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battery dual battery parallel dc chargers

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#11 Advmoto18

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Posted 16 September 2018 - 07:39 PM

I must confess electrical issues are somewhat of a black box to me...

So having said that my question Vic can you explain the wiring from your alternator to your camper?

When I bought my new truck I had our local truck accessory dealer to install a 7 pin switch in the left front side of the bed which is what Hallmark did on our original installation. I have no idea what gauge wire they used or where they ran the wire to..

Any insight would be appreciated....

Eddie...

 

Since we have near identical trucks...

 

I ran 2 AWG from Pos/Neg terminals of the LH battery, through a breaker for Red, back to camper bed.  I used Anderson PowerPole on truck bed side to camper side.  Camper side, Red cable ran through the Blue Sea 7622 separator, the other to the Blue Sea 500A shunt.

 

The heavier the cable you use, the more amps that can be pushed to the camper batteries from the alternator, 

 

Once "bulk" charging is complete, it becomes a much slower process for Volts to push Amps into the batteries through absorption.  The bigger diameter the wire the better.

 

I used tinned crimped 3/8" fittings on the end of the welding cable for terminal connections.

 

Go with welding cable!!!!  More, thinner strands of copper means more flexibility in the wire and more amps being pushed through the wire.

 

Bill


Edited by Advmoto18, 16 September 2018 - 07:41 PM.

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#12 Vic Harder

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Posted 16 September 2018 - 07:49 PM

480W, wowza... that's great!  I'd like to see a picture of your roof and how you laid that out.


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#13 klahanie

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Posted 16 September 2018 - 08:26 PM

Agreed Klahanie.  White Dog did oversimplify, but some folks need that to get the point. 

 

To be clear I think White Dog could have done at least as well in 20 mins, from what I've read of his postings anyway.

 

The most intriguing part of that vid was the idea of using another regular SLI battery. It was stated the alternator would charge it but it wouldn't last as long as a more conventional house battery (might). Which brings to mind the wonder that is oem charging system.

 

After all, who among the tens of millions of private vehicle owners check their battery condition-ever; or put it on a tender when away for holiday; or drive enough to recharge after each engine start or stereo listening. Or, frankly, even know what side of the engine compartment it's on. And some units last a very long time, 10yrs is not unheard of.

 

Granted oem alternators, power controls and SLI batteries are not the same in the past, they have evolved. Makes generalising less accurate, but still just as fun...

 

Compare that to house batteries. Just look at Craig's thread with all the links to read, all the products and techniques that can be employed vs the humble oem SLI where no knowledge is required until time of replacement. Then it's just vehicle make, model and year of mfr.

 

Yeah, I know, different horses for different courses. The battery uses are different etc. But the oem system performing so well was the underlying idea behind me using heavy ga. Make the truck charging think the house batt is part of it's system, part of it's battery bank really, because it does such a good job charging and maintaining on it's own.

 

my .02


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#14 Advmoto18

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Posted 16 September 2018 - 09:27 PM

As Vic hashed out (and quite well done and thought provoking)  in his epic "I need more Power Scotty" thread...

 

IMH (humble) O, the issue will never be how can I get more power to suit my consumption needs, but rather, how do I conserve what power (stored energy) I have to meet my needs for "x" number of days.   More power is like have having more space to pack stuff.  If you have the space, you will pack more stuff.  Likewise, if you have more stored power, you will use more stored energy.  And enough will never be enough IMH (humble) O.

 

Each one of us has a different life style with our own unique quirks that require energy from our camper batteries.

 

While I admire the person who designs a solar system to run a microwave, TV with DirectTV, Mr Coffeemaker and whatever, frankly, that's not me.   The only reason I have a FWC camper is so the wife will go on adventures with me.  Solo on my motorcycle, I'm tickled pink sleeping on the ground in my Hilleberg 1 person tent.  Cooking with twigs in my Solo Stove.  But, L (wife) prefers sleeping in a bed, in her pjs, on nice sheets under a down comforter, with LED reading lights...and a gas fired furnace for when its below 60F...so I have a FWC Hawk and enjoy the heck out of it with L along for the ride.

 

So again, IMH (humble) O, figure out the energy you need to be HAPPY  and design accordingly.


Edited by Advmoto18, 16 September 2018 - 09:28 PM.

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#15 smlobx

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Posted 17 September 2018 - 06:03 PM

Bill-
Thanks for the info. Email sent..
BTW, my wife is cut from the same cloth....
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Eddie
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Travel light. Travel far. Travel safe.






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