Recharging with external charger
I plan to recharge my trailer batteries with a generator and external charger. If I have the trailer plugged into the generator as well, will the external charger and the internal converter be fightin...
Forum Discussion
Answer is: It depends.
If the built-in charger is multi-stage (can reach 14.4+ volts for high amp-rate charging), allowing it to go alone at first, per Mex, is most likely best. When the first charger falls back to 13.7 volts, then add the portable charger. Both will most likely keep charging at 13.7 volts (absorption mode) until one senses "full" charge ahead of the other.
If you have a "clamp-on" multi-meter, you could easily check the AMPs being output by each charger and add the total. Use the clamp on the POS(+) cable off each charger. If the amps total more than the best charger alone you are gaining ground.
On the other hand if you start with both chargers, the multi-stage charge may either drop out of "bulk mode" early, or never get into it. This way you may fall behind.
If the built-in charger is multi-stage (can reach 14.4+ volts for high amp-rate charging), allowing it to go alone at first, per Mex, is most likely best. When the first charger falls back to 13.7 volts, then add the portable charger. Both will most likely keep charging at 13.7 volts (absorption mode) until one senses "full" charge ahead of the other.
If you have a "clamp-on" multi-meter, you could easily check the AMPs being output by each charger and add the total. Use the clamp on the POS(+) cable off each charger. If the amps total more than the best charger alone you are gaining ground.
On the other hand if you start with both chargers, the multi-stage charge may either drop out of "bulk mode" early, or never get into it. This way you may fall behind.
