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08-13-2008, 11:58 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Friendship, Maine
Posts: 483
M.O.C. #6338
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Smart Charger
I have seen some discussions on this. How does this work? How do you hook it up?
Thanks,
Chip
__________________
2012 Big Sky 3400, now an SOB 5th wheel
2007 Montana 3075 previously
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
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08-13-2008, 12:20 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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Nothing to it Chip, you just find a place to put it by your Iota converter, mount it, then plug in the cable into the converter and into the smart charger.
The smart charger changes you charging voltage to your battery (or batteries) into a 3 step conditioning voltage based on the status of the batteries. It is built in on the more expensive Iota converters.
I think the cost was about $30. I mounted mine so I could see the light flashing through the return air grill under the stairs. The light gives you a status of the charge by sequence of flashes.
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08-13-2008, 01:18 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Haldimand County
Posts: 2,413
M.O.C. #122
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Brad is right, but that does assume that your rig came with an "Iota" brand converter. I think some of the more recent models have a different brand of converter with this feature built-in, and earlier models (about pre-2004), do not have Iota converters.
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08-13-2008, 03:09 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Kville
Posts: 2,865
M.O.C. #7871
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by bsmeaton
Nothing to it Chip, you just find a place to put it by your Iota converter, mount it, then plug in the cable into the converter and into the smart charger.
The smart charger changes you charging voltage to your battery (or batteries) into a 3 step conditioning voltage based on the status of the batteries. It is built in on the more expensive Iota converters.
I think the cost was about $30. I mounted mine so I could see the light flashing through the return air grill under the stairs. The light gives you a status of the charge by sequence of flashes.
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Here's the link: http://www.rvupgradestore.com/index....ROD&ProdID=413
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08-14-2008, 03:33 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 578
M.O.C. #718
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Brad, other than the picture in the link looks diffrent than yours, did it come with a long cable to connect up over the wash/dry room where the inverter is or must you get another cable?
Bob
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08-14-2008, 06:28 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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Bob,
The one pictured in that link is for the older Iota I believe - this is mine here:
http://www.iotaengineering.com/iq.htm
In mid year 2007, Montana moved the coverter under the stairs. If you have the vent in the ceiling above your washer and dryer, your converter is still above the ceiling, behind the AC panel. For that, I would just mount the smartcharger on the wall up by the ceiling, the drill a hole for the cable. The cable is just a 4 conductor phone cable, but I'm not sure if length would impact it or not. The one that comes with the charger is only about 12" long.
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08-14-2008, 07:44 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 578
M.O.C. #718
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Brad, we are full of changes and most are great, I think a hole in the celing of the W/D room and still be in the 12" range. I will still be able to see the unit.
Thanks
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08-14-2008, 08:34 AM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Signal Mtn.
Posts: 280
M.O.C. #8206
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Brad, I have a 2008 3400RL. Does my unit already have the smart charger, or do I need to add this smart charger adapter to my charger? Thanks for the info.
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08-14-2008, 09:04 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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Buddy,
I couldn't give you an honest answer, as I haven't seen what the 2008's are using. It may not even be Iota anymore. If it's still under the bottom step, I would remove the return air grill and look at the model number, then look it up on that Iota link further up this thread. That should tell you if it has one.
Or perhaps somebody with a 2008 knows already?
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08-14-2008, 01:24 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Signal Mtn.
Posts: 280
M.O.C. #8206
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Thanks Brad, I'll pull the grill this weekend.
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08-14-2008, 07:16 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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Brad, I have been stumped on this myself. I have an Iota converter with my 3400 build date of 7/20/06 (2007 model). Does mine have the Smart Charger built in???
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08-15-2008, 04:47 AM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kettle Falls
Posts: 400
M.O.C. #6321
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Dave, My 2007 3400 (built Nov 2006) did not have the smart charger built in. I added one last year by mounting it by the ceiling in the utility closet and running the cord under the vent cover to the the converter.
To make sure which module to order I took the breaker panel, above the toilet, out and checked the converter model number. It is behind the breaker panel mounted on the top of the ceiling in the utility closet. You can see it once the breaker panel is removed.
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08-15-2008, 06:51 AM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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Dave, I suspect you don't have it, but can't be positive. I know build dates aren't the best indicator, but mine was 01/11/2007 and I did not have one. My first clue was the phone line wrapped up and taped to the top of the converter.
I thought the converter could call in and troubleshoot by itself! hahahahaha
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08-15-2008, 08:08 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by bsmeaton
I thought the converter could call in and troubleshoot by itself! hahahahaha
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Actually, one of these days...
Thanks, Brad and Jim. I did have a warranty replacement last year. Probably still don't have the smart charger, though. My battery is a class 24 Interstate and it has never needed a drop of water in over two years. So not sure I should change anything? When I get a new battery one of these days, I may spring for the $25. Accessing that converter and installing the Iota will be more challenging than the $$.
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08-15-2008, 08:44 AM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Friendship, Maine
Posts: 483
M.O.C. #6338
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Brad
What is that phone line taped up on top of the converter for? I have that also.
Chip
__________________
2012 Big Sky 3400, now an SOB 5th wheel
2007 Montana 3075 previously
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
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08-15-2008, 09:49 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lone Tree
Posts: 5,615
M.O.C. #6109
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Chip, that plugs right into the smart charger and activates it, like shown on my picture.
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08-15-2008, 10:43 AM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Fort Myers
Posts: 5,933
M.O.C. #4282
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I have the "phone" plugin on mine, but I don't remember the line being included. Maybe it was though...
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