156 replies to this topic

[Utah]

Thanks Paul. The fridge will indeed be supplied power from the camper battery. It is only the common negative/ground that will be connected back to the truck battery.

If you see this differently based on my wiring diagram please let me know. My understanding is that the Victron Orion will keep the truck battery isolated from the camper battery (even though there is a common ground).

[PaulT]

Looking at circuit diagram on my desktop with large display makes it clear. I first looked at it on my phone. Not smart with old eyes.

I saw a conclusion and jumped for it. 

 

Paul

[craig333]

I can easily use my camper batteries to start the truck and before I bought new truck batteries I actually had to do that twice. 

 

Once I gradually lost all power in the truck. I never did figure out what the cause was and it never repeated but it was sure comforting to throw the switch in the camper and bring the truck back to life especially since it was night in the middle of nowhere.

[Wallowa]

What switch is that?

 

"comforting to throw the switch in the camper and bring the truck back to life.." 

[ntsqd]

Some isolators have the ability to be "forced" to close and connect the batteries. Other's employ a marine battery combiner switch in parallel with the isolator. I have such a system on one vehicle. A 'house battery' and a main starting battery with an Auto-Charging Relay and a battery switch between them. Can start it from either battery, or both if necessary.

[craig333]

I don't use an isolator, just a simple marine switch. My camper didn't come with a battery so it also didn't come with an isolator and I saw no reason to add one. It requires a bit more thought from the user though. 

[ntsqd]

I run the cables to the battery switch, then the leads from the ACR are run to each battery's terminal on the switch. Makes the install simple and clean.