One of the various brand battery chargers I have been using for a few years is NOCO. I’ve been happy with them overall. One experience last summer showed me what I consider a weakness for my usage. I was at a weekend summer concert in my 80 and camped in a full service campground. I brought the NOCO Gen Mini 2 bank charger and hooked it up to both batteries so they would be maintained and I would not have to rely 100% on solar. 1st night I noticed one bank red and one green. Voltmeter check showed one float balanced and one not getting charged (system split with a ML-ACR). The fridge and vehicle was on the bank not getting charged and the start battery was floating nicely. Unplugged the charger and plugged it back in and all was charging again. Next night same thing happened. And the 3rd. I wrote Noco a note when back and they confirmed that it can not be used as a power supply as a constant load will cause it to shut off.
Tried it with my NOCO 7200 for the BJ74 (24V); I turned the fridge on and left it for the night and sure enough, in the AM the charger was off.
I read that Victron has a line of battery chargers that can be used as a power supply AND look after the batteries (as long as the load is not more than the rated capacity of the charger).
I ordered a 24V 5 amp Blue Smart charger and hooked it up to the BJ74. After a few days and when it was in storage mode I turned on the small Dometic I have in the BJ74. The charger kept maintaining the batteries in storage mode and supplied the 2.2amps needed for the fridge to run. I did not run it long term, but the short test seems a success. As I write this I realize I am not sure what amps are needed for the weekly absorption charge it talks about, so that is consideration for anyone looking for a charger to look after their batteries and have the fridge on. I'll have to try that at some point. Perhaps it would be as simple as the absorption stage lasting longer as it would have 3 amps available when the fridge is running, as opposed to 5.
For my usual intended use on the BJ74 I figure it will be fine though: Need the fridge cold for the AM, turn it on the night before and plug the charger in to act as a power supply and ensure the batteries are up in the morning.
The geek factor (much like the Blue Solar chargers) is pretty cool too.
hth’s
gb
Tried it with my NOCO 7200 for the BJ74 (24V); I turned the fridge on and left it for the night and sure enough, in the AM the charger was off.
I read that Victron has a line of battery chargers that can be used as a power supply AND look after the batteries (as long as the load is not more than the rated capacity of the charger).
I ordered a 24V 5 amp Blue Smart charger and hooked it up to the BJ74. After a few days and when it was in storage mode I turned on the small Dometic I have in the BJ74. The charger kept maintaining the batteries in storage mode and supplied the 2.2amps needed for the fridge to run. I did not run it long term, but the short test seems a success. As I write this I realize I am not sure what amps are needed for the weekly absorption charge it talks about, so that is consideration for anyone looking for a charger to look after their batteries and have the fridge on. I'll have to try that at some point. Perhaps it would be as simple as the absorption stage lasting longer as it would have 3 amps available when the fridge is running, as opposed to 5.
For my usual intended use on the BJ74 I figure it will be fine though: Need the fridge cold for the AM, turn it on the night before and plug the charger in to act as a power supply and ensure the batteries are up in the morning.
The geek factor (much like the Blue Solar chargers) is pretty cool too.
hth’s
gb
