Charge Batteries by Idling Tow Vehicle?
This may be a dumb question, but since every tow vehicle has a generator which is connected to the batteries and they charge while driving, how about hooking up and charging at the campsite while idli...
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You will have to use a multimeter across your RV battery terminals and see if it is showing 13.2VDC to 14.4VDC when the truck motor is at idle speed.
The rules for charging batteries is at play here...
This is what PROGRESSIVE Dynamics states in their operating manual on how long it takes to charge a battery using the DC VOLTAGEs listed below:
"Progressive Dynamics ran this test on the amount of time it took a PD9155 (55-amp) converter/charger set to three different output voltages to recharge a 125 AH (Amp Hour) battery after it was fully discharged to 10.5-volts.
14.4-VOLTS (Boost Mode) – Returned the battery to 90% of full charge in approximately 3-hours. The battery reached full charge in approximately 11 hours.
13.6-VOLTS (Normal Mode) – Required 40-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 78-hours to reach full charge.
13.2-VOLTS (Storage Mode) – Required 60-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 100-hours to reach full charge."
This is based on having 17-20AMPS DC current available for each battery in your battery bank... NOTE That Progressive Dynamics doesn't even list using DC Charge Voltages around the 12.0VC range as this would take alot more than 100 hours to achieve a 90% or 100% charge state.
This will be running your truck for a long time period... Minimum charge time would be three hours to achieve a 90% charge state using 14.4VDC BOOST charge.
If you are thinking to just charge your battery for short times you may end up doing damage to your batteries... For them to produce almost full performance they have to start out with at least a 90% charge state...
This is what we have experienced at any rate camping alot off the power grid...
Roy Ken
The rules for charging batteries is at play here...
This is what PROGRESSIVE Dynamics states in their operating manual on how long it takes to charge a battery using the DC VOLTAGEs listed below:
"Progressive Dynamics ran this test on the amount of time it took a PD9155 (55-amp) converter/charger set to three different output voltages to recharge a 125 AH (Amp Hour) battery after it was fully discharged to 10.5-volts.
14.4-VOLTS (Boost Mode) – Returned the battery to 90% of full charge in approximately 3-hours. The battery reached full charge in approximately 11 hours.
13.6-VOLTS (Normal Mode) – Required 40-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 78-hours to reach full charge.
13.2-VOLTS (Storage Mode) – Required 60-hours to return the battery to 90% of full charge and 100-hours to reach full charge."
This is based on having 17-20AMPS DC current available for each battery in your battery bank... NOTE That Progressive Dynamics doesn't even list using DC Charge Voltages around the 12.0VC range as this would take alot more than 100 hours to achieve a 90% or 100% charge state.
This will be running your truck for a long time period... Minimum charge time would be three hours to achieve a 90% charge state using 14.4VDC BOOST charge.
If you are thinking to just charge your battery for short times you may end up doing damage to your batteries... For them to produce almost full performance they have to start out with at least a 90% charge state...
This is what we have experienced at any rate camping alot off the power grid...
Roy Ken
