Battery Set Up for Caravan
Submitted: Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 04:28
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Member - Robert A (QLD)
Hi All.
We are awaiting delivery of our new Jayco Eagle Outback.
Can anyone give us advise OR web pages to go to, for a good battery set up for the van.
We would like to charge this off the Toyota and our little Honda generator.
But don't want to drawing off or take to much charge away from the start batteries of the Toyota.
Cheers
Rob
Reply By: Carl & Kaz - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 07:52
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 07:52
The Jayco camper trailers come with a trickle charger device built into the 240v management system. All of your lights and the electric start for the stove actually run on 12v - the management system is basically a transformer that converts the 240v input to 12v for use in the van.
Check out the manual for this system and it should show you how to wire a battery up so that it will charge when you have 240v supply (ie from your generator). This is a very simple setup.
We have a small 26Ah battery set up like this - it will run our lights for about 5 nights. We try to only have one or two lights on at a time - not 4 or 5! Abigger battery will give you longer between charges, but you have your genny, and I assume you have that to run other appliances anyway so it will be being used.
You can charge from the alternator when driving, but that is much more work in terms of setting the whole thing up - I just did not feel it was necessary!
My setup only cost about $120 including battery, small amount of wiring, isolation switch, and battery clamp.
Be aware that you cannot run your fridge off this battery without running extra wiring - and the 3way fridge draws about 10A so will flatten any battery darn quick!
Regards, Carl
AnswerID:
222393
Follow Up By: Member - Rotord - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 12:22
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 12:22
Hello Carl and Kaz
Wouldn't it be worthwhile to put in an Anderson plug to run the fridge and charge the van battery while driving ?
FollowupID:
483291
Follow Up By: Carl & Kaz - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 12:28
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 12:28
I actually have a 150amp anderson wired to the back of my 100s (done by previous owner). The camper fridge works on 12v while driving thru the trailer harness aux power - I use a 12pin flat harness which has the standard 7pins + 5 higher amp pins to reduce voltage drop. I use the bigger pins for the aux power.
To charge the battery I would need to run some wires from the front of the trailer to the battery which is at the rear - too much effort when I don't really need to charge the battery when driving. A couple of hours every 4-5 days plugged in to 240v charges the battery back up.
Still, it would be handy, I just haven't got around to doing it yet!
Carl
FollowupID:
483292
Reply By: Derek - Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 19:49
Sunday, Feb 18, 2007 at 19:49
Hi Rob
We have a kit Van Kit made for the car charging side of things and have upgraded the wire to 10mm2 from 8 B&S.
The 240V Van side of things I would need to know more info to recommend the right battery and charger set for you.
Contact me if you wish.
Regards
Derek.
AnswerID:
222521
Follow Up By: Member - Robert A (QLD) - Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 03:00
Tuesday, Feb 20, 2007 at 03:00
Hi Dereck.
Thanks for the info.
I will be intouch with more info.
Cheers
Rob
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