charging of 2 camper batteries with truck alternator?
I have a 2013 Livin Lite 10' TC with 2 deep cycle batteries installed. I'm confused and/or confounded by the posts in different forums about charging the camper batteries with the tow vehicle.
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.
At this time, we have no need for a generator with the appliances we use. We did have the original (1) camper battery poop out after about 8 hours of the furnace fan, in a 10 degree overnight truck stop while on the road. The next night, I left the truck on until midnight, which worked out fine. When we got home, I installed a second deep cycle battery, and it has provided more than enough power for the fan overnight for almost 2 nights. All our lights are LED's.
I have a 150 v 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 gage wire from the truck camper plug to the PD4000 and if I should have someone check the wire from the charger relay in the truck to the plug in the back, to make sure it is heavy enough.
For the last 3 years, everything works fine, 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. I have a battery meter installed in the camper, so I know what I have in the batteries.
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. Or do I need a beefed up charging system. Some forums said to run jumpers from the truck battery to the camper battery. That sounds kinda strange to me, but that is why I am asking.
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.
At this time, we have no need for a generator with the appliances we use. We did have the original (1) camper battery poop out after about 8 hours of the furnace fan, in a 10 degree overnight truck stop while on the road. The next night, I left the truck on until midnight, which worked out fine. When we got home, I installed a second deep cycle battery, and it has provided more than enough power for the fan overnight for almost 2 nights. All our lights are LED's.
I have a 150 v 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 gage wire from the truck camper plug to the PD4000 and if I should have someone check the wire from the charger relay in the truck to the plug in the back, to make sure it is heavy enough.
For the last 3 years, everything works fine, 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. I have a battery meter installed in the camper, so I know what I have in the batteries.
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. Or do I need a beefed up charging system. Some forums said to run jumpers from the truck battery to the camper battery. That sounds kinda strange to me, but that is why I am asking.
