I have never seen a GMC motorhome with more than 2 battery banks, although I
am aware that it is possible. What you say is may be true, however it would
depend on how your batteries are used, what type they are, and where they
are mounted?
There is a big difference between the two kinds of batteries. The house
battery is a deep cycle battery and is capable of giving smaller amounts of
current for a long period of time, and it does not function well as a
starting battery, or when drawing large amounts of current . The engine
battery on the other hand is selected for drawing large amounts of current
for a short period of time, ie; starting the engine.
Bottom line is that if you have more than 2 battery banks you need the 40+.
How many people that monitor this net have more than 2 batteries in their
coaches?
>Thom:
>
>I agree that the alternator will charge the engine battery, but only when
>the engine is running, and don't deny that a number of coaches may have only
>two batteries. However, in my case, as I mentioned, I have three batteries,
>one of which is the engine battery.
>
>I'm not advocating that everyone needs the Truecharge 40+, but I feel I do
>because of having three batteries.
>
>My original point was that there are frequently times when a coach is not
>used for weeks or months and the engine battery still needs to be or should
>be "maintained" for greatest longevity. Therefore, I don't agree that the
>maximum benefits are obtained if the engine battery isn't hooked up to a
>Truecharge type unit. On the other hand, it's up to each individual to
>determine their own configuration.
>
>I was merely trying to point out the benefits, as I see them, of connecting
>"ALL" coach batteries to a modern day "charger".
>
> Paul
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Thomas G. Warner [mailto:warner]
>Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 1998 4:20 PM
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Subject: RE: GMC: Statpower truecharger 40 smart charger
>
>Paul there seems to be some confusion relative to what the Truecharge 40
>will do. It will replace the old ferroresonant unit(original equipment). It
>will support two battery BANKS(not batteries) simultaneously. That means it
>will service 2 golf batteries connected in series, or one large 12V battery
>(1 bank) for the house battery, and one other battery bank. The majority of
>GMC coaches have just 2 battery banks. The house battery(installed near the
>generator) and the engine battery (installed on the passenger side front of
>the coach). All we really need is a charger for one battery bank since the
>alternator services the engine battery.
>Hope that this clarifies the issue.
>
>I can't really see where we need the 40+ unit. It is overkill for our use,
>unless we just want to spend money on the latest technology.
>
>
>I went back and read Wes Coughlin's article on the Truecharge 40+ in the Sep
>98/Issue 17, GMC Motorhome News (Cinnabar) newsletter and see where that
>model is needed if you want to maintain more than two coach batteries (I
>have three in my 78 Royale).
>
>There are times when a coach is not used for weeks or months at a time.
>
>Keeping batteries, including the engine battery, at their optimal state of
>charge is important to their longevity. This is where the new generation of
>chargers, such as the Statpower Truecharge 40/Truecharge 40+ series, shine
>with their 21-day maintenance cycle, according to Wes's article. All one
>needs to do to take advantage of the cycle, is be plugged into shore power.
>
>The battery "boiling" phenomena resulting from being plugged in is no longer
>a concern with unit's such as Statpower's.
>
>IMO, it would be beneficial to use a unit that is configured to connect to
>ALL of the coach batteries.
>
>In my case, although the price for the former refurbished unit is attractive
>from Statpower, it only supports a maximum of two batteries, and therefore I
>need their later unit.
>
>Don't know if anyone thought of it or not, but it seems to me that there is
>an economic savings (not to mention the convenience of always having charged
>batteries), to stretching out the life cycle of our batteries by replacing
>our original ferroresonant converter - charger with a modern day "charger".
>
>Doing so also eliminates the humm associated with the original units, as
>well as the audio interference associated with using a 12 v powered TV or
>stereo equipment. All of these benefits are not available when using
>individual inverter units.
>
>Incidentally, in my research I noted from Statpower's web site that
>Foretravel has recently changed over to the Statpower PROsine 2.5 inverter
>exclusively for their coaches. I talked to Foretravel's electrical engineer
>the other day and he tells me the reliability of Statpower's units is
>superior to what they previously utilized.
>
> Paul Bartz.
>
>From: Thomas G. Warner [mailto:warner]
>Sent: Friday, December 18, 1998 8:32 AM
>Subject: Re: GMC: Statpower truecharger 40 smart charger
>
>I would use the 40 in this situration. You do not have to charge the engine
>battery with this set up so the two banks of the 40 would service your
>generator battery and the 2 golf batteries At 09:13 PM 12/17/98 -0800, you
>wrote:
>
>
>Tom,
>
>I have 1 battery in back that is isolated for the generator, 1 up front to
>start the engine, and a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries (also up front)
>for the coach, and want to replace my OEM converter/charger. I'm pretty sure
>I need the 40, rather than the 40+, but need to do a little more research to
>know for sure. Assuming I need the 40, I'd be interested in a unit with the
>led monitor.
>
>Dave Lowry, '76 Royale, Santa Barbara
>
>Sounds like you have it backwards because the 40 can only charge 2 battery
>banks and the 40+ can charge 3 banks.
