Hello All, I apologize for my absence. In 2022 I had two strokes, so my quest for a T/C got sidetracked. Lots of rehab, lots of prayer, learned to rewalk, lots more of rehab. Now I’m back to work and taking my life back.I picked up a real nice Leer mid rise topper for $250. that fits my 2002 F350, same color, and looks sharp.Some are saying just use the 12V+ connector on my 7 pin trailer connector to charge the house battery(s) and others are saying buy a Honda generator, but I’m reading about DC to DC chargers /isolators and maybe even a solar panel while I’m gone camping / hunting and it’s sunny out.Anyway, I know this is the place to get solid advice, it’s all a new concept for me. I’m almost 61 so I’m wanting enough stored power for CPAP, cell phone, radio. and a few other small items. I’m thinking two 100AH batteries so I have 100 amps to use and only draw batteries down to 50%. Not really sure what I can run on 100AH for a 8 to 10 hour period. But it beats tent camping at my age??I appreciate the help, Glenn

For reference, I have 2 lithium batteries, so I have 200ah available. I rarely run them below 1/2, so 100 ah same as you are planning. Our daily activities to use 100ah include: lights in the evening, microwave 10-15 minutes to make dinner, watch a movie on tv. In the morning listen to the radio a couple hours, 4 cups of coffee from Keurig, wife uses hair dryer. If it’s sunny batteries are recharged by 1, if cloudy recharged by 5 or 6 pm. We have 4 - 100watt panels to achieve this recharge.

GAR2 wrote:Some are saying just use the 12V+ connector on my 7 pin trailer connector to charge the house battery(s) and others are saying buy a Honda generator, but I’m reading about DC to DC chargers /isolators and maybe even a solar panel while I’m gone camping / hunting and it’s sunny out.Solar can get pricey and it can be a lot of extra wiring. Unless you boondock where it is very sunny, they are not worth it.Yes, on the DC-DC charger ! Especially if you are using Lithium batteries. I highly recommend Lithium batteries.2 - 100Ah batteries for you small loads should be fine. If you are going to run a microwave or make multiple pots of coffee on an electric coffee maker, then maybe a 2000W generator. Also depends how many hours you spend driving day to day.

OK, thanks guys! I was also thinking a 12V electric blanket or invertor with a 115V AC heating pad for colder deer hunting weather. None of the areas I go to are terribly remote (Illinois) so there would be some driving into towns, utilizing the trucks charging system and 110A alternator, though I may end up upgrading to a 140A alternator if needed. Currently, without house batteries, I am showing 13.7 to 14.0 volts on my digital volt gage depending on load. I also have a high idle tune on my F350 7.3 if I need to bring rpm’s up when not driving.

Hi,If you are camping in a truck bed topper, no furnace, TV or microwave, your largest load is probably the CPAP. If you move every couple of days, connecting batteries to the alternator through the trailer connector is sufficient. If you stay in one place more than a few days, get a single 100 watt portable solar panel with a small inverter. Charge when sunny. Using an electric blanket might require a second solar panel. They are $100 each or less.I use 2 flexible solar panels that fit under the mattress when not in use and can go three days or longer on two 80 AH batteries without any charging in my TC.Hope this helps,

I know nothing about solar so welcome back and I am glad your feeling better. My wife and I just got off of a really bad year with elderly deaths and dementia. It gets hard at times. I just turned 61 so I guess its my turn at bat. Welcome back.

Charging House Batteries | Good Sam Community

notsobigjoe
Nomad III
Sep 19, 2023
I know nothing about solar so welcome back and I am glad your feeling better. My wife and I just got off of a really bad year with elderly deaths and dementia. It gets hard at times. I just turned 61 so I guess its my turn at bat. Welcome back.
RickW
Explorer III
Sep 18, 2023
Hi,

If you are camping in a truck bed topper, no furnace, TV or microwave, your largest load is probably the CPAP. If you move every couple of days, connecting batteries to the alternator through the trailer connector is sufficient.

If you stay in one place more than a few days, get a single 100 watt portable solar panel with a small inverter. Charge when sunny. Using an electric blanket might require a second solar panel. They are $100 each or less.

I use 2 flexible solar panels that fit under the mattress when not in use and can go three days or longer on two 80 AH batteries without any charging in my TC.

Hope this helps,
GAR2
Explorer
Sep 18, 2023
OK, thanks guys! I was also thinking a 12V electric blanket or invertor with a 115V AC heating pad for colder deer hunting weather. None of the areas I go to are terribly remote (Illinois) so there would be some driving into towns, utilizing the trucks charging system and 110A alternator, though I may end up upgrading to a 140A alternator if needed. Currently, without house batteries, I am showing 13.7 to 14.0 volts on my digital volt gage depending on load. I also have a high idle tune on my F350 7.3 if I need to bring rpm’s up when not driving.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Sep 18, 2023
GAR2 wrote:

Some are saying just use the 12V+ connector on my 7 pin trailer connector to charge the house battery(s) and others are saying buy a Honda generator, but I’m reading about DC to DC chargers /isolators and maybe even a solar panel while I’m gone camping / hunting and it’s sunny out.

Solar can get pricey and it can be a lot of extra wiring. Unless you boondock where it is very sunny, they are not worth it.

Yes, on the DC-DC charger ! Especially if you are using Lithium batteries. I highly recommend Lithium batteries.

2 - 100Ah batteries for you small loads should be fine. If you are going to run a microwave or make multiple pots of coffee on an electric coffee maker, then maybe a 2000W generator. Also depends how many hours you spend driving day to day.
srschang
Nomad
Sep 18, 2023
For reference, I have 2 lithium batteries, so I have 200ah available. I rarely run them below 1/2, so 100 ah same as you are planning. Our daily activities to use 100ah include: lights in the evening, microwave 10-15 minutes to make dinner, watch a movie on tv. In the morning listen to the radio a couple hours, 4 cups of coffee from Keurig, wife uses hair dryer. If it’s sunny batteries are recharged by 1, if cloudy recharged by 5 or 6 pm. We have 4 - 100watt panels to achieve this recharge.

Forum Discussion

Charging House Batteries

About Truck Camper Group

Related Content

House battery drain

House Battery charging

Charging house batteries

House battery charging options

Battery Charging