Onboard battery charger

[rustyshakelford]

i have added a snomaster 12v cooler and want to have it running year round. I currently have a trickle charger plugged in when it’s parked for a few days. I’d like to add an onboard battery charger/maintainer to ensure it’s always ready to go. My question is should I get a 1 or 2 bank charger? Initial plan was for a single bank and run it directly to the main battery but now I’m wondering if it would help to get the 2 bank and run it to the smaller battery as well. Going to be mounting a plug on the front bumper to keep a clean appearance.

Brett

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[Uhdinator]

I think I read that the secondary battery keeps the primary battery charged. So if you keep the main primary battery up to charge the secondary should not discharge.

This is small and automatically turns off and on as needed. Would be easy to zip tie in place and run the cord along the frame to the fender well or other location. https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/800ma-waterproof-battery-tender

 

[rustyshakelford]

I think I read that the secondary battery keeps the primary battery charged. So if you keep the main primary battery up to charge the secondary should not discharge.

This is small and automatically turns off and on as needed. Would be easy to zip tie in place and run the cord along the frame to the fender well or other location. https://www.harley-davidson.com/store/800ma-waterproof-battery-tender

This is the one I’ve been looking at. Under $100 on amazon.

https://no.co/gen1

Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

Noco came in. It’s a nice heavy charger but much larger than I was anticipating. That’s what I get for not studying up on the specs. I can’t find any place to put it, I even looked on my ford but was unable to find enough room easily on it. I’ll probably send it back.

Brett

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

Noco came in. It’s a nice heavy charger but much larger than I was anticipating. That’s what I get for not studying up on the specs. I can’t find any place to put it, I even looked on my ford but was unable to find enough room easily on it. I’ll probably send it back.

Brett

Curious. What’s the advantage of on board? Most trickle chargers come with quick connect pig tails that you leave on the battery. To charge, you just plug in and viola. No more difficult than plugging an on board into a receptacle, IMO. I have this one:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/204841737

(That said, I do use an on board charger for my boat, but I have a dual battery setup with a switch and also wanted something waterproof. It cost a heck of a lot more than a simple maintainer.)

 

[rustyshakelford]

Curious. What’s the advantage of on board? Most trickle chargers come with quick connect pig tails that you leave on the battery. To charge, you just plug in and viola. No more difficult than plugging an on board into a receptacle, IMO. I have this one:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/204841737

(That said, I do use an on board charger for my boat, but I have a dual battery setup with a switch and also wanted something waterproof. It cost a heck of a lot more than a simple maintainer.)

I have that style for my truck and keep it plugged in anytime it’s parked at home. For the Jeep and powering my snomaster fridge, I plan on having it running constantly this spring and summer. I go to work for an extended period and can plug it in there as well. Just needing an extension cord is easier than bringing the charger and looks cleaner too.

It would basically just be hooking into shore power

Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

Was planning on swapping out the noco 10a charger for something smaller but my wife burned the box so I was bound to find a solution. Ended up building a bracket and letting the battery share the weight. It’s snug against the hood. Shouldn’t rattle or move. Mounted a plug on the bumper

Brett

 

[Rahneld]

Was planning on swapping out the noco 10a charger for something smaller but my wife burned the box so I was bound to find a solution. Ended up building a bracket and letting the battery share the weight. It’s snug against the hood. Shouldn’t rattle or move. Mounted a plug on the bumper

Brett

May I please have a link to the shore power plug you installed in the bumper? Thanks. I couldn't seem to find it on your linked build thread.

 

[FWB FL]

Why is this all needed???

 

[rustyshakelford]

Why is this all needed???

We have a snomaster cooler that we’re planning on keeping in the Jeep year round. Until we decide if we want the dual battery set up or not I want the ability to keep the jeep plugged in and batteries charged as much as possible. If I drive it to work in the summer (SE Texas) I can plug it in now since I’ll be there for an extended period of time.

Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

May I please have a link to the shore power plug you installed in the bumper? Thanks. I couldn't seem to find it on your linked build thread.

NOCO Black GCP1 13 Amp 125V AC Port Plug with Integrated Extension Cord https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009ANV81S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_EyFBCb6VTRP9F

Brett

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