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trailgranny50's avatar
trailgranny50
Explorer
Aug 13, 2015

20th century upgrade.

OK,so I bit the bullet into 20th century buying an onboard battery for our old Shadow Cruiser. It will have to set in the wheel well by the door at the floor up front. Got a group 31 AGM for long warranty best function, I hope, for our needs. Haven't changed out the converter for the new three phase battery minder yet. Calls to mind the wiring. Know to reconnect everything to proper breakers/fuses but have burning need to know how to include the battery wiring in this process, where it connects to converter. Haven't had an onboard battery in so long I've forgotten how to hook that in. This converter charges the battery in bulk mode, standard and floats it for storage. Does the automatic switch from shore/gen to 12v. Don't want this back feeding into truck batteries or via versa, right? We simply unplug truck whenever not using those batteries now, same procedure after install? Is a battery cut off switch necessary and if so it would go in line right before the battery? So many questions, sorry. Not tackling this til next week so time to map out procedure. Had issue with back up camera on constant hot, not enough consistent power from first attempt but great with direct connect to battery. That I can handle as just running extension cable from Garmin and direct bolt onto battery posts. Going to use 8 gage from battery to converter, only an 18" run for that. So there ya go guys. Any, and I mean ANY input appreciated.
Truck Campers
  • Farmerjon's avatar
    Farmerjon
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2015
    Hi! wow .a lot of questions. wiring diagrams for camper converter
    I hope that helps some.
    One thing you asked was
    " Don't want this back feeding into truck batteries or via versa, right?"
    That's right . So to avoid that you need to isolate the battery in your truck when the truck is off. there are several ways to do that but probably the simplest is to get a continuous duty solenoid from an RV or auto parts store, it looks like a starter solenoid, and run a wire from a hot when key is on source to it and a #8 or larger wire from your truck battery to the solenoid ans then to your camper battery.

    Have fun
  • ticki2's avatar
    ticki2
    Explorer
    Aug 14, 2015
    " Don't want this back feeding into truck batteries or vice versa ,right ? "

    Not necessarily . I use a lighted switch on the dash fed by an always hot wire to energize the solenoid . With the switch on and truck running it's charging both truck and TC battery . With switch on and plugged into shore power the converter is charging TC and truck battery . With switch on , not plugged in and truck not running you can gain some extra power to the truck or the camper depending on need . With the switch off truck and TC are isolated .

    There are several good write-ups in the TC university on converter installation and truck charge wiring . Good luck

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