Posts: 4,188
Threads: 635
Joined: Jul 2012
I have used a
Trik-L-Start for years with good results. It is similar to the Echo-Charge. It a few amps from the house batteries to charge the engine batteries. It will maintain your engine batteries at about 0.2 volts below your house batteries and shut down if the house batteries are not charging. Since I keep my coach plugged in all the time, the engine batteries stay charged also without ever having to use the battery merge switch.
Michael Day
1992 Newell 43.5' #281
NewellOwner.com
Posts: 2,695
Threads: 228
Joined: Jul 2012
Hmmm, the TrikLStart looks interesting. Thanks Michael.
It would be easy to hook up, either to the isolator or one of the merge switch solenoids and mount it in that cabinet.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
PO 1999 Foretravel 36'
1998 Newell 45' #486
1993 Newell 39' #337
Posts: 5,751
Threads: 493
Joined: Jul 2012
forest are you sure you dont have an echocharger on it now? it would be in the rear engine compartment where the merge solenoid is under the hydraulic fluid tank
tom
2002 45'8" Newell Coach 608 Series 60 DDEC4/Allison World 6 Speed HD4000MH
Posts: 2,695
Threads: 228
Joined: Jul 2012
No I don't see one there. If there is one then it's certainly not working.
Anyway I ordered a TrikLStart for $40 shipped from RVupgradestore.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
PO 1999 Foretravel 36'
1998 Newell 45' #486
1993 Newell 39' #337
Posts: 2,695
Threads: 228
Joined: Jul 2012
Just installed the Triklstart. Nice not to have to watch the battery voltage. It's keeping it at .5volts below the house batteries.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
PO 1999 Foretravel 36'
1998 Newell 45' #486
1993 Newell 39' #337
Posts: 4,188
Threads: 635
Joined: Jul 2012
Glad you like it Forest.
Michael Day
1992 Newell 43.5' #281
NewellOwner.com
Posts: 5,751
Threads: 493
Joined: Jul 2012
i put a trik l start on the 90 that bill has now
tom
2002 45'8" Newell Coach 608 Series 60 DDEC4/Allison World 6 Speed HD4000MH
Posts: 6
Threads: 2
Joined: Nov 2014
On my 89 the ddec is on the hot side of the master switch, shutting mine off won't make a differance.
I'm going to call Interstate Diesel in Minneapolis, to see if it needs to be hot all the time or if i can move the wire to the switched side
Jim & Julie Lloyd
1989 41' Classic #206
8V92, 740 Allison
Purchased February 2006
Posts: 316
Threads: 41
Joined: Oct 2018
I found my chassis/engine batts wet around the vents.
I left my merge/emergency switch on which may be overcharging the engine batteries.
Not sure how old they are but I need to have them load tested.
Any recommendations on replacing chassis/engine batteries? I certainly don’t want to deal with batts on a trip.
Coach has a Cat13 ACERT.
Be safe and healthy in body and mind!
JK
Kristi & Jeff King
Bentonville, Arkansas
#744 2005 45’ Newell Coach
ZF Suspension/Active Steering Tag Axle
CAT-13 ACERT KCB Engine 525HP 1642 ftlbs Torque Cat Compound Turbocharger 43.5 psi
Allison HD4000MH Transmission with PTO drive.
Posts: 5,410
Threads: 255
Joined: Jul 2012
Jeff,
I have had good luck with the Sam’s Club/Costco 8d batteries.
And, it’s time for another Richard rant. I don’t know why Newell tells people to keep the batteries merged. Nothing good can happen.
Richard and Rhonda Entrekin
99 Newell, 512
Maverick Hybrid Toad
Inverness, FL (when we're home
)