QuiGonJohn

How do you connect a Battery Minder into your system for your house batteries? I have a Parallax Power Center Converter/Charger. All my 12v goes through that, (I think). Would it be possible to integrate a Battery Minder into that type of system? How could I connect it so that it is charging the batteries and not my converter, but yet still allow the batteries to supply power into the Power Center to power the rest of the 12v system. Or, would I be better off just running an extension and connecting the Battery Minder to my batteries whenever the coach is parked along side my house and not in use? We mostly use the RV for long weekend trips, every 4 to 8 weeks, along with a couple 2 week trips a year.

Well in my case, it is interior installation. Removing the battery well cover in the floor is prettty easy. But out-gas into the living space would be the issue. Although the cover is supposed to be sealed pretty good.

Well I was back at my RV Shop today and he was telling me that for my coach, it seems to have been setup for AGM. He thinks the converter was optimized for AGM and because the battery well is accessed from the floor in the coach, I need to stay with AGM's vs. flooded cell. He also said that the currents if I switched to 6v's in series might be different and again, that my converter was probably configured for (2) 12v vs. (2) 6v. So it looks like I will just replace with (2) 12v AGM's in parallel.

So I started reading about using 6v vs.12v. And now I am more confused than ever. If the 6v's really last longer, as many claim, that may be a big plus to switching, especially if they are cheaper than the 12v, which is also what many claim. But to stay with AGM and a pair of 6v's it seems the good ones cost as much as the 12v ones. But again, if they hold up better, may be worthwhile.

I was wondering about the pros and cons of switching from my current arrangement of (2) 12V batteries in parallel to (2) 6 volt batteries in series. I have been reading about Deep Cycle Battery Care and it is mentioned that many RVers switch to the latter configuration. Assuming both would fit in my battery well, which I believe they would, what would be the benefits and what would be the drawbacks? Also, if I switch, what type of 6v battery should I look at?

Well I hooked everything back up together and went out to the RV later in the afternoon and the fan for the Parallax Power Center was running. So it looks like that is OK. Just need to pickup 2 new batteries, (I hope). BTW, I don't know for sure how old these batteries are. I bought the coach in April 2012 and they were already in there. The date tags on these have each month and the numbers 1 through 9 and 0. What is punched off (removed) from one of the 2 batteries is MAR and the number 1. What would that indicate as to when they were purchased?

So after a day and half, with the house batteries unhooked from the coach and connected to a 12v charger I have, I still have 11.09 on one and 9.79 on the other. I'm pretty sure the batteries are bad. But, I also have concerns about my Parallax Power Center/Charger. It is outputting 13.89v at the charger and that drops to 13.69 at the batteries, so I think that is fine. Also, in almost every other respect it seems fine. Except, I have not heard it's cooling fan coming on, something I used to hear quite often. Is there any way I can test the cooling fan?

Rich, mostly right, except, I have (2) 12v batteries in parallel, (my first post I listed the voltage from each, unhooked from each other). After that time, I began a charge using a separate battery charger that I have. After a couple hours on that charger, that is when the later set of readings was taken. I plan to leave the (2) batteries on that charger overnight and see if I can get them up to full charge. If so, then I will connect everything back as it should be, and see what happens.

OK, voltage at the charger is 13.89. When I have all the connections made and the battery disconnect on, (power to/from battery), I get 13.69. If I flip the disconnect and leave it all connected I get 11.39. (while it was unhooked today, I put a separate 12v charger on the batteries and got them up a little more). Now, if I unhook the battery leads coming from the coach, I seem to only get mv's at the lead terminals which I would attach to the battery. Not sure why this is, could be some issue with the disconnect not staying connected if the batteries are not in the circuit. Does any of this help troubleshoot?

The connections are OK. I will check the voltage the charger is putting out. As to cheap AGM's I guess I meant is their one brand or reseller that would give a better price than most of the others.

My RV has (2) Deka SeaMate batteries Part #: 8A24M for the coach/house batteries. I had the RV in the shop for some body work, (it was there for about 6 weeks). Now that I have it back, the batteries do not seem to be taking a charge. I had the RV plugged in overnight and battery level still only shows 2 of the 4 lights on the Test Levels Panel. I disconnected the batteries and checked the voltages, which were 9.57 and 10.97. Initially I thought maybe they weren't getting a charge, as in a problem with my charger, (which is a Parallax Power Center with charger). But, both batteries are quite warm, almost hot, and that makes me think they were getting a charge, just not accepting the charge. Anyone have any suggestions? Or any other way to be sure if it is just the batteries and they need to be replaced? If so, any suggestions for a relatively cheap option on replacing them? I would like to stay with AGM's. Thanks!

Briarhopper, have you ever looked at this plan from Walmart. It is supposed to be on Sprint's network. What I like is that there is no monthly fee. Just buy the device, $79 plus tax, pay for the data, (I'd get the 3gb for $45). Then you just use it and when the data gets low, you top-up. It seems like a pretty good choice for us, who only take weekend trips about once every 4 to 6 weeks, and maybe a couple times a year, slightly longer road trips, of 2 weeks max.

