Friday, Jan 07, 2011 at 13:04
Basic answer is yes you can.
Ensure you are running the thickest cable you can from your starter battery to whatever solenoid you are running and then back to the trailer.
Anderson plugs are the choice of most to connect at the coupling.
Voltage drop is your enemy running wire from front of vehicle to trailer etc.
However, if you drain your agm down to say 50%, and only drive for an hr the next day, you may
well not top up your agm for that short trip.
If you spend 5 + hrs on the road, then there is a good chance you have been able to top up your agm and starter to 90%.
The last few % of top up usually take a higher voltage than your car charging system can offer, say 14.5, car might peter out once operating temps are obtained at 13.8.
In saying that, given enough time, full charge can be obtained by 13.8v ish output
So basically, fine for travelling, when you stop at a park, or have access to 240v you can then charge it up the last bit overnight with your 240v battery charger etc, or if you have solar, use them.
The 12v 12v chargers are a good investment if you want that full charge, mount them next to your agm trailer batteries.
Whilst the alternator can put out higher amps to begin with, the 12v 12v charger comes into its own when/ if you suffer voltage drop, or want that last bit put into your batteries, especially if your alternator is charging the crank batt at 13.8ish, and you want more into your agm's.
This is the readers digest version.
Any solenoid will do, a manual on off will work just as a redarc smart one will.
I have both on my vehicle with 3 batteries, and it works
well.
some solenoids have better contacts inside than others, thus offer better current flow over a longer service life than others, but basically then all do the same thing, isolate, or connect the 2nd battery to the cars charging system.
hope that helps
Trains
AnswerID:
440966
Follow Up By: Mandrakemuffley - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 21:03
Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 21:03
Thanks all! i very much appreciate the assistance from everyone. i have been trying to get my head around this stuff for weeks now!
Can't wait to get my baby up and firing!
cheers
Trev
FollowupID:
713314