Charging aux battery in camper trailer
Submitted: Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 at 19:56
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slats
I am trying to get my battery in my camper trailer charged from my car. I have an anderson plug on the trailer and car both connected directly to the batteries but there is no charge getting through.
No I haven't installed a battery isolator or dc/dc charger. Just connected both batteries directly together. I figured I wouldn't need either as it is only to prevent the aux battery draining while driving then disconnected at the end of the day and the solar panel connected.
I'm not that technically or electrically minded but I don't see why it wouldn't work but it's not working as I want it to. My understanding on how it will work is that the lower charged battery will draw from the higher.
I don't have a second battery installed in my car. No real need given we always head out with the camper.
Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated
Reply By: Robin Miller - Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 at 20:29
Wednesday, Sep 23, 2015 at 20:29
It may not be Optimum Slats but it will work.
But what
test have you done to determine it isn't charging ?
First thing would be to disconnect the second battery at the terminals and measuring the volts at the terminals.
They should be same as under the bonnet , which tells you you have good connections.
Then measure the 2nd and disconnected batteries voltage, if its lower a current will flow and charge it.
Maybe your solar is already charging the 2nd battery to higher than the cars battery voltage and if so no current will flow (into it).
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Reply By: Gronk - Thursday, Sep 24, 2015 at 10:57
Thursday, Sep 24, 2015 at 10:57
You need access to a digital multimeter....$10 if you can't get a hold of one .
Disconnect the camper from the car ( at the anderson plug )....start the car and
check at the anderson what the voltage is ?
Check at the campers anderson what the camper voltage is ?
Reconnect the anderson plugs and
check voltage again at the camper battery ?
If the voltage at the camper went up and is reading similar to the car voltage ( car still running ), then the charging circuit is OK.
If the camper voltage didn't change, then you have a break somewhere in the circuit ( as said, 1st place to look is the pins in the anderson plugs )
These tests will take all of 5 mins, so let us know how you go ?
AnswerID:
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