How much alternator do I really need?
Soon I hope to have my truck and 5th wheel. Since I will be new to 5th wheels I like to get advice about 5th wheels. One thing that I had been told is that I should get a high output alternator, aroun...
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110 to 120 amps is plenty. I wonder why someone would want a 265 amp alternator - optional on some Ford trucks. The wiring going to the trailer is only going to carry 12- 15 amps in stock configuration, and probably has a 20 amp fuse.
What I would recommend is upgrading the stock wiring to something like a #10 wire protected by a 30 amp auto reset circuit breaker. Then run a wire directly from the alternator (where the voltage is the highest) to the circuit breaker, to a fog light relay (rated at about 30 amps) to the power plug for the fifth wheel. Then you will be able to move up to 25 amps to the RV battery. Probably will only charge at 15 - 18 amp range due to length though.
Much of the battery charging should come from being plugged in at a campground, or from running a generator if you are dry camping. It would take many hours of driving with 10 - 12 amps going into the battery to fully charge it.
I would recommend that you get a couple of 100 - 150 watt solar panels. They will keep the battery full regardless of if the truck is charging it or not. Parked or not. Even while dry camping you can keep the battery pretty much full. They are not that expensive anymore. SunElec.com Then look for a 30 amp PWM controller.
From Home Depot, you can make mounts from 6" long aluminum angle and then run #10 grey wire from the roof down to the battery and controller through the refrigerator vent and behind it. Use rubber roof sealant to put below each mount, and above each screw, it will stay water tight.
Good luck,
Fred.
What I would recommend is upgrading the stock wiring to something like a #10 wire protected by a 30 amp auto reset circuit breaker. Then run a wire directly from the alternator (where the voltage is the highest) to the circuit breaker, to a fog light relay (rated at about 30 amps) to the power plug for the fifth wheel. Then you will be able to move up to 25 amps to the RV battery. Probably will only charge at 15 - 18 amp range due to length though.
Much of the battery charging should come from being plugged in at a campground, or from running a generator if you are dry camping. It would take many hours of driving with 10 - 12 amps going into the battery to fully charge it.
I would recommend that you get a couple of 100 - 150 watt solar panels. They will keep the battery full regardless of if the truck is charging it or not. Parked or not. Even while dry camping you can keep the battery pretty much full. They are not that expensive anymore. SunElec.com Then look for a 30 amp PWM controller.
From Home Depot, you can make mounts from 6" long aluminum angle and then run #10 grey wire from the roof down to the battery and controller through the refrigerator vent and behind it. Use rubber roof sealant to put below each mount, and above each screw, it will stay water tight.
Good luck,
Fred.
