BatteryMinder Hookup

[Tinwoodsman]

I purchased a 24V BatteryMinder with temperature sensor. I had a few questions about installation and tried to call their Customer Service line but kept getting recordings. I finally emailed them and received a response a few days later. I replied to their email asking for some clarification and the bottom line is I got two substantially different pieces of information about the same thing.

My question is this: I want to install the BatteryMinder box in my deuce cab. Can I leave the unit and temperature sensor connected to the batteries all the time and just disconnect the AC power prior to starting?

Thanks

 

[scranch18121]

I ordered and received mine about 3 months ago and have not installed it yet. Great question ! I will wait for an answer to your question before I install mine. (Like I need another excuse not to install it). Toom much to do... not enough time.

 

[emr]

I connected one to the back of the slave receptacle, and yes u can leave it hooked up for ever, it does not drain at all, they are high tech and the best out there, well i am sure someone knows one better, but these really are where its at, just screw it to the back wall of the cab near the passenger door so u just flip the seat forard and see the settings, the setings stay the same when hooked up so U need to just plug it in and go... , and leave the plug just behind the seat for when u need it. clean and rotate your batts at least once a year, there will be a lazy batt at the end of the charging system in time if U do not clean charge up both individually once a year, this is fact, good lock, Oh u do not need to unplug any charger before starting no u do not, I leave em on in cold weather, because I also wait if a no start and let the starter cool , and this way they are warming up the batts taking the charge too, your charging system and charger will shut down when the batts get full thats how they work, U could actually put 7 1.5 amp chargers on one batt all clamped on, why? because they will fill the batt and sense a full charge and shut down,they would just change from a trickle charger to a higher amp charger, now u would not want to go over 12 amps per batt , its simple math , thats the only thing to remember, and U can hook up a 12 volt charger to each batt in your truck when they are hooked up, oh yes u can, they also will not put more juice into the batts than they had when full, so there is no possible way of this being a problem, done it a hundred times, there were times in cold weather and dead batts and needed to roll out fast, so the multi charger idea does the hard work needed on each batt .

 

[steelandcanvas]

I just want to add this to the thread: If you have a power outage or disconnect the AC from your BatteryMinder, it will default back to the initial power-up settings when power is restored. Yes, you can leave it connected, but check it occaisionally to be sure the unit is charging in the correct format. I placed my temp sender connection between the two batteries, and called their tech line to get this information. Very good unit, I highly recommend it. I think the Owner's Manual might answer some of your questions Tinwoodsman.

 

[Tinwoodsman]

I appreciate the replies. I read the manual several times and have emailed BatteryMinder. They said not to connect any terminals to the interconnect terminals between batteries. Good point about the potential AC power interruption. My unit boots up with Gel as the battery type and I have to switch it to flooded. The rest is okay.

EMR, if I understand you correctly, you chose to connect to the slave terminals and not the actual battery. Do you have a temperature sensor?

Do you guys run the B/M AC cord outside the truck or run AC cord into the truck and connect to the B/M cord? Finally, I am a little confused, do disconnect the AC before starting the vehicle or just before you are ready to roll?

 

[cranetruck]

My recommendation would be to have a switch in the hook-up so that it's not connected when the engine is cranked. A poor battery connection will generate big electrical spikes and most electronic gear can't tolerate those. I have "blown" one Chargetek 500 battery maintainer due to a loose battery clamp...
There is a reason for the MX7777 and this decal.
The electronic push button light switch should also be isolated with switch IMHO.

 

[steelandcanvas]

They said not to connect any terminals to the interconnect terminals between batteries.

Conflicting information, I might move my temp sensor to one of the end terminals just as you were told.

Do you guys run the B/M AC cord outside the truck or run AC cord into the truck and connect to the B/M cord? Finally, I am a little confused, do disconnect the AC before starting the vehicle or just before you are ready to roll?

Right now I just run a cord in through the passenger side doorway. I would like to in the future, install an outlet in a 4 square metal box and attach this to the back wall of the cab. This would be connected to a thru the cab twist-lok connector, similar to those used on big rigs. This way I wouldn't have to run the cord thru doorways and pinch them when I shut the door. I would eventually like to tie my block heater into this also, one cord would then take care of my AC requirements.

 

[Tinwoodsman]

I really like the BatteryMinder product but their customer support leaves something to be desired. I emailed them asking if the default startup settings could be changed. I live in a small town with a local electric coop. We have frequent power interruptions and my unit defaults to the "gel" battery setting. I wanted it to default to "flooded" and this is their response. Duh!

"The default setting is common and will not harm your batteries or the BatteryMINDer. The gel setting is in range and is just slightly lower 1/10 vdc. A power interruption or loose or dirty connection will cause this.
Leave the BatteryMINDer in the gel setting for at least a week then disconnect BM completely and wire brush clips and terminals for good contact. Then plug into batteries, make proper settings, then plug into A/C."

Leave in the "gel" setting for a week. The manual never touches this. What exactly is he saying?

 

[emr]

If U call them they are awesome, and yes i do leave it plugged in until it is running a lot . this is not like a radio set up pulling a possible spike from the batteries, It is a controlled devise that is just charging and at a sensored rate, it does not spike a charge to the batt, when it senses a load, it does not have that kind of power period. and is a controlled devise and just does not do that.when the batts read full it will shut off, it does not matter if the truck is running and charging on its own, both systems will only charge to a given point and shut down, its what they do, I said in above post I do leave it plugged in, in cold weather for sure, and I would also leave it plugged if I thought i had low or weak batts, all the charge i can get to turn the diesel over is a good thing, a starter runs best and lasts longest with fully charged batts, and remember to not over heat the starter, let em cool, follow the TM, make a list of questions call em, they will call back, and then do it again u should get the same info from 2 different techs , i always did,

Oh I just leave the plug next to the passenger seat on the floor, that is good enough for me, I am going to up grade to 4 12 volt chargers , those I will put to each batt, but yes i went to the slave for just one 24 volt charger, it is made and designed to take a charge from there, its called slaving...

 

[Tinwoodsman]

EMR, I understand what you are saying and I really like the unit. Just want to make sure I understand it's capabilities and limitations. As for calling them, everytime I do, I get a voicemail and so I email them since they have not called back yet. I will try again on Monday.

Thanks for communicating.

 

[emr]

they may have taken awhile to call back , I really just remember they did, good luck, they were really good when they did... we all must ask to learn, all the best, I still ask thing always change, these are the unit to have right now for sure... easy to get and price is not bad for what they do and thats alot, I have had one in the elements on the back of my forklift seat for 6 years and counting,,,, and the batts were 3 years old when i put it on and they are still good, but they should be they are always up to date with these chargers...