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
am aware that it is possible. What you say is may be true, however it would
depend on how your batteries are used, what type they are, and where they
are mounted?
There is a big difference between the two kinds of batteries. The house
battery is a deep cycle battery and is capable of giving smaller amounts of
current for a long period of time, and it does not function well as a
starting battery, or when drawing large amounts of current . The engine
battery on the other hand is selected for drawing large amounts of current
for a short period of time, ie; starting the engine.
Bottom line is that if you have more than 2 battery banks you need the 40+.
How many people that monitor this net have more than 2 batteries in their
coaches?
>Thom:
>
>I agree that the alternator will charge the engine battery, but only when
>the engine is running, and don't deny that a number of coaches may have only
>two batteries. However, in my case, as I mentioned, I have three batteries,
>one of which is the engine battery.
>
>I'm not advocating that everyone needs the Truecharge 40+, but I feel I do
>because of having three batteries.
>
>My original point was that there are frequently times when a coach is not
>used for weeks or months and the engine battery still needs to be or should
>be "maintained" for greatest longevity. Therefore, I don't agree that the
>maximum benefits are obtained if the engine battery isn't hooked up to a
>Truecharge type unit. On the other hand, it's up to each individual to
>determine their own configuration.
>
>I was merely trying to point out the benefits, as I see them, of connecting
>"ALL" coach batteries to a modern day "charger".
>
> Paul
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Thomas G. Warner [mailto:warner]
>Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 1998 4:20 PM
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Subject: RE: GMC: Statpower truecharger 40 smart charger
>
>Paul there seems to be some confusion relative to what the Truecharge 40
>will do. It will replace the old ferroresonant unit(original equipment). It
>will support two battery BANKS(not batteries) simultaneously. That means it
>will service 2 golf batteries connected in series, or one large 12V battery
>(1 bank) for the house battery, and one other battery bank. The majority of
>GMC coaches have just 2 battery banks. The house battery(installed near the
>generator) and the engine battery (installed on the passenger side front of
>the coach). All we really need is a charger for one battery bank since the
>alternator services the engine battery.
>Hope that this clarifies the issue.
>
>I can't really see where we need the 40+ unit. It is overkill for our use,
>unless we just want to spend money on the latest technology.
>
>
>I went back and read Wes Coughlin's article on the Truecharge 40+ in the Sep
>98/Issue 17, GMC Motorhome News (Cinnabar) newsletter and see where that
>model is needed if you want to maintain more than two coach batteries (I
>have three in my 78 Royale).
>
>There are times when a coach is not used for weeks or months at a time.
>
>Keeping batteries, including the engine battery, at their optimal state of
>charge is important to their longevity. This is where the new generation of
>chargers, such as the Statpower Truecharge 40/Truecharge 40+ series, shine
>with their 21-day maintenance cycle, according to Wes's article. All one
>needs to do to take advantage of the cycle, is be plugged into shore power.
>
>The battery "boiling" phenomena resulting from being plugged in is no longer
>a concern with unit's such as Statpower's.
>
>IMO, it would be beneficial to use a unit that is configured to connect to
>ALL of the coach batteries.
>
>In my case, although the price for the former refurbished unit is attractive
>from Statpower, it only supports a maximum of two batteries, and therefore I
>need their later unit.
>
>Don't know if anyone thought of it or not, but it seems to me that there is
>an economic savings (not to mention the convenience of always having charged
>batteries), to stretching out the life cycle of our batteries by replacing
>our original ferroresonant converter - charger with a modern day "charger".
>
>Doing so also eliminates the humm associated with the original units, as
>well as the audio interference associated with using a 12 v powered TV or
>stereo equipment. All of these benefits are not available when using
>individual inverter units.
>
>Incidentally, in my research I noted from Statpower's web site that
>Foretravel has recently changed over to the Statpower PROsine 2.5 inverter
>exclusively for their coaches. I talked to Foretravel's electrical engineer
>the other day and he tells me the reliability of Statpower's units is
>superior to what they previously utilized.
>
> Paul Bartz.
>
>From: Thomas G. Warner [mailto:warner]
>Sent: Friday, December 18, 1998 8:32 AM
>Subject: Re: GMC: Statpower truecharger 40 smart charger
>
>I would use the 40 in this situration. You do not have to charge the engine
>battery with this set up so the two banks of the 40 would service your
>generator battery and the 2 golf batteries At 09:13 PM 12/17/98 -0800, you
>wrote:
>
>
>Tom,
>
>I have 1 battery in back that is isolated for the generator, 1 up front to
>start the engine, and a pair of 6 volt golf cart batteries (also up front)
>for the coach, and want to replace my OEM converter/charger. I'm pretty sure
>I need the 40, rather than the 40+, but need to do a little more research to
>know for sure. Assuming I need the 40, I'd be interested in a unit with the
>led monitor.
>
>Dave Lowry, '76 Royale, Santa Barbara
>
>Sounds like you have it backwards because the 40 can only charge 2 battery
>banks and the 40+ can charge 3 banks.
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
wner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Thomas G.
riceml]
