Battery setup: is it safe? How to charge?

[tractors1]

If you really don't want to deal with venting and rarely have to recharge, there is a rather expensive fix:

12V 300AH Lithium Ion Battery | Chargers and Voltmeters | Smart Battery - Products

Charlie Y

[Timber Wolf]

Originally Posted by tractors1

If you really don't want to deal with venting and rarely have to recharge, there is a rather expensive fix:12V 300AH Lithium Ion Battery | Chargers and Voltmeters | Smart Battery - Products
Charlie Y

That battery is one penny less than I paid for my Scamp, think I will pass until the price comes down. It is a very nice battery though.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by tractors1

If you really don't want to deal with venting and rarely have to recharge, there is a rather expensive fix:

12V 300AH Lithium Ion Battery | Chargers and Voltmeters | Smart Battery - Products

Charlie Y

Now thats a battery! rather like "Lightweight - up to 70% lighter than lead" but I think a better return on the $4000.00 purchase price would be to put it towards a new trailer!

[Emilie W.]

This is frustrating. I feel like we're speaking a different language.

The only way to plug anything into a 12v battery is with alligator clips, right? And you can only clip on one set at a time. So how is it possible to both USE the battery to power your lights, etc. at the same time as you are charging it?

[Joe Romas]

Emilie

RV deep cycle batteries not only have posts like an automotive battery but also have threaded studs that you can put several wires on.
Here's a picture of a die hard that shows them well.
Sears.com
Joe

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Emilie W.

This is frustrating. I feel like we're speaking a different language.

The only way to plug anything into a 12v battery is with alligator clips, right? And you can only clip on one set at a time. So how is it possible to both USE the battery to power your lights, etc. at the same time as you are charging it?

Emillie it is really hard to advise you as to what to do without knowing a lot more about your Boler and what it has and does not have and what the previous owner has done to it.

Have to tell you I have honestly never seen a trailer owner (Boler or otherwise) remove their battery from the trailer and use a solar panel on a picnic table to recharge it as the previous owner suggested you do. Not that it would not work assuming one had a large enough panel & lots of time that you did not need to use any power in the trailer but it really is not a very practical way to charge a battery and would grow old real fast!

There is a website that would be a great place for you to gain a bit more information in regards to how trailers power systems work - Its called The 12 Volt Side of Life.


There are a number of ways to charge the battery and leave it on the trailer while you continue to use everything in it. You could have a power converter installed that has a built in smart charge that continues to charge the battery while you are plugged into power. You could also just have a smart charger installed that would charge the battery when you are plugged into power and allow you to continue to use the lights etc. Or you could have in addition to either of those a solar controller attached to the battery that when solar panels are attached to it charges the battery while still allowing you to use the lights and anything else that runs on 12v.

[Emilie W.]

Thank you, Joe! That helps.

[Night Sailor]

Originally Posted by Emilie W.

Hi

My questions are:

1. Is simply having the battery inside under the seat safe? Will my dog and I die of poisoning or will it start a fire just sitting in there?

No but bit is dangerous. It causes heat. Heat rises and that updraft is a magnet for tornados which come along and such you up into the air.

2. If it is unsafe, should I remove the battery from the Boler and put it outside or in the garage or somewhere else? Or would removing the alligator clips and/or not using the batter-powered lights and fan be enough?

Is it in a battery box? If not put it in one and secure it donut can't move.

3. How should I charge this thing? I'm in my friend's backyard right now and plugged into electric. Someone suggested that I use a trickle charger overnight and just plug it into the AC outlet in my trailer. That seems like it might be dangerous though...

Some sort of a charger that works with your battery type is a good idea.

Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV

[Bob Miller]

Originally Posted by Emilie W.

This is frustrating. I feel like we're speaking a different language.

The only way to plug anything into a 12v battery is with alligator clips, right? And you can only clip on one set at a time. So how is it possible to both USE the battery to power your lights, etc. at the same time as you are charging it?

You can make as many connections as you like to your battery, and hopefully none are made with alligator clips as they are a temporary connection that will come off. Coach batteries are usually wired to
a fuse buss and multiple connections can be made as needed. Basically all FGRV batteries have both input from a charger and outputs to loads connected at the same time. Older converters used a changeover relay to prevent back feed, newer units use blocking diodes.