Hi,
I'm new at being a Scamp 13 owner and I need advice, please! I have never even seen a Scamp in person till I bought this 1985 13', so I'm completely green about what to get, and, what make n' model to get.
looking to buy a battery for a Scamp 13. There will NOT be ele.hookup some of the places I'll be staying. I will be getting a 12v Television.. I don't have a clue on what kind of battery to getto get., I would like to spend between $50. to $100.if that is possible.
What battery charger should I get? I will also be getting a Charge Wizard. but, what model will I need?
Also, I need most of the Snap caps for a Scamp 13 replaced. This is probity a dumb question. do you need to replace the rivets that are already there and are not leaking? Would you let me know what sizes the small rivets are?
Thank you,
What type of Battery?
The battery in your Scamp is different than the battery in your car. Your car's battery needs to provide a big burst of power to start your engine, the battery in your Scamp needs to provide a relatively small amount of power over a long period of time. This type of battery is called a "Deep Cycle" battery, it is designed to be discharged (deeply) over a long period of time and then recharged over and over again. These batteries are often marketed as "Deep Cycle Marine" batteries.
The next thing you need to consider is size, most Scamp batteries are either "Group Size" 24 or 27, with size 27 being larger and able to power your Scamp a little bit longer than the smaller size 24. The easiest thing to do is replace your battery with the same size as is in your Scamp now, however, if you anticipate Scamping in areas without power for several days at a time, then I would suggest going with the larger Group Size 27 "Deep Cycle" battery.
With regards to your "Battery Charger" and the "Charge Wizard" your Scamp is not equipped with a "Battery Charger" per se, it is equipped with a "Converter" which converts the 120 volt power (when you are plugged in) to 12 volts DC in order to recharge your battery and simultaneously run the 12 volt systems inside your Scamp.
The "Charge Wizard" is used to control the voltage at which your battery is recharged. It only works with one brand of "Converter" (Progressive Dynamics) and is sold as an add-on module (note: some replacement Converters have "Charge Wizard" type circuitry already built in). The Charge Wizard can charge your battery at 3 different voltages, low (aka trickle), medium (aka Bulk) and high (aka equalizing). Most Controllers charge at one voltage (medium) and contribute to the premature failure of the battery. The Charge Wizard senses the state-of-charge of your battery and produces the best voltage to recharge and maintain your battery's "health".
You will need to find your Converter (or the manual) to determine if your Converter is compatible with the Charge Wizard. If your converter is not compatible with the Charge Wizard, it may already have "Charge Wizard" type circuitry built into the unit (most likely not the case). Once you have your Converter's model and serial number then you can search for it's specifications on the internet, or contact the manufacturer to determine if you can add a "Charge Wizard" (or similar module from the manufacturer) to your Converter.
Congratulations on your New-to-you Scamp !!!
As Always,
Happy Scamping !!!
Dear ManWithaVan,
Thank you so, so, so much for your reply and all that information! I'm going to reread your post slowly, and, take notes!
Oh boy, about the time you were writing your post to me I was ordering a battery from Walmart, I ordered a X Schumacher electric, sb121100 12v sla 110AH non automotive battery. After I read your post I tried to cancel it, but Walmart said it's being prosed, to late. I got a 1985 that wasn't used for 20years, so it didn't come with a battery to replace.
Under the sink there is a plastic box about 5" tall x 3 1/2" wide by 1" that has a up and down switch on it, could that be the converter??
Thank you very much,
Lis in RI