Plugged into shore power and starting the truck...?

Yup, even though your eyes tell you that "physically" the battery is not in the middle, ELECTRICALLY, it is.

It would be easier to visualize if the battery were physically wired in the middle, for sure.

Thanks to all who replied and reassured that I did no damage; in checking out the camper tonight it proved that assertion. Often I have referred others to The 12 Volt Side of Life... perhaps I should go back and refresh my understanding better of my camper.

Converter.......110V AC power in (converts) to 12V DC out

Shore power (AC) feeds input to converter----charger feeds battery

Truck charge line feeds battery

NO Problem having the two 12V DC sources feed battery

You're thinking way too hard. The number of wires on the battery terminals has nothing to do with it. Wires split, terminate, and feed other wires all over the place. When those wires hit your power distribution board in your camper there's probably at least 10 different circuits hooked on there.
There really is no danger of having 2 charging sources. You could have: truck alternator, camper charger, solar panel charger, portable charger, etc. all connected and it would all work fine. Some people even do this from time to time.
It's all 12 volt (nominal) so nothing can burn out anything else. All the chargers sense voltage and the voltage will be basically the same.
I actually leave my truck and camper hooked up when I'm camped so the camper charger will keep the truck battery topped off. I typically start the truck to move off the leveling blocks and let it idle while I put things away. I unplug the shore cord last so the fridge doesn't switch to LP any sooner than necessary. I typically have truck running and camper charging every time I go camping.

mkirsch wrote:
The charger/converter is NOT in the middle. The house battery is.

Your truck charges the house battery. Your converter charges the house battery.

...

I am going to the "way-back" brain cells of basic electricity here so I could be way off base...

How can the house batteries be in the middle? There is on 1 lead for each of the POS and NEG terminals. If the battery is in the middle (assuming it in series???) then would there need to be another set of wires which feed the converter. (right??)

Since there is only 1 set of wires to the battery then doesn't it either have to be in parallel with the converter or if in series then it is at the END not in the middle as stated?

Not trying to be argumentative... just trying to better understand my camper as a result of what I did this AM.

Thanks.

mkirsch wrote:
The charger/converter is NOT in the middle. The house battery is.

Your truck charges the house battery. Your converter charges the house battery.

When the truck starts, the voltage on the house battery rises in response to the alternator's charge.

A smart converter will sense that as a "full" battery and ramp down its charge rate.

Even if the converter is not "smart," by virtue of the physics of electricity, the converter will be forced to reduce its charge rate based on the electrical "pressure" being applied by the truck's alternator.

mkirsh

Been following this thread......

That explanation turned on the light bulb for me. Thanks :B

The charger/converter is NOT in the middle. The house battery is.

Your truck charges the house battery. Your converter charges the house battery.

When the truck starts, the voltage on the house battery rises in response to the alternator's charge.

A smart converter will sense that as a "full" battery and ramp down its charge rate.

Even if the converter is not "smart," by virtue of the physics of electricity, the converter will be forced to reduce its charge rate based on the electrical "pressure" being applied by the truck's alternator.

Thanks Skipro...

...keeping with helping me to understand the electrical theory lemme' toss this out:

I would agree on all the explanations as to the higher source of voltage taking precedent IF the sources were direct to the battery. I guess my primary concern is the fact that there is the charger/ converter in the middle. I do not want to have the converter act as some sort of fuse; I do not want to let the smoke out of it.

This happened this AM and I have not had to opportunity to do a thorough check of all components.

Thanks for bearing with the additional questions and concerns... I want to not only know I am OK, but I also what to know WHY I am OK.

I agree; you are good to go. DC is DC and which ever is the higher voltage is gonna come out on top. If the truck is able to generate a higher voltage than the camper's charger that's plugged into the house AC, then the truck is going to provide the current at that time. Turn off the truck and it will revert back to the current path provided via the camper's charger.

Same with a solar panel on the roof; you can parallel in the solar panel(s), via a solar regulator, to your batteries and there's no problem if you are plugged into the house power or your truck is running.

boogie_4wheel wrote:
....

Long answer: it's all 12VDC so no damage could be done. Since your solenoid is from a keyed source, I'm assuming that this keyed source is not powered while in the starting position (similar to how the heat/AC blower does not run while cranking).

...

That is correct. There is no current flowing while starting the truck, BUT there is the possibility of power source from 2 (shore and truck) after the truck has started.

I appreciate the feedback in reassuring me that I am OK... just am now trying to comprehend the theory behind it, hence my further questions.

Thanks.