How to keep toy hauler batteries charged?
OK, So I finally got a toy hauler - an '05 Forest River Sandpiper Sport. 32', open design (No separate garage), no slides. I think it'll be perfect for my needs. The owner did a fantastic job of tr...
Forum Discussion
Hi and congrats on your new RV and welcome to the forum. Most of us were once where you are so do not feel like you are asking dumb questions.
"Still perplexed why there is a female 50amp plug in the housing compartment where the 50amp extension cord is stored..."
Ok think of it this way... Your RV is a very large electrical appliance than must be plugged in for anything AC to work inside. That is what the 50 amp cord is for. You can either plug it into a 15 or 20 amp outlet on the outside of your house with the proper adaptors or you can plug it into a pedistel at the campground you are parked at.
Now, if you are camping where there in no electricity available, you can plug it into the female outlet where the cord is stored and that will connect your large camping appliance to your generator. That female outlet is your generator outlet and you must be plugged into it in order to use it. Many people often times do not need the full power of their generator so they buy a small portable inverter generator (very quite) and, again with adaptors, plug their cord into the little generator. Your built in generator is sized to be able to run your air conditioned and most everything else where as a small portable will usually run everything except the AC.
Depending on many factors, you will need to be plugged every day of camping for 3-6 hours on order for your batteries to get you through the night. Your batteries run all DC equipment including most lighting, Heater, exhaust fans, and built in stereo etc.
If you have an INverter, your batteries can also provide some AC power to certain circuits but it will not run your Air conditioner.
Your CONverter is what charges your batteries and also provides DC power when your big 50 amp cord is plugged into something. CONverters come in many varities, some dumb ones do not charge very well, some smart and some very smart. The smarter they are, the better and quicker they charge your batteries.
I hope this helps.
"Still perplexed why there is a female 50amp plug in the housing compartment where the 50amp extension cord is stored..."
Ok think of it this way... Your RV is a very large electrical appliance than must be plugged in for anything AC to work inside. That is what the 50 amp cord is for. You can either plug it into a 15 or 20 amp outlet on the outside of your house with the proper adaptors or you can plug it into a pedistel at the campground you are parked at.
Now, if you are camping where there in no electricity available, you can plug it into the female outlet where the cord is stored and that will connect your large camping appliance to your generator. That female outlet is your generator outlet and you must be plugged into it in order to use it. Many people often times do not need the full power of their generator so they buy a small portable inverter generator (very quite) and, again with adaptors, plug their cord into the little generator. Your built in generator is sized to be able to run your air conditioned and most everything else where as a small portable will usually run everything except the AC.
Depending on many factors, you will need to be plugged every day of camping for 3-6 hours on order for your batteries to get you through the night. Your batteries run all DC equipment including most lighting, Heater, exhaust fans, and built in stereo etc.
If you have an INverter, your batteries can also provide some AC power to certain circuits but it will not run your Air conditioner.
Your CONverter is what charges your batteries and also provides DC power when your big 50 amp cord is plugged into something. CONverters come in many varities, some dumb ones do not charge very well, some smart and some very smart. The smarter they are, the better and quicker they charge your batteries.
I hope this helps.
