Can I charge two batteries with Progressive Dynamics Converter/Charger?

[Kelpiesgmc]

Now that I've got the Onan running and making power , I'd like to set it up so that it's battery (dedicated battery in the gen compartment) is changed from the Progressive Dynamics 9200 Converter/Charger in the electrical cabinet when plugged into shore power. Can I just run an additional line from the 12v bus to the positive lead on the Onan battery? Is there more to it?

 

[Rdenney]

Yes, you can do that, but I suggest a voltage-sensing combiner between the house bus and the battery so that the house and genset batteries are only connected when being charged.

I’m using two combiners. One connects the house and engine battery when there is charging voltage present. The other connects the house 12-volt system to the generator battery. Charging voltage is 13.3 V or higher. Without charging voltage, the combiners separate the batteries so that they don’t attempt to charge each other to destruction.

The Intellipower converter/charger is much better for batteries than the charger in the genset, which one could disconnect.

My combiners are Yandina models, and I use the smallest one for the generator battery.

The only caveat is don’t mix battery chemistries. All three of my batteries are conventional flooded-cell batteries.

Rick “just replaced batteries that were 7 and 11 years old” Denney

 

[RF_Burns]

Now that I've got the Onan running and making power , I'd like to set it up so that it's battery (dedicated battery in the gen compartment) is changed from the Progressive Dynamics 9200 Converter/Charger in the electrical cabinet when plugged into shore power. Can I just run an additional line from the 12v bus to the positive lead on the Onan battery? Is there more to it?

You must have an early coach because later models used the House battery as the Onan starting battery and eliminated the dedicated Onan starting battery.

To do this, disconnect the double wire connector from the voltage regulator on the Onan and connect the positive battery cable from the Onan to the House battery.

If you wish to keep the dedicated Onan starter battery, use a battery combiner as suggested by RickD above.

 

[Rdenney]

Bruce, if he does have an early coach, the house battery will be up front. Starting the Onan from the house battery will require checking wire size front to back.

If the house battery is in the back next to the Onan, there’s indeed no reason for a separate Onan battery.

Rick “10-gauge front to back in Jaws—might be a little light at that distance” Denney

 

[Matt Colie]

Kelpie,
This is another case where a sigfile would have made things less confusing. If you were an old VW Beetle owner, you get very used to the fact that though they looked the same, there were year to year changes that some times made a big difference. Well the same is true for our look-alike coaches.
Matt_C

 

[Kelpiesgmc]

Yes, you can do that, but I suggest a voltage-sensing combiner between the house bus and the battery so that the house and genset batteries are only connected when being charged.

I’m using two combiners. One connects the house and engine battery when there is charging voltage present. The other connects the house 12-volt system to the generator battery. Charging voltage is 13.3 V or higher. Without charging voltage, the combiners separate the batteries so that they don’t attempt to charge each other to destruction.

The Intellipower converter/charger is much better for batteries than the charger in the genset, which one could disconnect.

My combiners are Yandina models, and I use the smallest one for the generator battery.

The only caveat is don’t mix battery chemistries. All three of my batteries are conventional flooded-cell batteries.

Rick “just replaced batteries that were 7 and 11 years old” Denney

This worked great! Thanks for the help!