Seeking feedback on Xantrex ECHO-Charge Chassis Battery Maintainer

[luisimo]

Hi!

I have a 2022 Winnebago View 24J on a 3500XD Sprinter Chassis and love the remote features of the vehicle but as it seats for long periods of time I continue to get messages that the "12v battery very low".

That mostly means that I have to bring it home and plug it into a trickle charger... RV is at stored facility...

I am considering installing a Xantrex ECHO-Charger, any feedback or experience?

Oh yeah, RV has lithium batteries does that matter ?

 

[creativepart]

You might try YouTube for reviews of the EchoCharger. I think I’ve seen some there at one time.

I have the Amp-L-Start which was a similar product but no longer available. And I have LFP batteries, too. The thing to remember is that as the chassis battery runs down the charger is taking power from the house batteries to keep it charged up. There is no free lunch.

The choices are to augment your batteries with solar power or shore power. Or, a better solution for storage is to completely disconnect your chassis battery so that it doesn’t deplete and no auxiliary charger is needed.

The real use of the echo charger is not for long term storage, but long term stays at a campground while you are on shore power.

Having a large bank of LFP batteries certainly will lengthen the time you can keep your chassis battery charged with a device like the Echo Charger but it’s not indefinite.

Personally, I installed a full battery cutoff on my chassis battery for long term storage.

 

[goatlocker]

Hi!

I have a 2022 Winnebago View 24J on a 3500XD Sprinter Chassis and love the remote features of the vehicle but as it seats for long periods of time I continue to get messages that the "12v battery very low".

That mostly means that I have to bring it home and plug it into a trickle charger... RV is at stored facility...

I am considering installing a Xantrex ECHO-Charger, any feedback or experience?

Oh yeah, RV has lithium batteries does that matter ?

I just had the Xantrex ECHO-charger 82-0123-01 installed on my 2021 Vista 29V. I am picking it up from the shop today. I will report on the success later. My problem was the shore power at the storage facility was not charging my chassis battery. This Xantex is SUPPOSED to correct that.

 

[luisimo]

You might try YouTube for reviews of the EchoCharger. I think I’ve seen some there at one time.

I have the Amp-L-Start which was a similar product but no longer available. And I have LFP batteries, too. The thing to remember is that as the chassis battery runs down the charger is taking power from the house batteries to keep it charged up. There is no free lunch.

The choices are to augment your batteries with solar power or shore power. Or, a better solution for storage is to completely disconnect your chassis battery so that it doesn’t deplete and no auxiliary charger is needed.

The real use of the echo charger is not for long term storage, but long term stays at a campground while you are on shore power.

Having a large bank of LFP batteries certainly will lengthen the time you can keep your chassis battery charged with a device like the Echo Charger but it’s not indefinite.

Personally, I installed a full battery cutoff on my chassis battery for long term storage.

Thank you creativepart,

I used to have an Amp-L-Start on my prior RV but as you mentioned the owner passed away and product is not longer available. I do recalled that he offered two models, one for regular batteries and one for lithium batteries, that is why I am asking if I should watch for that.

I forgot to mention that I have 400 watt solar with the 320-amp Lithium-ion batteries.

I liked the smart features of the RV that I can control remotely, so I prefer not to install a battery cutoff.

Thank you for the reply.

 

[luisimo]

I just had the Xantrex ECHO-charger 82-0123-01 installed on my 2021 Vista 29V. I am picking it up from the shop today. I will report on the success later. My problem was the shore power at the storage facility was not charging my chassis battery. This Xantex is SUPPOSED to correct that.

That is awesome, will love to get your feedback in a few weeks.


PS. What kind of batteries are you running?

 

[luisimo]

I was looking at YouTube and while watching videos for Xantrex ECHO-Charger I read that other people recommended the Sterling Power Charger.

Does any body have any experience with either one? I got into a rabbit hole and I found out that Xantrex ECHO-Charger has a misleading instructions/manual for DIY people.

 

[RayIN]

why are you running the inverter if the RV is in storage? That's just one more phantom drain on the battery. Your RV should have a battery disconnect switch for storage, which solves the low battery issue.

 

[luisimo]

why are you running the inverter if the RV is in storage? That's just one more phantom drain on the battery. Your RV should have a battery disconnect switch for storage, which solves the low battery issue.

