I think its more related to the truck electronics than to the batteries, as charging the camper batteries off the truck is an issue with lead acid batteries as well! We had similar issue with charging our typical auto batteries (lead acid) we were using for our TC solar system. We too thought we should be able to charge them off the SD F350 as it had a second alternator, but it didn't seem to work very well. So now we are looking at the DC-DC charger option so that when we get our LiFePO4 replacement batteries we will be able to keep them charged when it's overcast and we are driving, as that seems to be a missed opportunity for us currently without it.
Bert the Welder wrote:
noteven wrote:
Bert the Welder - Ford's website has access to manuals / upfitter or body builder information etc. - but generally the little blue "charge wire" is not capable of carrying the significant amperage required to charge batteries in less than days...
LiFeO4 batteries can accept charge at very high rates that can overload an alternator if the charge rate is not regulated.
I am looking at using a DC-DC charger to charge batteries from the engine alternator. Watch the input requirements of these vs your alternator capacity. Ray on the "Love Your RV" u tube channel installed one and shows how they work. Their RAM truck has a high amperage connection terminal under the hood.
A rule of thumb we used in heavy trucks was to not exceed 50% of alternator capacity when adding stuff like inverters and fridges etc The alternator does not put out full capacity at low rpm / idle.
I have found solar to be pretty much useless in western Canada in winter.
Because of their fast recharge capability lithiums are particularly suited to "mechanical" charging I'm thinking.
Thanks. I'll look him up and try to find the vid's. It certainly seems like having something like the DC2DC is needed for the "new" type batt's. It certainly seems like having something like the DC2DC is needed for the "new" type batt's.
And yes to the solar problem on this coast. It has to be accounted for that many reports on solar charging are from more Southern regions, where the sun is high, the skies are clear and there's nary a tree for miles. Bringing a gen. is a must if not driving much. And the ability to charge higher/faster would be best, as well as not doing damage if you don't charge to 100%.
