Charging While Towing
Newbie to the forum here. Looked around a bit and didn't see anything specific so worth a fresh post. We just took our first long trip in my 16ft TT after I installed a new (4)6-volt 460AH system ...
Forum Discussion
DavidP wrote:
Not exactly. The remote/trailer battery will receive the full voltage the tow vehicle provides but the tow vehicle in many applications and in all (?) modern (factory install) cases uses a battery isolator to protect from discharge of heavy loads and rapid discharge of the remote/trailer. True they are installed in parallel but it is one sided. No matter the state of charge/discharge of the trailer battery the tow vehicle battery is isolated from loads/discharge originating from the remote/trailer battery
I disagree with this statement !
If have looked at a few different wiring diagrams (mostly Ford products) and there is NO ISOLATOR between the vehicle battery and the 7 pin trailer connector. Usually just a fuse and a relay.
Voltage drop from the vehicle battery to the trailer battery IS MEASURABLE ! Easily 0.2V-0.8V depending on the gauge of the wire, and the "condition" of any connectors. Modern vehicle charging system typically put out about 13.2V-13.6V most of the time. Subtract the voltage drop and you just don't have enough voltage at the house battery to properly charge it.
