dkenzie
Roseville ca
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Joined: 09/21/2005
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I, too, just installed a Trik-L-Start. I am concerned about two issues: (I understood that it is turned off when the shore power is not connected. First pargraph under General Information.)
1. With the shore power disconnected, mine began charging the starting battery from the house batteries. This of course will discharge the house batteries over time.
2. The charge light has not turned green in 4 days. Upon re-reading the instructions closely, it states that "the current required by some large or old batteries may never drop to the point where the green maintaining light illuminates." (Second paragraph under General Information.) That comment seems to cover most large RV's requiring a large battery.......
Any others have these issues?
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jerseyjim
New Jersey
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Joined: 09/02/2005
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My Trik-L-Start has NEVER showed the top light: "maintaining". It always seems to be "charging". (yellow light).
Even after a 300 mile day. The 12V battery is about 10 months old. The Trik-L-Start is just that...a "trickle" charger. Not having the instruction book in front of me, I think it states the 2 6V will not "completely" discharge.
Nevertheless, my Trik-L-Start has been installed now, since March ('08) and I've not had any battery issues. If your situation bothers you, just disconnect the "ground" wire.
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frankandvicki
Niwot,CO
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Joined: 05/31/2007
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I did have an issue when I first installed the Trik-L-Start where the Chassis Battery drew down the Coach Batteries because my Solar Controller died and the Chassis Battery had a drain on it. I fixed the Solar Controller and decided to disconnect the Chassis battery hot lead from the engine for the winter storage period. I did this because there is a drain on the chassis battery from the on board engine computers hence a constant draw through the Trik-L-Start. Since in the winter months the Solar Panel gets snow covered periodically and/or low output due to lower sun and shorter days, I decided that I just wanted the Solar Panel to keep the Coach and Chassis batteries on a steady state with no draw from either. I did this for last winter and I had no more battery issues.
Frank O.
Frank and Vicki
Niwot, CO
2006 Itasca Sunrise 35A
States visited/camped in, not just driven through.
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dkenzie
Roseville ca
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Regarding my earlier post about the "maintaining" light not coming on, I checked today, 5 days later, and the green light is on. I assume it takes longer to get the battery charged than I thought. I am now happy with the unit.
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Jim@HiTek
Gresham, OR, USA
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Joined: 07/17/2004
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I don't see where it's much better then a plain old float charger for $15-$20 if you have shore power, or any better then disconnecting the batteries (they make switches for that at $10 each), if not.
Float Charger...
Switch...
JMO
* This post was
edited 09/10/08 05:29pm by Jim@HiTek *
 Jim@HiTek
Have shop, will travel!
Visit my travel & RV repair blog site.
1994 Fleetwood Bounder
Cummins Diesel, 190HP, 36.5'
Black Rock Lava Park, Nevada
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jerseyjim
New Jersey
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Joined: 09/02/2005
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Jim@HiTek wrote:I don't see where it's much better then a plain old float charger for $15-$20 if you have shore power, or any better then disconnecting the batteries (they make switches for that at $10 each), if not.
Float Charger...
Switch...
JMO
I donno, Jim....if we can't spend BIG bucks for the same stuff for our motorhomes....where would that leave us?
Gee..........................
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jmerritt
Evendale, Ohio
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Joined: 11/14/2000
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I wired my Trik-L-Start to the energized sides of the chassis and coach battery disconnects so that it will only work when I have the coach batteries in service.
John
1988 Fleetwood Limited 37' MH
1999 F-350 PSD Super Duty 4x4 Coachmen Royal 32' TT
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