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Truck Charging Batteries

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Gone
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2010-04-16 3:03 PM (#118942)
Subject: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: MI.
Isn't your truck suppose to be able to charge your trailer batteries when driving down the road?
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Painted Horse
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2010-04-16 3:04 PM (#118943 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries



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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.

 



Edited by Painted Horse 2010-04-16 3:06 PM
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Gone
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2010-04-16 3:08 PM (#118944 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: MI.
I want to run the fridge. Is this possible? What's AU stand for on the fridge?

Edited by Gone 2010-04-16 3:10 PM
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gard
Reg. Aug 2007
Posted 2010-04-16 4:41 PM (#118947 - in reply to #118943)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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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

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gard
Reg. Aug 2007
Posted 2010-04-16 4:48 PM (#118948 - in reply to #118944)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: western PA

Originally written by Gone on 2010-04-16 4:08 PM

I want to run the fridge. Is this possible? What's AU stand for on the fridge?

I don't understand the question. Why can't you run the fridge?

The only symbols I'm familar with for AU, is the country of Australia or the chemical symbol for gold. I'm sure there are many more.

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BlazingCreekBar
Reg. Nov 2008
Posted 2010-04-16 8:16 PM (#118949 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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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.

http://www.progressivedyn.com/prod_details/charge_wizard.html

I also like this chart. I use it in conjunction with my battery meter that I keep plugged into the 12v outlet.

http://www.ccis.com/home/mnemeth/12volt/voltchart1.gif

Battery meter:  (Walmart has it in the marine section too)

http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog/12v-digital-meter-19-0350.html

 

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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-16 10:01 PM (#118952 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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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.

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BlazingCreekBar
Reg. Nov 2008
Posted 2010-04-17 6:47 AM (#118956 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Very interesting HTB. 

Where did you run the 4awg wire to in your truck? 

I wonder if this would be a good use of an upfitter switch?

Can you post a link to a picture of the coupler (if you can

I would like to do that for my dump trailer.

 

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Gone
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2010-04-17 8:21 AM (#118957 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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We just noticed we don't have a dc fridge....I'd prefer to run the fridge on something other than propane while driving down the road.
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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-17 9:23 AM (#118958 - in reply to #118956)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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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. 

Maybe a little over kill, but works great!

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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-18 12:04 AM (#118971 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: Decatur, Texas
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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-18 12:07 AM (#118972 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: Decatur, Texas

One picture shows how I mounted one plug to the rear of my truck, the other I tried to get a close up of the plug that is on the trailer.

Northern Tool did carry some ends like this in the auto/truck section with the jumper cables.

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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-18 12:25 AM (#118973 - in reply to #118956)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: Decatur, Texas
Single Replacement Plug End - Superior Signals
Manufacturer:
Superior Signals Incorporated
Product Type:
Jump Start Sets and Accessories

Replacement Plug Ends

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

View All Versions
Starting @ $11.99
 
Here is some like mine from http://www.awdirect.com/.
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Gone
Reg. May 2005
Posted 2010-04-18 7:41 AM (#118977 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: MI.
Interesting......
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retento
Reg. Aug 2004
Posted 2010-04-18 9:33 AM (#118984 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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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....

 

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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-18 11:13 AM (#118992 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Posts: 1351
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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.

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retento
Reg. Aug 2004
Posted 2010-04-18 12:15 PM (#118993 - in reply to #118992)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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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.

 

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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-18 3:14 PM (#118994 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: Decatur, Texas

Yeap, that way if the better half has to hook up she will not have to call and say which way does this plug go, only plugs in one way.....

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greyhorse
Reg. Nov 2005
Posted 2010-04-18 9:45 PM (#119002 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries



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Location: Texas
If you're running right to the truck battery/batteries then you also risk running them down if you don't unplug when camping or stopping somewhere.
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hogtownboss
Reg. Sep 2008
Posted 2010-04-19 11:00 AM (#119020 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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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....

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BlazingCreekBar
Reg. Nov 2008
Posted 2010-04-19 5:17 PM (#119035 - in reply to #118942)
Subject: RE: Truck Charging Batteries


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Location: Florida

I think Dodge is the only live with key off 7 way. 

I also unplug the truck when camping.

 

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SparksRFlyin
Reg. Apr 2010
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.
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