Wiring - Charging

[Sal-XK]

I guess you could install an isolator after that plug to keep you starter battery from draining.

[cico7]

I guess you could install an isolator after that plug to keep you starter battery from draining.

I agree with that 100%. My first thought was a plug to charge the battery,
seperate from the tow wiring harness.

I would think I would need heavier wiring than a trailer plug which is about 14 -16 guage. The wire from your alternator to the battery is about 6g.

[IamJEEP]

I agree with that 100%. My first thought was a plug to charge the battery, seperate from the tow wiring harness.
I would think I would need heavier wiring than a trailer plug which is about 14 -16 guage. The wire from your alternator
to the battery is about 6g.

Yes but that's a short run from the alt to the bat. You would need to up-size the gauge to make up for the length if you want the same amount of amps to get back there. I'm thinking at least 4 gauge from the front to the back.

[hoaxci5]

I think with deep cycle batteries you want to charge them slowly, in which case there wouldn't be any reason to upgrade the wiring. Maybe just add a relay so that the 12+ on the 7 pin only has power when the ignition is on. (Can you do that with wires that connect two batteries?)

[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

[IamJEEP]

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

Bigger wires. =P

[Sal-XK]

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

[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]

I agree with that 100%. My first thought was a plug to charge the battery, seperate from the tow wiring harness.
I would think I would need heavier wiring than a trailer plug which is about 14 -16 guage. The wire from your alternator
to the battery is about 6g.

Not necessarily true you're not starting a motor or running a large electric motor like on a winch you're just charging a battery. So the smaller wire will do the job in fact maybe better then a larger one because it will charge slower instead of a hot charge. I would have to measure it but it a deep charge is considered 2amps or a trickle charge if you will but I'm guessing maybe get more amps out of it then that. Just some food for thought. 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.