I'm on one side of the hill, technology is on the other side

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 21:07

ThreadID: 48568 Views:3399 Replies:3 FollowUps:4

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Member - Kim M (VIC)

I'm just about to put money down on a Off Road trailer. It comes with an 80 amp hour battery charged from the car.

However, I have a 80w Solar Panel and a 2 KVA Honda generator. What "black box thingy" do I need to charge the battery from these two units?

Regards

Kim

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Reply By: RustyHelen - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 21:13

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 21:13

Kim
Get on to the yahoo campertrailers group. The forum there will give you all you need to know. Word of advice though don't post with words "12 volt" in the title as this usually attracts a lot of traffic.....
Rusty

AnswerID: 256649

Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 21:15

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 21:15

Thanks for that. I'll have a look.

Regards

Kim

FollowupID: 517704

Reply By: Gronk - Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 23:35

Thursday, Aug 09, 2007 at 23:35

You need two thingies !! A solar regulator and a 3 stage ( preferably ) batt charger !!

AnswerID: 256658

Reply By: Mainey (WA) - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 08:43

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 08:43

Kim,
Question:
(a) do you have a dual battery system in the car ??
(b) do you also have a Solar REGULATOR ??

AnswerID: 256675

Follow Up By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 17:53

Friday, Aug 10, 2007 at 17:53

Mainey

Yes, to both of your questions.

After a few phone calls today, the battery charger questions has been answered.

The Solar panel has an Anderson plug fitted, but I'm not sure how to connect it via the trailer wiring to the battery.

Regards

Kim

FollowupID: 517834

Follow Up By: Mainey (WA) - Sunday, Aug 12, 2007 at 16:55

Sunday, Aug 12, 2007 at 16:55

Kim, it has to be an independent cable running from the (+) Aux battery terminal in the vehicle, to the (+) Aux battery in the CT via an Anderson plug at the tow bar and back to the (-) negative terminal of the vehicle Aux battery.

Connect the Solar panel via the solar regulator, to the Aux battery (pos & neg terminals) in the vehicle first, then parallel wire this battery to the Camper trailer battery.

Don't use the 'normal' trailer wiring loom or 5 or 7 pin connector as the battery cable has to be capable of going the full distance from end to end with ZERO voltage drop, so it has to be "thick" just how thick depends on the total distance.

The vehicle Aux battery and Camper Aux battery will be charged by the vehicle when driving and by the Solar panel when stopped (in the sun) and the two batteries (when connected together) will run all your electrical accessories, using lesser percentage of each battery, making charging faster and leaving the Cranking battery only for starting.

FollowupID: 518064