I have been looking for a mifi option, mostly for when my wife & I are out in our RV. I recently found out about TruConnect and then this version of TruConnect called "Internet On The Go" through WalMart. The pricing of the data, when they started was very good and I was really leaning towards this. But then I see just back in May, they reduced the value of this deal, decreasing from 4GB to 3GB for the same $45. So now I am not so sure. It is still a pretty good deal, and I may do it, but I am concerned they may change the rates again and make it even less of a good deal. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. BTW, I am only interested in the "no expire plans", not the "30 day plans". Which they really soured those, cutting the $45 level in half. Thanks all!

Thanks all. I've made an inquiry with a local RV tech to see if this is something he can handle. If so, I should be getting it done next week. If not, I will have to look further for some shop to do this.

First off, I wasn't sure where to post this, none of the technical categories seemed an exact match. I have a 2006 Winnebago Aspect, which I have owned for a little over a year. I do not know what type of roof I have or how to tell, and I cannot tell from looking at the manuals I got with the RV. Today I was on the roof and noticed a small area where there is a clear like finish that is flaking off. Kind of like skin after you get a sunburn. Can anyone tell what type of roof I would have from that? Or, if someone knows what an '06 Winnebago Aspect would have? Also, what should I do about this. The roof seems fine, no holes or cracks. It almost looks like a thick coat of wax started peeling off or something, (I realize it probably is something else, but that is the look of it).

Whoa, "all the manufacturers"? I never heard that nor is anything in my manuals about it. Same for "voiding the warranty". We have it on when driving, off when fueling. If my pilot/flame goes out, there is a valve that shuts off the propane to the fridge.

I tried the Trico site and Wipers123 and neither lists for my RV, 2006 Winnebago Aspect.

In regards to Centramatics or Balance Masters (I tried to find "wheel masters" as mr boyer mentioned, but I think these are what he was talking about). I was wondering what others think of them.

Don't agree about the extra charge for electric, (on daily stays). I don't know about others here, but when I compare campgrounds and rates I get a little upset to see CG-A that I thought had a better rate, is actually higher when I add in their daily charge for electric. Almost everyone staying is going to use electric, so factor that into the rate. That'd be like a motel saying so much a night, but if you want electric there is an additional daily fee. Now you could offer some real cheap sites for people wanting to just park overnight, travellers, that doesn't have electric available on the site, that would give people an option for something cheaper. Lighting can be double-edged, yes you want some light outside, but not so bright it glares in thru the sun-blocking window shades. I still think wifi is a nice touch, as some people, myself included, only use the internet on their laptop, when they can get wifi.

Well I feel NO to the CLASS A's only. I have a small Class C and need nice places to stay, just as much as a Class A. The no permanent stays is good to hopefully ensure you have availability. WiFi, good idea. We traveled through Texas, west to east, back in September. Stayed at Mission RV Park outside El Paso shortly after entering the state, (we'd left out of Phoenix early that morning). Spent the next night at Cactus Rose RV Park, along I-20 near Mingus, the next night. Then the next day we went to Shreveport, LA and stayed with my brother. Both of these parks are Passport America, so you ought to affiliate with them.

We stayed at that campground last September. It is called Root 66, here is the Passport America link: https://passportamerica.com/campgrounds/az/root66rvpark552 Nice enough for a night, or even a few.

Last July I signed up with Coach-Net Gold Plan. I wanted to join it a year earlier, when I decided against continuing to pay the exorbitant prices for AAA, (but at that time I did not have an RV ... and you have to have an RV to get a plan with them). Anyway, I used Better World Club for that year, and went with Coach-Net last July, after I had bought an RV. I got great recommendations from FMCA forum and my father-in-law, and I really like that they cover you in your other vehicles, (regular car). I now find myself in the CN vs. Good Sam quandry, as we recently became lifetime members of Good Sam, and it seems that Good Sam ERS may be a little cheaper, but I'd gladly pay a little more for CN, if it is better. Reading this thread doesn't really seem conclusive. Many good reviews for both, as well as some bad reviews for both. I should mention, I have not had to use my Coach-Net service so far, so I have no personal experience to draw from. If anyone can shed more light on this, it would be helpful. One other note, some posters in this thread complained about either of the services not doing or avoiding repairs. I think, from the context of those complaints, those posters were misconstruing these as Maintenance/Repair Warranty not Emergency Road Service.

No, it was for people heading the other way, while I was waiting at the light for it to turn green for me. My point was, that it was obviously BROKEN! Oh, and Florida tags, so there is no plate on the front of my car for that flashing camera to have caught.

I sat at the front line waiting for a whole light cycle the other day. This intersection was one that happened to allow the traffic heading opposite to me to go first, (both straight and those making a left hand turn). I watched the Red Light Camera facing me, for that direction of traffic, flash 6 times as that traffic began to flow, with their green light!

We just spent a week in Feb at Clearwater Travel Resort. Very nice resort, friendly, has a large pet section. We had many out of town friends and family for my daughters wedding and they even accomodated a family get together we heldm at their outside pool area with picnic tables, at no extra cost. Here is the link: http://www.clearwatertravelresort.net/ Real good location, beach is close but about 20 minutes in traffic. Tampa and the airport are just across the bay, over the Courtney Campbell Causeway.