Wiring - Charging

[IamJEEP]

You are right but that 16 or 14 gauge wire will not charge that battery. You still need bigger wiring and an isolator. You would have to let the battery charge for a long time to get it fully charged. If you are using lights, fan, or whatever in that trailer that draws more than you are charging, the trickle charge will not be enough.

[hoaxci5]

Pretty good quick read on whats being discussed..
http://www.damouth.org/RVStuff/TrCharge.shtml

[Sal-XK]

a 14 gauge wire is rated at 15amps safely. I would think that would be enough to charge a battery?

[cico7]

Well, I never considered the 7 wire harness for providing power,
but after i read the various comments, I found a website e-trailer
for a 7 wire diagram. They are using a 12 guage wire for the interior
lights or battery charger.

But like Sal suggested, need an isolator.

[cico7]

Oh I can't measure the amps for you guys a blew the amp fuse
in my meter and don't have any spares left.

Radio Shack or tinfoil.,

[IamJEEP]

Pretty good quick read on whats being discussed..
http://www.damouth.org/RVStuff/TrCharge.shtml

Bigger wires. =P

[IamJEEP]

a 14 gauge wire is rated at 15amps safely. I would think that would be enough to charge a battery?

Yes but how long are you willing to wait for that battery to charge?

[Sal-XK]

Radio Shack or tinfoil.,

I know I'm lazy

Bigger wires. =P

Yes bigger wires increases current and flow or amps and volts.

Yes but how long are you willing to wait for that battery to charge?

The longer it takes the better the charge and the happier the battery. I'm assuming that a deep cycle battery would be going on the trailer since it would be used to operate stuff and not start stuff. So I would be willing to wait you don't want to hot charge a deep cycle.

[IamJEEP]

I researched a bit online and according to a couple of RV forums, 12g wire at 10amps of charge is all you need for a trailer battery. So I would say you can use the trailer 7 wire to charge you trailer battery with no issues.

Sal, I agree that a deep cycle would be the ideal battery here. Trickle charge is the way to go, but I think you would need a battery monitor to stop charging when full.

[Sal-XK]

I always go back and read this when I talk about this kind of stuff or I'm planning any work with electricity. It always jars the cobwebs loose.
Ohm's Law Defined

Ohm's Law defines the relationships between (P) power, (E) voltage, (I) current, and (R) resistance. One ohm is the resistance value through which one volt will maintain a current of one ampere.
( I ) Current is what flows on a wire or conductor. Current is measured in (A) amperes or amps.

( E ) Voltage is the difference in electrical potential between two points in a circuit. It's the push or pressure behind current flow through a circuit, and is measured in (V) volts.

( R ) Resistance determines how much current will flow through a component. Resistors are used to control voltage and current levels. The higher the resistance, the smaller the amount of current is allowed to flow. Resistance is measured in ohms.

( P ) Power is the amount of current times the voltage level at a given point measured in wattage or watts.

V = I x R
I = V / R
R = V / I