Surepower 1314A battery isolater question

gristle

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Joined
Nov 15, 2024
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Grand Junction CO
Hello
I've recently acquired a 2015 FWC hawk, and am attempting to get the basic wiring sorted out. It has a functioning surepower 1314A battery isolator, and when I look at the diagrams for hooking it up, it is unclear to me if it will work if I do NOT connect the brown wire to the start position of the ignition switch. Can do it if I have to, but it seemed like the owner was indicating that it had worked without that step being done.
 

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Cool, thanks for the reply. Can I assume that when I upgrade to lithium batteries this isolator will become obsolete? Vehicle has dumb alternator, if that matters
 
yes, I would recommend that once you got LiFePo4 you will want a DCDC charger and fatter wires. Dumb alternators are wonderful, in my book.
 
Hello
I've recently acquired a 2015 FWC hawk, and am attempting to get the basic wiring sorted out. It has a functioning surepower 1314A battery isolator, and when I look at the diagrams for hooking it up, it is unclear to me if it will work if I do NOT connect the brown wire to the start position of the ignition switch. Can do it if I have to, but it seemed like the owner was indicating that it had worked without that step being done.
Back in 2011 there was a recall on this isolator.
You could search back through post from that time.
I had one with my 2009 ATC Bobcat and the company gave me a refund.
The threads probably are under the camper topic.
Maybe do a Google search and that will give you the info.
Frank
 
The thread was started by uglyscout under truck campers .It was for the 1314 model though.
Don't if the recall was extended to other models. The problem was overheating with a chance of fire.
Frank
 
yes, I would recommend that once you got LiFePo4 you will want a DCDC charger and fatter wires. Dumb alternators are wonderful, in my book.
Yes, I'm already running fatter wires from the truck. While I'm crawling around under there, are there any other wires besides + & - that I can foresee needing when I upgrade to Lithium Batts? Also, right now I have a SmartSolar Charge Controller, MPPT 75 I 15...Will I need to upgrade that for Lithium, too?
 
Final question...I'm upgrading the wiring from my truck to 4, planning to still use the Surepower Isolator for now; a DC to DC charger in the future, and then it occured to me: Do I need to upgrade or protect my puny 100A alternator on my 2000 Toyota? I don't plan to run more than the heater, a few lights occasionally, and the refrigerator..
 
Fat wires are great for truck/alternator charging. The great thing about AGM/FLA batteries is that they have way higher internal resistance, and also resist further charging the more charged they are. So your alternator will be fine. It may work hard when if/when you really drain your batteries, but otherwise will be fine.

You also really want a good State of Charge (SOC) battery meter. I like the Victron Smart Shunt or the BMV 712. It will give you way more info on what's really going on with your batteries.
 
Thank you! Now I can start running that wire. If I go to a DC-DC charger later, with lithium batteries, is the alternator still safe? Any you'd recommend?
 
Much depends on how big your camper LiFePo4 battery bank will be, how empty it is, and what other loads are on your alternator. To be safe, I'd get a DCDC. I like Victron gear. Other folks are using Redarc or Renogy stuff.
 

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