charging of 2 camper batteries with truck alternator?

Frank Mehaffey wrote:

The vehicle is a 2012 F250 with the camper package. I have 14.13 v coming out of the 7 pin receiver at the bumper. My camper has a PD 4000 Power Control Center which has a micro processor to provide 3 different charging levels. Boost for 14.4 v if the battery is low, 13.6 v for normal charging, and 13.2 if it is in storage.

Just so that everyone one knows, those output voltages from your PD 4000 only applies when the converter is plug into 120VAC

Frank Mehaffey wrote:
I have a 150(A) alternator in the 250, and was wondering how long it takes for the truck electrical system to recharge the 2 batteries I have installed in the TC, and if I should have my dealer install a heavier gauge wire from the truck camper plug to the PD4000 ...

A heavier gauge wire from the alternator to the trailer batteries will not hurt, but it will NOT solve you charge while driving problem. More info below.

Frank Mehaffey wrote:
... but I have been reading up on power/charging systems, and how the truck alternator should not be used to recharge depleted camper batteries. If we do some primitive camping in the future, I would like not to need a portable Honda to recharge the TC batteries, but just run the truck for the time necessary to recharge.
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I am looking for advice on the advisability of charging the tc batteries while on the road or at a primitive campsite with the truck charging system exclusively.

Here is the deal. Any vehicle built in the past 10-15 years has a "smart" charging system. These smart charging systems turn the voltage DOWN after the engine has been running for awhile. Even though you might have read 14.14V on pin 7, I promise it will NOT stay at that voltage. Get a multi-meter and hook it to the camper batteries with the engine off and the converter NOT plugged into 120VAC. Now start the engine, let it warm up and then have someone hold the enegine speed at about 2000 rpm for several minutes. Now check the voltage at the camper batteries. I doubt that it will be above 13.5V.

The best solution for charging "on the go" is found in this pst - DC-DC battery charging


Your PD 4000 will do a "better" job of charging those batteries when you get home, so plug into 120VAC and leave it plugged in for 24-48 hours.