benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 10, 2015 11:49:23 GMT -8
For simplicity sake what is the easiest way to charge my camper battery at the campground that has no electric and NO GENERATORS? Simply charging it off the car. The battery is powering one outlet and the roof vent fan.
Ben
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RinTin
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Post by RinTin on Apr 10, 2015 13:12:33 GMT -8
You can charge it off the car but you need to isolate the trailer battery from the car battery.
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Ten
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Post by Ten on Apr 11, 2015 3:08:47 GMT -8
Simplest may be to purchase a trickle-charger, plug that into your shore power when set up and clip it to the battery. A float charger will not keep up with heavy draw, but on the other hand will not overcharge and burn anything up either.
Obviously that won't work if you are camping off the grid, then car-charging or a small solar maintainer become the only real options. Isolating your car charging circuit can be tricky in the new modern vehicles, seek professional advice for your particular vehicle before you do much modifying. You sure would not want to be stranded with a dead battery and a dead vehicle.
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Apr 11, 2015 7:47:30 GMT -8
Simplest may be to purchase a trickle-charger, plug that into your shore power when set up and clip it to the battery. A float charger will not keep up with heavy draw, but on the other hand will not overcharge and burn anything up either. Obviously that won't work if you are camping off the grid, then car-charging or a small solar maintainer become the only real options. Isolating your car charging circuit can be tricky in the new modern vehicles, seek professional advice for your particular vehicle before you do much modifying. You sure would not want to be stranded with a dead battery and a dead vehicle. It's very easy to isolate your car battery from the trailer. Make it a practice of just unplugging your seven way plug, when you camp, assuming that you leave the trailer still hitched.
Many trucks that were purchased with factory towing packages (like my last two F150's), have the battery charge wired through a relay that is not turned on unless the tow vehicle is running. Basically, the truck can charge the trailer battery, but the trailer battery cannot discharge the truck battery when the engine is not running. It's all very easy to check with a test light, or volt meter.
It's been my experience that a float charger has not had any problems keeping my deep cycle battery topped off when I have shore power. The problem most people have is that they do not understand the difference between the sizes of .25MA (as sold at HF for $5), and 2.5MA (as sold at your electronics store for $40).
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 15, 2015 9:49:53 GMT -8
I only have a 4 pin connector. Can I just hook jumpers from the Subaru's battery to the trailer battery?
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John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Apr 15, 2015 19:41:40 GMT -8
I only have a 4 pin connector. Can I just hook jumpers from the Subaru's battery to the trailer battery? The short answer is NO.
You can do most anything, but why risk burning up your tow cars wiring, causing a possible electrical fire, having an injury from a hydrogen explosion at the trailer's battery from sparks caused during your battery jumping?
Just buy a seven way plug, and wire it correctly. You could buy the male/female/wire/connectors/junction box for $50 and be done with it. Then if you want/need to tow any trailer, it's just a "plug in" with uniform wiring systems. Maybe an emergency occurs, and someone else needs to tow your trailer? It's much better to have a universal seven way connector, and make sure it's wired in the trailer industry accepted wire position. Best not to try and reinvent the wheel on this one.
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Post by vikx on Apr 15, 2015 20:55:04 GMT -8
I agree on the 7 way. All of my trailers have 7 way plugs even if they don't have brakes or a battery. With a 7 way on your vehicle, you are able to connect to ANY tow rig. Always be sure to wire the 7 way according to the universal US trailer code. There are erroneous diagrams online, eTrailer being one...
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 16, 2015 6:50:25 GMT -8
Since I have a 66 with no brakes, I need to switch my car to a 7 pin and the trailer to a 7 pin just to get the battery lines?
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Post by vikx on Apr 16, 2015 21:13:42 GMT -8
Yes, you got it.
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 17, 2015 4:30:00 GMT -8
Darn it!!!!
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houdini
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Post by houdini on Apr 19, 2015 3:24:55 GMT -8
For simplicity sake what is the easiest way to charge my camper battery at the campground that has no electric and NO GENERATORS? Simply charging it off the car. The battery is powering one outlet and the roof vent fan. Ben I picked up a solar panel and controller for 130 at harbor freight. Keeps battery fully charged even on cloudy days. Keeps bat at or around 13.4 volts. You do not even have to mount it on camper if you don't want to. I have mine mounted flat and not one problem...
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Post by bigbill on Apr 19, 2015 7:46:07 GMT -8
Ben you don't have to do anything. You merely ask a question and got answers on how to do it the safe and proper way. If something blows up or burns to the ground and there is a serious injury to you or a loved one it will be your problem and yours alone. Many people have done it in other ways some got away with it some didn't. Most of us on the board try to allow you the benefit of a lot of experience so that you don't have to learn the hard way. Without knowing the exact number of years each contributing member on this board has been camping I would guess that the board offers you a total of several hundred years experience and many of us old timers learned a lot the hard way back when modern safety devices were not available.
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benrogers
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Post by benrogers on Apr 19, 2015 10:29:02 GMT -8
Oh, the Darn It was comical. I'm never looking for easy. I'm 42 and veteran. I know easy isn't the best answer. I do look for simple though because again complex stuff is also not always the best answer either.
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Post by bigbill on Apr 19, 2015 11:10:18 GMT -8
I think simple is always best, but one has to avoid pitfalls and make sure that what they choose is safe for them and their loved ones. I don't like to spend a dime that I don't have to, but some times it is less expensive to do it right than to repair the damages.
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