Hi there. I have a brand new 2016 Arctic Fox 811S on my 2015 Silverado 3500HD. The truck has two batteries and two alternators (Duramax Diesel) and the camper has a pair of group 27 batteries with a marine on/off switch. My question is: When the camper is plugged into the 7-pin harness, is there any isolation between the two camper batteries and the battery bank in the truck, or will I need to install a charge relay or isolator? If I need a charge relay, I'll probably use the the Blue Seas ACR, which I installed in my boat to separate battery banks, and it works perfectly. I'm curious how I would wire it though. I assume the 7-pin harness has a charge wire present, which possibly connects to my converter, or direct to the battery bank? I'm pretty handy with 12V, but this is my first truck camper. Any insight would be appreciated.Thanks in advance!

Only Fords have isolation between truck and 7-pin plug. You will need to use an isolator or constant duty solenoid on other brands. If you want better vehicle charging capability, consider running a dedicated charge line to the camper with a heavier gauge than what is used in the 7-pin - Lance is the only one that normally does this on their unique connector, but it can be done with an Anderson connector between camper and truck.

I don't think the previous post is entirely correct......... In my GMC 2015 3500HD Owner's Manual, it says the trailering 12v pins only charge a camper (Truck bed / 5er plug) if the lights are on or the transmission is in tow mode. That suggests isolation to some degree.Put a multimeter on the pins at the plug.... that is my plan to see for myself.I had an interesting time trying to fashion the 7-way on the truck to the 7-way on the Canadian RV (Northern Lite) to the 5 way on the boat trailer.....Not all 7 way plugs -or adapters- are the same. A multimeter was my friend!

That would be something new for GM in 2015 - This was not the case in the past. I have 7-way Y-adapter that feeds the truck camper and my enclosed trailer. When I use my flat bed, I have a 7-way to 4-way that attaches to the Y.

NautiqueFamily wrote:I don't think the previous post is entirely correct......... In my GMC 2015 3500HD Owner's Manual, it says the trailering 12v pins only charge a camper (Truck bed / 5er plug) if the lights are on or the transmission is in tow mode. That suggests isolation to some degree.Put a multimeter on the pins at the plug.... that is my plan to see for myself.I had an interesting time trying to fashion the 7-way on the truck to the 7-way on the Canadian RV (Northern Lite) to the 5 way on the boat trailer.....Not all 7 way plugs -or adapters- are the same. A multimeter was my friend!That would be fantastic. I wonder what sort of charge amperage I can expect from the 7-pin. I am guessing a couple amps is all. I'll read the manual. Just got the truck last week. I'll poke the pins.

My 2007 Lance 1055 has an isolator built into it from the factory. I didn't believe it when I read it so I found it under the step up to the bed platform. The truck charges the battery bank in the camper but the camper does not draw from the battery in the truck when the ignition is off, and the truck does not draw from the battery bank in the camper... Easy peasy! In all other configurations of truck/camper I've had I had to install a battery isolator in the truck. All this to say check your owners manual for your camper at least.. Dak

Battery Charging and Isolation | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

Bedlam
Moderator
Sep 15, 2015
That would be something new for GM in 2015 - This was not the case in the past. I have 7-way Y-adapter that feeds the truck camper and my enclosed trailer. When I use my flat bed, I have a 7-way to 4-way that attaches to the Y.
NautiqueFamily
Explorer
Sep 15, 2015
I don't think the previous post is entirely correct......... In my GMC 2015 3500HD Owner's Manual, it says the trailering 12v pins only charge a camper (Truck bed / 5er plug) if the lights are on or the transmission is in tow mode. That suggests isolation to some degree.

Put a multimeter on the pins at the plug.... that is my plan to see for myself.

I had an interesting time trying to fashion the 7-way on the truck to the 7-way on the Canadian RV (Northern Lite) to the 5 way on the boat trailer.....Not all 7 way plugs -or adapters- are the same. A multimeter was my friend!
Bedlam
Moderator
Sep 15, 2015
Only Fords have isolation between truck and 7-pin plug. You will need to use an isolator or constant duty solenoid on other brands. If you want better vehicle charging capability, consider running a dedicated charge line to the camper with a heavier gauge than what is used in the 7-pin - Lance is the only one that normally does this on their unique connector, but it can be done with an Anderson connector between camper and truck.

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Battery Charging and Isolation

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