I am sorry, I am not running the inverter (120 volts), I just keep the power on (12 volts). The solar makes more power than the RV uses while idle.

- RV batteries are always 100%
- Chassis battery is the challenge here.

 

[RayIN]

I am sorry, I am not running the inverter (120 volts), I just keep the power on (12 volts). The solar makes more power than the RV uses while idle.

- RV batteries are always 100%
- Chassis battery is the challenge here.

In that case, doing as creativepart recommended is your best option.

 

[roundtail]

Hi!

I have a 2022 Winnebago View 24J on a 3500XD Sprinter Chassis and love the remote features of the vehicle but as it seats for long periods of time I continue to get messages that the "12v battery very low".

That mostly means that I have to bring it home and plug it into a trickle charger... RV is at stored facility...

I am considering installing a Xantrex ECHO-Charger, any feedback or experience?

Oh yeah, RV has lithium batteries does that matter ?

Great question, and I'll be learning this with you. We just acquired a 2020 View 24D, and I bought the same Echo-Charger for the same situation (storage lot, solar charger, avoid disconnect). The only difference is I currently have FLA coach batteries. I have yet to install it, because I'm still not sure if my coach needs something else to make the Xantrex work properly.

One word of caution when it comes to "youtube". I watched one particular video on an Echo-charger install where the installer gets under the coach to access the battery box, while using nothing but the hydraulic leveling jacks to hold up the chassis! Be very careful whose advice you follow on youtube.

The thing I'm currently stuck on is I'm unsure of the effect, if any, that the Echo-Charger will have on the Mastervolt Charge Mate relay's operation. If anybody has any insight into that, I'd be very grateful.

 

[MadMaxWinny]

The Echo-charger would be a very effective solution (given that you have solar). It basically "sits" between your house bank and your starting bank, allowing some of that solar (or charger/alternator) output to be shared.

 

[AnjuSonam]

I just got a 2024 View 24D , so learning as I research for the solution.
I found the following to be a reasonable alternative/solution on youtube

Comments/suggestions ?

 

[goatlocker]

I just had the Xantrex ECHO-charger 82-0123-01 installed on my 2021 Vista 29V. I am picking it up from the shop today. I will report on the success later. My problem was the shore power at the storage facility was not charging my chassis battery. This Xantex is SUPPOSED to correct that.

OK, guys. I had the Xantrex ECHO-charger 82-0123-01 installed back in January 2025. It has been in storage plugged into 120v, 20a receptacle since then. It has kept both my house batteries and my chassiss battery fully charged, with no problems at all. I'm not sure which brand batteries I have, but they are all no maintenance AGM's. So far, I am pleased with the product.

 

[roundtail]

Meant this as a reply, not a post, and didn't know how to delete it, so...

 

[roundtail]

I just got a 2024 View 24D , so learning as I research for the solution.
I found the following to be a reasonable alternative/solution on youtube

Comments/suggestions ?

I recently applied a solution using a House2Start DC-DC charger, which I'm planning to post about once the final installation is complete.

In my 2020 View 24D, the issue is with the Mastervolt Chargemate relay that WBO installs in '19 and later Sprinters. Long story short, this is a "voltage sensing" relay that connects your chassis and house batteries to allow the alternator to power the 110 volt refrigerator while driving.

The operative term here is "voltage sensing". If you have the Mastervolt, you cannot use the install as configured in that video unless your Mastervolt is verified switched off when your engine is off. Otherwise, if your charging profile on the chassis side reaches >13.5 volts, the Mastervolt will connect the banks, and you will be charging the chassis side at whatever the house bank is receiving (through the Mastervolt) and in spite of what your DC-DC charger is doing. That, you need to avoid, so you do not risk feeding the wrong voltages to a battery that shouldn't be getting them. That is why the Mastervolt only senses voltage on the chassis side.

Also, circuit breakers are not switches. If you need to regularly use a switch, install a switch.

 

[luisimo]

Quick Update...

As I mentioned before I have a 2022 Winnebago View 24J with solar and lithium batteries.
I installed the Xantrex ECHO-Charge Chassis Battery Maintainer ...super easy... and battery discharge is not longer an issue