House2Start install options for 2026 View 24T

[High Desert]

I have been doing research on the new View we are getting and found that the chassis battery does not charge while in storage when hooked to shore power (or in a campground connection). I have seen a few articles regarding the "House2Start" as a solution, but only see a couple of videos on YouTube about it. Has anyone installed this in their unit? And, is under the passenger seat the only option for an install or is there other spots that may work? Or, is there a better trickle charger option out there?

 

[creativepart]

I believe you'll find some detailed installation instructions on the View/Navion FB groups.

Here's an install on 2026R which should be the same as the T model in this instance. However it's a private group so you'd have to request membership to read the post. Here's a link but I'll also include the written instructions copied from the post. There are about 18 photos but those again require membership of the group (it's free).

Facebook

www.facebook.com

House2Start install on a 2026R with dual alternator.
The H2S maintains the chassis battery as long as the house batteries are being charged.
It is designed to prevent a dead chassis battery while the vehicle is stored.
Yellow to House battery
Blue to chassis battery
Black to ground
•You may choose to mount the unit visible next to the breakers. I left this one under the seat.
•I have had dozens of V/N passenger seats off over the past 10 years.
Here are some differences with this R.
•Full skirt, even the top.
•Seat bolts threaded thru the skirt fabric.
•Wiring to the power seat and occupant sensor was very short. I could only raise the seat about 6” and that was after clipping one wire tie. This made access kind of tight.
•I identified house & chassis power leads by voltage. Confirming matching voltage with WinnConnect and Mercedes dash info.
•House power was confirmed live with battery switch off.
•I chose the ground at the circuit breaker mount screw because under seat access was tight.
•I worked with everything live.
I hope this helps folks installing the H2S.
Thanks to Brad Johnson at House 2 Start for guidance with this install.
https://house2start.com/

 

[High Desert]

Thanks …. Will follow this for info

 

[Bobn1957]

I have been doing research on the new View we are getting and found that the chassis battery does not charge while in storage when hooked to shore power (or in a campground connection). I have seen a few articles regarding the "House2Start" as a solution, but only see a couple of videos on YouTube about it. Has anyone installed this in their unit? And, is under the passenger seat the only option for an install or is there other spots that may work? Or, is there a better trickle charger option out there?

I installed a voltage-sensing relay between the house and chassis battery; it works like a charm! Don't forget to put a 40-amp fuse in between! Available on Amazon or eBay!

 

[John Gozza]

Why not just use just use a regular battery maintainer without getting fancy? You can put the battery maintainer under the hood and connect it to the remote battery terminals (the same ones used for jump starting) that are under the hood too.

 

[Bobn1957]

That would mean providing 120 volts under the hood as well; it would work, but to me, it's an extra hassle!

 

[bigbAZ]

When the House2Start came out I thought it was a great idea, but now with almost everyone going to LFP batteries I'm not so sure it's such a great idea anymore. It forces you to keep a constant charge on your LFP house batteries when most LFP manufacturers, along with commonly accepted practice, recommend storing LFP batteries at less than 100%, many at 50%.

 

[bigbAZ]

FWIW I installed a charger in a side compartment that has an outlet then connected that charger to my chassis battery, so whenever I am plugged into shore power my chassis battery is being maintained. Prior to that I had a charge cord tucked away under the front bumper which plugged into my charger but this is better, especially if you park outdoors, as long as you have power nearby. ( I keep my converter switched off)

 

[High Desert]

Both John and bigbAZ make good points here. I am new to lithium batteries. My class A, that I am downsizing from has lead acid, so I am used to keeping it plugged in to maintain both chassis and coach batteries while not in use. Seems lithium does not like sitting, unused with 100% charge while trying to maintain the chassis AGM battery. As much as I like the concept of the House2Start module, I’m now thinking that it may not be the best option for the chassis battery. Keeps chassis AGM charged, but short lifes the lithium? Maybe John’s concept is better using a charger to maintain the AGM and leave the lithium at 50 to 80% while not un use….? There should be a BIM system geared just to the chassis battery for storage use. So, a bit more research for me.

 

[High Desert]

FYI...I posed this question to "House2Start":
"

Interested in the product for 2026 Winnebago View with 320 amp lithium house battery and an AGM chassis battery on Mercedes Sprinter chassis. Question is if lithium batteries are to be stored at 50 to 80%, does the House2Start regulate / monitor lithium charge for that level, or does it charge to 100%, regardless? Or, is there a way to regulate lithium charge level while maintaining AGM battery? Thx, as this is a new arena for me coming from a class A with flooded lead acid batteries." Got this response back: "Hi Mike, Thank you for reaching out the House2Start. House2Start does not regulator or otherwise control the voltage of the input/source, which in your case is the lithium house battery. The charger only controls the output voltage (for charging the sprinter agm starter battery). What you are asking, optimizing storage conditions to maximize lithium battery service, is a big complex topic that encompasses not just the battery itself, but storage temperature and associated charging equipment within the RV. Lithium batteries last a long time, somewhere around 10 years. But ambient temperature and long-term 100% state-of-charge does decrease the total lifespan. These factors apply all year round, when you are using the battery or when it is in storage. If you are RV'ing in the southwest 10 months of the year (hot temps), and then storing the RV in Oregon during the winter, the 2 months of storage has negligible impact on total service life. Optimizing "storage conditions" only matters if the storage time is meaningful. Below is the datasheet for the 320ah lithionics battery found in most new WBO view/navion RVs. Long-term storage conditions are recommended if the battery wont be used for >3 months, and the recommendation is 50% SOC (13.2V). Achieving a ~50% stage of charge continually throughout storage is most practically achieved by turning off the battery (to stop charging & any loads), but then this also would turn off the house2start charger, so you'd then also need to disconnect the chassis battery. Some charge controllers do have 'storage mode' or other settings so that the lithium battery state of charge to be kept 50~80%. I am not sufficiently familiar with the charging hardware within the new navion/view RVs to tell you if they do or do not have this capability-- but if I had to guess my answer would be they don't." I think this gives a person good info to consider as how to approach keeping the chassis AGM battery charged during storage. Hope this helps others. Mike

 

[roundtail]

I have been doing research on the new View we are getting and found that the chassis battery does not charge while in storage when hooked to shore power (or in a campground connection). I have seen a few articles regarding the "House2Start" as a solution, but only see a couple of videos on YouTube about it. Has anyone installed this in their unit? And, is under the passenger seat the only option for an install or is there other spots that may work? Or, is there a better trickle charger option out there?

I put an H2S in our 2020 View 24D. However, we live in the Northeast, and the H2S self-interrupts at temps below freezing. I addressed that by getting a portable solar-powered trickle charger through Amazon. Parking for storage where the sun is on the windshield allowed for a simple installation. Kept my chassis charged all winter.

Easy, self-contained, under $100. Look for one with a charger controller with the same features a trickle charger has.