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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2oldman wrote:It's actually a very useful trick, a cheap way to force the Tow Vehicle into a "Bulk Charge" Voltage. The charge system in the Tow Vehicle uses a Voltage "Sense" wire to test whether the battery is "fully charged". If you cut this wire and insert a ceramic diode, the diode will cause the voltage reading to be seen at about .5V less than the correct value.Flatfive wrote:I have no idea.
What is WyoTraveler talking about: " a diode and 10 ft of wire"?
This will have the effect of raising the Alternator Voltage (and current), because the Voltage under the hood must be raised to "charge the battery". Without such a trick, the Tow Vehicle will run at a "float mode" Voltage, and it will take forever to charge the Trailer batteries. With the reading .5v lower, the true Voltage will be raised, running at or near a "bulk charge mode" value.
The only problem: You need to remove the resistor when you're finished, or else you will cook the Truck/TV battery to death pretty quickly.
My way is vastly better, but uses a $$ Solar Controller to avoid damaging batteries. Just "search" on my name, you'll find the Thread. ;)
