Notso replied:

The brains trust will tell you that a lot of deep cycle batteries will only accept something like 8 amps per hour, so if you have a dead flat deep cycle of this type then it will take at least 60 divided by 8 or around 8 hours charging to bring it to full charge.

You 14 amp charger should do fine as they, the brains trust also say that you need a charger with at least 10% of the Amp Hour capacity of the battery being charged. So 10% of 60 is around a minimum of 6 amps. Your two amp trickle wouldn't ever charge it fully.

Of course the best option, according to said brains trust, is a smart three stage charger worth about $300.

So give it a good hit with the 14 amps, which it won't accept fully anyhow and make sure it drops off to a trickle at some stage

armbrup replied:

Re the Engel,
The manual is unclear on the low voltage cutout.
It suggests that the fridge cuts out at 11.5 volts, but what that means is that the compressor will not operate under 11.5 volts. It still drags current trying to.
You can buy a small low voltage cut out at Kmart. I have had one on mine for several years. Projecta brand. This turns off at 11.5 volts or so to protect the battery.You just splice it into the 12v lead.
Regards Philip A

Member - Phil G (SA) replied:

Wecome back D-Jack,

Just keep charging your deep cycle battery. As mentioned above, it can take a long time to get it fully charged. You can leave it charging indefinitely at a regulated 13.8volts. If it was me, I'd pull it out of the vehicle, and leave it hooked up in the garage.

Your Engel is probably the E-series. None of the engels come with a low voltage cutout. The E-series will continue running (and very poorly!) at very low voltages. The next series (F-series) has a different compressor, and will not run at less than 10 volts (a defacto low voltage cutout). The difference with a good low voltage cutout is that it will wait until the voltage is restored (often to 12.6) before it allows the fridge to run again.

You have plenty of choices with the cutouts. The Projecta one mentioned above ("Sure start") comes with cig sockets, but if it were me, I'd hard wire it.

Engel sell two cutouts that incorporate LED "battery monitors". One cuts out at 10.5 and the other 11.5. I'd prefer the latter. Then theres the kits from DSE and Jaycar if you like using a soldering iron - I've used these and they work fine, and are adjustable. For overnight camping I don't bother hooking mine up - but do if theres more than one night.

Cheers, and congrats on the two babies

Cheers
Phil

Member - Nobby replied:

G'Day D-Jack. I had the same problems with my Batteries. I have 2 x 105amp DC Trojans in my CT and it was in getting some work done to it and the fool did some welding using the trailer as an earth without unhooking the Batteries.Result was that both were at 3.1v. Holler for a Marshall said they were buggered but seeing they were Trojans he would give them a go on his 90amp Charger. Next day they were 13.1 and holding so I get them home and they had dropped to 12.2v. I have a 3 stage charger (12amp) and they have taken four days to come up to 100%.. So what I am saying, they will come up fast but to get that last bit in, it takes a fair while. Hook them up and forget about them for a couple of days.