Posted 2010-04-16 3:04 PM (#118943 - in reply to #118942) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Expert
Posts: 2453
Location: Northern Utah
Yes, if you drive enough.
I blow that fuse in my truck frequently. But then I'm towing all kinds of trailers almost daily. I think my dump trailer sucks too much juice when I have to dump a really heavy load.
Posted 2010-04-16 4:41 PM (#118947 - in reply to #118943) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA
Originally written by Painted Horse on 2010-04-16 4:04 PM
I blow that fuse in my truck frequently. But then I'm towing all kinds of trailers almost daily. I think my dump trailer sucks too much juice when I have to dump a really heavy load.
I had a fuse in my truck that was a chronic problem. From NAPA I purchased an auto reset circuit breaker, that has a fuse base and fits into the fuse box. No more replacing the fuse every trip. They are available in standard amperage ratings
Posted 2010-04-16 8:16 PM (#118949 - in reply to #118942) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 420
Location: Florida
Take a look at the charging chart on the bottom of this link.
Definitely you should never count on your truck to fully charge your batteries. But it should help maintain the general health of a fully charged battery while on the road and especially when the Refer is running drawing the 12v power.
Posted 2010-04-16 10:01 PM (#118952 - in reply to #118942) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
To make mine charge "RIGHT", I added a larger cable from the battery to the rear of the truck and used a quick coupler (like they use in wreckers for jumper cables) mounted on the rear and the plug on the trailer to the batteries. I used 4ga on the truck and trailer along with a breaker just incase.
This works much better that the little 14ga wire in the 7 way plugs and now I can use this on mydump trailer and power jack with no power drop or slow running motors.
Posted 2010-04-17 9:23 AM (#118958 - in reply to #118956) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
I run 1 cable all the way to the battery on the truck and a short cable to ground to the frame on the rear of the truck.
Same on the trailers, 1 to the batteries and a shorter cable to a place out of the way on the frame for a good ground. Just make sure you have enough slack on the trailer side for turns (I used cable ties to run along with my 7 way trailer plug).
I will get some pictures after lunch to post for you.
Single replacement plug for either end of the SM1 or GL18 Lexan Plug Jump-Start Sets. Order a single plug for either end of the set or buy a pair to replace both plug ends.... MORE INFO
Posted 2010-04-18 9:33 AM (#118984 - in reply to #118942) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
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Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
I got a single battery that gets it recharge, from the hot all the time lead off the truck. Truck alternator will rechage the battery if you drive a long distance otherwise it will need to be touched up with a regular battery charger, if it has been pulled way down. With a dual battery set up you would have to drive all the way across country for the truck to recharge them through a 14 gauge wire....
Posted 2010-04-18 11:13 AM (#118992 - in reply to #118942) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
Mine charges from the same hot wire in the 7 way plug also but when puttting a load from an electric jack or electric motor from a dump trailer that small 14ga wire gets HOT and I have low power and a slow working motor.
With this deal I use on my trailer, I have good power all the time which I think would be better on the motors I am working with. The 4ga maybe an over kill, but I had a roll left from my wrecker so it was FREE.
Posted 2010-04-18 12:15 PM (#118993 - in reply to #118992) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Expert
Posts: 3802
Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by hogtownboss on 2010-04-18 12:13 PM
Mine charges from the same hot wire in the 7 way plug also but when puttting a load from an electric jack or electric motor from a dump trailer that small 14ga wire gets HOT and I have low power and a slow working motor.
With this deal I use on my trailer, I have good power all the time which I think would be better on the motors I am working with. The 4ga maybe an over kill, but I had a roll left from my wrecker so it was FREE.
That's the same type plug we used on the "drag car" many years ago.... Won't fit but one way.
Posted 2010-04-19 11:00 AM (#119020 - in reply to #118942) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Expert
Posts: 1351
Location: Decatur, Texas
No more than you do with the regular trailer plug left plugged in...
But I also have a generator I use when we camp and when I park for the week or weekend, I unplug both plugs from the truck and plug into shore power....
Posted 2010-04-20 8:10 AM (#119057 - in reply to #118942) Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Indiana
Gone - "AU" stands for automatic, meaning that if you choose "AU" you will allow your refrigerator to choose the best or only available means of energy, and nine times out of 10 it will choose LP. When you wish to choose the energy source yourself you can choose LP, AC, or DC (although the majority of 6 c.f. refrigerators do not offer DC, as it would bring your batteries down very quickly). If you don't have the user's manual for your refrigerator, you can quite often contact the manufacturer to obtain one.