Batter and charging system
Hello all. I've been doing some work on our 99 Dutchmen TT. I'm doing it after work at the storage facility so I've been using the furnace and lights. All of the sudden the battery drained to not...
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I'd assume that you know that the trailer probably has some parasitic loads that are powered when the trailer is in storage. Those parasitic loads will drain a typical battery within a week or so. The solution is to have a disconnect switch near the battery or unclamp one cable from the battery.
Typical charge from a truck's alternator through a trailer umbilical plug will be a few amps (2A-> 10A). It will take a long time to charge a depleted battery at those low rates. Battery cables connecting the truck's battery to the trailer battery will be faster but the last few amps needed for a full charge will still need a long time to charge the trailer battery, fully.
If you have a separate battery charger, I'd suggest to take the battery to the charger and put a full charge into it. If your charger will supply 16V, you'll be able to "Equalize" charge the battery and that will be great maintenance, stirring the electrolyte and eliminate any stratification.
I'd assume that you know that the trailer probably has some parasitic loads that are powered when the trailer is in storage. Those parasitic loads will drain a typical battery within a week or so. The solution is to have a disconnect switch near the battery or unclamp one cable from the battery.
Typical charge from a truck's alternator through a trailer umbilical plug will be a few amps (2A-> 10A). It will take a long time to charge a depleted battery at those low rates. Battery cables connecting the truck's battery to the trailer battery will be faster but the last few amps needed for a full charge will still need a long time to charge the trailer battery, fully.
If you have a separate battery charger, I'd suggest to take the battery to the charger and put a full charge into it. If your charger will supply 16V, you'll be able to "Equalize" charge the battery and that will be great maintenance, stirring the electrolyte and eliminate any stratification.
