave the trailer plugged into the shore power with no battery connection??. I just do not understand how the converter works I guess,

so I'm asking for advise ??. Thanks

Art

Hamops · 06-10-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b1gdog

The battery cut out is just what I need. I run 2 (two) interstate 12V RV deep cycle batteries in our TT. I checked the batteries this morning and one of them had 3 boiled dry cells so the short of it is I cost myself money by not paying attention to them. I don't understand --- ???. When we get back after using the TT I always just park it in its spot next to the garage and plug it in and then it sits till we use it again. Does the converter continue charging even when its not using power but "IS" plugg??. What should I do ? should I disconnect my batteries ever time I park it and not plug the trailer into shore power till the next usage or just put a battery disconnect on and disconnect the batteries till I use it again and just leave the trailer plugged into the shore power with no battery connection??. I just do not understand how the converter works I guess,

so I'm asking for advise ??. Thanks

Art

Since you mentioned that itwas one battery that had the three bad cell, then I believe that when you bought the batteries, one of them had a manufacturing defect.

As for disconnecting the batteries when on shore power, I would advise against it because the converter really needs the batteries to operate properly. The batteries provide instantaneous high current demands and smooth out the DC produced by the converter.

The reason for the battery bank disconnect is to prevent the batteries from discharging when the trailer is not being used and is not connected to shore power. There are several devices in the trailer that continually run off the battery after everything is turned off. The gas detector is one of those devices.Edited by: Hamops

b1gdog · 06-11-2009, 04:19 AM

Thank you for your opinion dealing with my problem. I needed that info because I just don't understand converters or how one battery went dead and not both of them. I was thinking in the same lines as you mentioned. I also think I have to be a little more responsible and check a little more often. The fellow at the shop will be calling me, he is attempting to get Interstate to stand behind the battery and just replace it even though they said they would not. Opening my eyes and a little more care will most likely be my best option. Thanks for the help !

Art DeVriendt

Ridgeman · 06-14-2009, 01:07 PM

Art,

I'm not sure how good these converter chargers in our rigs are. I disconnected mine right away because I put a Xanterx 2.0 inverter/ charger in it as I do a lot of dry camping. I have major solar power and a generator and the Xanterx charger has a 4 stage top of the line charger.

But I have years of experience with the older converter/chargers when I had a 92 motorhome. When you are hooked to shore power the converter charger is always charging. When the batteries are fully charged and the converter is still charging and you are not using the rigs electrical systems such as when it is being stored, it generates heat and the fluids in the battery bubble and you get rapid evaporation. In the better chargers that monitor voltage this is reduced as the chargers go into a float mode . I don't know if the crossroads chargers do this. In any case you must check the water level in the batteries often, I'd say at least monthly, when on shore power. In my motorhome, which had a straight 3-4 amp continuous charge to the batteries and no float charge, I would have to add water about every 6 weeks to the big 6 volt golf cart batteries when I was hooked up to shore powerwhile we were wintering in Arizona. With one 12 volt battery it would probably need maintainance more often.

Hamops · 06-14-2009, 09:37 PM

I don't have ready access to our 5vr so I can't determine the spec's of the converter, but I was able to look at the spec's of your inverter and it's good thing that you did disconnect the converter. Your inverter would smokeit pretty quickly, because the converter isn't near capable of handling the current demand of your inverter. I've had my converter on shore power for several weeks at a time and I've monitored my batteries and I haven't found any evidence of any excessive charging. Edited by: Hamops

b1gdog · 06-15-2009, 12:17 AM

Well thank you it sounds like its another learning experience for me. I think maybe the solution may be the float mode of a good chargerand then just keep a eye on it. Well it just so happens my youngest son has a couple of HARLEYS in my barn and he uses a float charger on them. Oh my guess someone is going to walk off with his charger 'real soon'

after all I know he does not buy junk for his Harley and I'm sure he would love to help Dad out

so I'm sure he will pick up another one to replace the one someone stoleoff of one of the Harleys in my barn

.

Thanks for the thoughts, this is a great forum, everyone helps one another with their problems.

Art

Ridgeman · 06-15-2009, 10:55 AM

Hampos, If you weren't getting a lot of evaporation in the batteries on shore power while stored then it probably means the converters Crossroads is using have a 3 stage battery charger. That's a good thing.Manyof thenewer converters are better in that regard than the antique I had in my 92 motorhome. It just put out 3-4 amps regardless of the battery state of charge. As I stated Idisconnected my converteras soon as I brought my Cruiser home so I didn't have any experience with it.

Your right aboutmy inverter'sability to pull some serious amps. Itwould run my A/C , water heater or microwave if I had enough batteries to power it. But since I only have 2 6 volt batteries, it would drain them down to parade rest in afew minutes. So whenever I am dry camping I always turn off the circut breakers for the A/C and the water heater so one of us doesn't accidently turn one of them on and ruin the day.

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