[Rover] DC/DC chargers

[Rick R]

Here is what I do for battery charging:
I have three sets of 12VDC batteries for the rover rigs. It just worked out 
that way over the years, that I started with one regular car battery, then 
got a second one, then got a pair of 50AH gel cells, and lastly (FINALLY) 
added a marine cell (about 100AH). I have them as three separate supplies; I 
use the marine cell to run my two transceivers (FT736 for ABCD) and the 
FT-100D as IF for the rest 9EFGHIJ; I use the pair of regular car batteries 
in parallel for the amps for bands ABCD (100-160W each); I use the 2 gel 
cells in parallel to run the microwave amps (2-35W each), the transverters, 
the 300W inverter, and a small lamp.
I used #8 wire from the battery of the van, thru a 50A fuse, to a 50 AMP 
solenoid relay for switching the charge to the different sets of batteries. 
I used household electrical switches and #10 wire to go from the solenoid to 
each bank of batteries. I have a "main" switch that causes the solenoid to 
connect the car/van battery in parallel with the set of batteries I'm going 
to charge. I then select the set of batteries with one of three other 
switches to be charged. I only put the "main" switch on when the engine is 
running. I generally charge after 2-3 hrs of operating, generally when 
moving from site-to-site. I DO NOT CHARGE ALL THREE SETS AT ONCE. More than 
one rover has lost his alternator that way.
You can also buy a special charging set-up from an RV dealer, as they are 
set to charge the non-motor batteries when the engine is running, but 
disconnect so they won't kill the engine battery by mistake.   Hope this 
helps--I have a stock alternator in my Ford F-150 1994 6 cyl van. Rick, 
K1DS/R