By LS Products
GENERAL INFORMATION — ULTRA TRIK-L-START™ is designed to keep your engine starting battery fully charged during long periods of storage or inactivity. Connected between the house and starting batteries, it diverts current from your existing house battery charger, sending it to the starting battery. The maximum charging current is 5 amps, automatically tapering to a small fraction of an amp after a full charge is reached. A set of indicator lights display the charger’s status, also warning of improper hookup. A built-in blocking diode keeps the starting battery from being discharged due to any loads on the house batteries. ULTRA TRIK-L-START™ is compatible with solid-state or relay-type battery isolators, as well as battery selector switches. Since it doesn’t require any connections to AC power, it also works well with solar panels. The included battery clips allow quick temporary connections; crimp-on ring terminals are also provided for permanent installation.
Trik-L-Start™ never needs to be disconnected, which makes it perfect for permanent installation. The best place to permanently connect it is to the terminals on your existing battery isolator, switch or emergency start relay. This is better than connecting it directly to the posts on your batteries since it avoids corrosion due to battery acid. Also, these devices already have wires from both batteries connected to them, eliminating the need to run long wires to each battery bank.
WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE ISOLATOR — The isolator is often located either inside or immediately next to the engine compartment. Earlier models, the isolator is mounted aft of the driver’s side rear axle.
At the factory, the manufacturer has connected one of these terminals to the positive terminal of your house battery bank. Another terminal is connected to the positive terminal on your starting battery(s), and the last terminal is connected to the DC output from your engine’s alternator.
You want to connect Trik-L-Start’s YELLOW wire to the terminal that goes to the HOUSE batteries and connect Trik-L-Start’s BLUE wire to the terminal that goes to the STARTING battery(s). Some isolators show the connections on an attached sticker or label.
Step-By-Step Instructions For PERMANENT INSTALLATION
STEP 1: Identify a flat mounting surface, preferably near the battery isolator, relay or selector switch (see “Where’s The Isolator?” on the next page). Check that drilling holes won’t interfere with any wiring, hoses or other parts on the other side. Next, temporarily hold the TRIK-L-START™ unit against the intended mounting surface, and mark the hole locations for the two mounting screws. Drill 1/8″ (3MM) holes at these locations. After bending the wires so that they exit through the slot at the bottom edge of the unit, use the 2 supplied screws to mount the unit.
Determine how long the blue, yellow and black wires need to be in order to reach their intended connection locations, and cut off any excess wire. Strip approximately 1/4″ (6 MM) of insulation off the ends of each of these wires, twisting any frayed strands back together again. Next, insert a ring terminal (supplied) into the end of each of these wires, and crimp the terminal tightly.
STEP 2: Unplug from shore power, disconnect any solar panels, and remove the negative terminals of BOTH the house and starting battery banks. Attach TRIK-L-START’s ring terminals to the proper studs on the battery isolator, relay or selector switch. The YELLOW wire goes to the stud connected to the HOUSE battery; the BLUE wire goes to the STARTING battery stud, and the BLACK wire goes to chassis ground. Reattach the negative battery terminals (confirming that the red REVERSE POLARITY indicator is not lit), reconnect any solar panels and restore shore power. This completes the installation process.
HOW TO TELL WHICH WIRE GOES TO WHICH BATTERY — When plugged into AC power (so that your DC converter or AC inverter is charging the house batteries), the wire that goes to your house batteries will measure around 13.5 to 14.5 volts (measuring between the terminal and ground). The wire that goes to your starting batteries will measure less than this (around 12.3 to 12.7 volts). If you don’t have access to a DC voltmeter, you can use a 12-volt light bulb or test light instead —
Temporarily disconnect the positive terminal of your starting battery and see which terminal on the isolator still lights the bulb. That will be the wire that goes to the house batteries. Reconnect the starting battery, and perform the same test on the house batteries (which will tell you which wire goes to the starting battery).
General Information
HOW IT WORKS — TRIK-L-START™ works by “borrowing” some charging current from the house batteries, using it to also recharge and maintain the starting battery(s). This only happens when the house batteries are receiving a charge from your DC power converter, AC inverter battery charger or solar panels — The rest of the time, TRIK-L-START™ is inactive and doesn’t affect the electrical system. After both the starting and house batteries become fully charged, TRIK-L-START™ continuously applies a small maintenance charge to the starting battery(s). During periods when the house batteries are being discharged, TRIK-L-START’s built-in blocking diode prevents the starting battery from also being discharged.
OPERATING INFORMATION — The yellow CHARGING light will illuminate whenever the starting battery is accepting a substantial charge. After the starting battery approaches a full state of charge, the green MAINTAINING light may illuminate instead, indicating that the battery is accepting only a small maintenance charge. (NOTE: The current required by some large or old batteries may never drop to the point where the green MAINTAINING light illuminates. Also, some house battery chargers rapidly switch their output voltage on and off, occasionally leading to a flickering yellow CHARGING light while the green MAINTAINING light is illuminated. Both of these traits are normal and do not affect the charging process.) Shortly after shore power is disconnected or solar panel output ceases, all lights will go out, indicating that TRIK-L-START is in standby mode. The current drain on the house batteries in this mode is less than 0.005 amps (5 mA), and virtually zero on the starting battery(s).
MAINTENANCE TIPS: Battery water levels should be periodically checked. Also, if the unit is temporarily installed with battery clips, periodically check to ensure that the clips are making good contact with the battery terminals and that no clip corrosion is taking place.
Since TRIK-L-START’s maximum charging current is limited to approximately 5 amps, it may take as long as several days to bring a completely-discharged starting battery back up to the point where the MAINTAINING light illuminates. Also, note that any adjustments to the final (or “float”) voltage settings on your house battery charger will have a similar effect on the starting battery’s final maintenance voltage. Generally, a final (fully-charged) setting of 13.5 VDC is recommended for the house batteries, which will result in a near-ideal 13.3 volts at the starting battery(s).
In Case Of Trouble – If Starting Battery Does Not Stay Charged:
1. Confirm that the YELLOW wire is connected to your HOUSE battery POSITIVE terminal, the BLUE wire is connected to your STARTING battery POSITIVE terminal, and the BLACK wire is connected to chassis ground (or the negative terminal on either battery). The REV POLARITY light indicates incorrect connections.
2. If battery clips are used, make sure that they make good connections to the battery terminals. Either the CHARGING or MAINTAINING lights should be illuminated whenever shore power or some other recharge source is supplying a charge to the house batteries (unless the starting batteries have recently been recharged, in which case neither light may illuminate until after any excess charge dissipates).
3. Check that no significant full-time loads are connected to the starting battery(s). If present, they must not be large enough to exceed TRIK-L-START’s maximum output capacity. Also, note that a battery’s self-discharge load becomes much higher as it approaches the end of its useful life – Thus, failure to make the normal shift from CHARGING to MAINTAINING states may be a clue that the starting battery needs replacing. 4. Confirm that the house batteries are present and in good condition. Absent, defective or dried-out house batteries may adversely affect TRIK-L-START’s operation.