Stay N Charge

[Ears]

Has anybody used the stay n charge system with their ice house? I was looking at a sloar panel but it sounds like that might not work that well in the winter with the angle of the sun. Will the stay n charge work if your truck is just idling for a while or do you need to have the rpms up higher? Thanks for any advice.

[This message has been edited by Ears (edited 10-09-2004).]

[Dennis Steele]

I have the 12 volt version and I found that you need higher rpms to charge a battery.At least with the alternator on my F-150.
You can however still run accessories off of it.But you are just running it off the battery of your vehicle and not the alternator when its not running.It is handy.

[JIM PAYNE]

If the truck is not charging the batteries at idle then something is not correct. We install more staynchrge systems for ice houses then we do for boats and have never had any one say it does not work. If it soes not work i should know about it and we will get itto work. i guarantee it

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[Ronsay]

I am interested in this product and e-mailed the company but the mail was rejected.

Dennis, you stated that the power was draining from your vehicle battery, should it be unplugged when you are not driving, or running the engine?

Did it charge your batteries fully while you were driving, and in the time they stated it would?

It would be nice to get some more input on this product from people that have used it. The web site testimonials make it sound like everyone should have one to charge the batteries without ever having to plug a charger in again.

Ron

[Dennis Steele]

My stay-n-charge would bring a dead battery to full in about a half hours time while driving.I attempted to charge a battery at a tourney at idle for an hour and it did not bring the battery level up.My brother who is a mechanic told me that the alternator on my truck,F-150 with the little 4.2 V6 was too small and did not have the output needed at low rpms to charge two batteries.(your always charging your vehicle battery first.)That alternator went out on me an with my brothers suggestion I have installed a larger "variable out put" one.I have not tested it fully to see if it made any difference since I have upgraded to a 24v trolling system on my boat and would now need the Gorilla Stay-n-Charge to charge a 24v system.
These days I have only used my stay-n-charge for running accesories such as my bait tank,camping accessories and the occasional battery that I just throw in the back of the truck while on the road.
Works great for what I have been using it for and have no complaints.

[This message has been edited by Dennis Steele (edited 10-11-2004).]

[Ears]

So it sounds like Jim says it will charge a battery when the truck is idling, and some people say it won't. I have a 2003 F-150 with the 5.4 V-8. I want something that will charge a battery or two while I am gone for a few days on a trip, is this gonna work?

[Ronsay]

I also have the F-150 with the 5.4 engine. I would be interested in charging the batteries on an extended trip without drawing down the vehicle battery while it is idling.

[JIM PAYNE]

Hey Dennis hope that new alt is working for you, it should. This is the first time i have heard it would charge at idle from any one. Dennis give me a call and we will get you a Gorilla box out to you, we are not going to make the Gorilla any more because we are replacing it with the new All Charge units that can now read read voltage and charges up to four batteries now. As for everybody else try the Stayncharge unit and if you are not happy with it we have a 90 day money back guarente and a three replacement warranty.

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[Tahoe2349]

Jim:
Is this a DIY installation or is it to involved for someone green ?

Have a "98" Tahoe and a custom fish house with (2) 12V deep cycles hooked to a converter !!

Or refer a place that can install maybe and estimated cost would work great as well.
I pull my house everywhere I go and the drive time sounds like this "product" would work great for a instant charge system

[JIM PAYNE]

Tahoe the installation is very simple and takes about 30 minutes if you have never done any kind of installing before. What city do you live in?
------------------
JIM PAYNE

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 10-11-2004).]

[JIM PAYNE]

you can go to the ice houses sold on this site and get help from them because they offer them on their houses

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[Tahoe2349]

Jim:
I live by Faribault and work out of Burnsville on (42) west of Mall.

