Solar battery charger/tender

[Hodag]

Any advice about using a solar charger to keep the start batteries up?  My buddy has problems with starting after his entertainer has been sitting for a month or so.  His bus is very similar to mine:  early 90s Prevost XL with 8v92.  Uses 4 Group 31s (2 each in series, parallel) for starting.  We both throw the electrical shut off switches after a run, and I have not had the problem, so maybe he has some phantom draw or just tired batteries.  Suggestions for a particular model solar charger and how to install?  My bus has an equalizer, so I assume his does, too.  If so, do you just connect the input from the charger to one battery and let the equalizer take care of distributing the charge across the bank? 
Thanks.

Bryan

[jjrbus]

I just replaced 2 7 year old group 31 batteries. My old set could set for months and start the bus  (MCI5C 6V71)  The new set will not start the bus after 4 weeks of setting. No phantom loads,I completly unhooked them and they sit there and slowly discharge. I took them back and they tell me the batt's are good!!!!   Now I am useing a trickle charge and thinking about adding solar.

[jaypullen]

Im having the same problem I have 2 d8s to start there conected to a equlizer thats connected  to  4d8s for my inverter 3000aims The 4 also start a 5000watt onan generator The bus will seat for a month with the main turned off and all the batteries will die I was thinking of getting a solar charger for storage time but not sure what type to get any help THANKs jaypullen

[Tim Strommen]

Equalizer IS a phantom load...  It will automatically equalize the lower-voltage battery by using the higher-voltage battery - it does this like a see-saw until both batteries are thoroughly equalized at "dead".  This works like leveling valves on an air suspension after the engine is stopped.  They uses air (adding/subtracting) to level the bus until there is no air left...

Better move would be to use a 12-volt solar charger for each 12-volt battery, and totally disconnect them from everything (including the equalizer/Vanner - you can lift the ground on the Vanner to disable it).

Look for a solar charger that has stages, not a straight-up trickle charger.

-T

[Kwajdiver]

I've been looking on solarpanelstore.com.  I like their 270W Tilt RV Marine Kit
Looks like it can supply to battery sets off the same solar system.

Thoughts,

Bill