[JIM PAYNE]

I am located in Apple Valley and if you need help just let me know. Your truck is very easy to install

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[Dennis Steele]

After Jim mentioned there must have been something wrong with my charging system I called my brother to ask him to explain it further to me.The aternator on my truck went out completly about a month after I tried to charge at idle.He said it was most likely weak at the time.It was charging but did not have the output to charge two batteries and was only charging my vehicle battery fully at higher rpms.Driving at slower speeds and vehicle accessories such as lights,fans,etc. was actually draining my battery and the truck was running off batery power a lot of the time.He also said that those dummy battery lights on the dash don't always work.Mine never went off even when the alternator went out completely.
He said it was likely that it would have worked on a good alternator once my vehicle battery was at full charge,but suggested installing a "variable output" alternator that would sense the demand of electricity and charge both batteries simultaneaously if needed.
Sorry for any misinformation.I guess I did not have the story straight.

[Ronsay]

I did check with Ford earlier today and they stated that my F-150 should charge with no problem at an idle.

Ron

[Ears]

Awesome, thanks for all the help!

[This message has been edited by Ears (edited 10-11-2004).]

[MinnesotaMuskie]

I am building a 6.5 x 10 house that will travel alot. I am putting in 12 volt wiring as well as a solar panel.

I will tow with a 95 chev 4x4. What kid of $$ am i looking at to add this unit.

It would be great to have the batteries charged up all the time with the hassle.

[Ronsay]

Hi Ron,
Please click the register link and read forum policy also please use the "Contact Us" link below for those kind of questions. We will give you a good answer.

Thanks much Ron.

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 10-11-2004).]

[JIM PAYNE]

contact the guys on this site and i think they have the units for $59 and they know what you need to install

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[JIM PAYNE]

Cool Thaoe remember when i told you about installling a trolling motor plug on the house? Well you can drill hole and mount the plug with the spring door is best and all your quirts will be handled and the wires on the inside can be hidden by carpet or whatever will make you happy. Good luck and let me know if i can help

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[Tahoe2349]

Thanks Jim..
My Dad had come cover to look my install over and was impressed with the "Stay'N Charge"...Was going to have something similar installed by his house manufacturer before I saw and bought your product...

There was $60 on my kitchen table and a note at noon to P/U one for him. When I walked by fish house I noticed your wiring was sticking out of the tongue of my fish house and wrapped in plastic conduit like my trailer harness
Looked underneath and the old man had run a length of PVC along side my under carriage conduit with tie downs and a elbow at one end running up through my floor into my "battery storage".. Has it hooked to my first battery in parallel from my converter.

I guess I'm all set without doing a thing myself on the house, Other ten buying another system for the old man I owe again..lol
Can I leave the converter hooked up or will it cause problems with your system running the charge ??? Seems to me it will not serve any 12V purpose any longer ??

Thanks again !!

[JIM PAYNE]

Man what a dad you got. That is probably the coolest story i have heard in awhile. The converter can stay hooked up as long as you unhook the truck from the house. Thanks for the note that made my day. If i can help let me know

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[Tahoe2349]

Jim:
Picked up one of your units yesterday
Installed it easily on my Tahoe like you said would be the case. Fifteen minutes max on the truck !!

The "Fish House" I will need to be creative with though as all my wiring is incased in aluminum conduit welded under my house frame. No open ends to try & fish the line through as they exit and enter inside my walls..

My "fanatic" nature of no exposed wiring ever has now come back to bite me in the ***.
But for all you other guys out there the install on the vehicle is a breeze..

[bwtrout]

What's the difference between the Stay-N-Charge and a battery isolator?

[JIM PAYNE]

An isolater is i unit that reads voltage and lets power through it only when engine is running. They can be used with the stay and charge unit and you would not have to unhook the stay and charge when truck is not running to keep from drawing down the truck battery

------------------
JIM PAYNE

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 10-15-2004).]

[Tahoe2349]

Jim:
I tested your system after running down my (2) parallel deep cycles to about 30%.....

Started up the Tahoe and "voltmeter" in the house was "rocking with instant charge"
Towed her down the road 20 miles and hit McDonalds...Started back up and came home 20 miles back and unplugged the system...

Showed the batteries holding 14+ volts and three hours later holding just under that.
Today (24) hours later she still right there !!
I got a 70% recharge in about 30--40 minutes on two batteries...
I think I'm gonna really like this system..