Battery Charge Line

[rperrym]

My dealer installed a charge line to my toad, (Jeep Wrangler), battery.
Do I need a controller to control the rate of charging on the battery. I have a RVI auxiliary brake system for the jeep, and I noticed that RVI sells a towed battery charger. Just curious as to what others do that have a charge line to their toad battery.
Thanks,

Rick
__________________
Rick and Debbie
Hot Springs, Arkansas
2016 Newmar 3755 Canyon Star

[wildmanbaker]

Kayteg1 wrote:
If the cord was hot, that would mean the fuse did not do its job.
Or there was none?

There was no fuse. Did install 3 very large Diodes after that.

[Kayteg1]

If the cord was hot, that would mean the fuse did not do its job.
Or there was none?

[wildmanbaker]

Maybe you should re-think the isolator/diode idea. In the 80's we had a TT and the battery went bad, and I did not know it. We became separated from our other party, so we stopped and waited for them. When we decided to go to the next stop, the van would not start. Went back to the trailer cord and parts were hot, so unplugged it. Found the charge line to the battery was hot, so disconnected it, and luckily got a jump from a county truck. If I had a isolator for the battery, it would not have killed the van battery.

[rperrym]

Thanks for all the help.

[Kayteg1]

wa8yxm wrote:


The only advantage of the "Towed Charge" systems is they may Isolate the Jeep when you shut down the motor home.. But that is not (often) an issue.

Such issue is often discussed on Truck Camper forum.
Seem only Ford Trucks have relay that shuts off the charging power when ignition is off. Never heard about any motorhome having such relay.
That brings a risk, what I think is low, but it can happen that on long parking without wires disconnecting, the poster can go to a toad for something, leave the lights on and after few hr the motorhome has low battery.
Again - the risk is low, but that why we have all kind of insurances.

[ScottG]

No, you don't need anything more than the wire.

[wa8yxm]

rperrym wrote:
My dealer installed a charge line to my toad, (Jeep Wrangler), battery.
Do I need a controller to control the rate of charging on the battery.

No you already have one.. It is called a Regulator (Voltage) and is part of your existing charge system.. With that long wire from your Motor Home battery to the JEEP there is no way it will charge the JEEP too fast. can't happen. In fact it will be slow charging.

The only advantage of the "Towed Charge" systems is they may Isolate the Jeep when you shut down the motor home.. But that is not (often) an issue.

[dave17352]

I agree with Hanko

[Kayteg1]

I had bad experience with diodes and insulators on several motorhomes.
I think with toad wire disconnecting at each longer stop you don't need anything, but combiner would give you good insurance.
Just like on house batteries.

[hanko]

rperrym wrote:
My dealer installed a charge line to my toad, (Jeep Wrangler), battery.
Do I need a controller to control the rate of charging on the battery. I have a RVI auxiliary brake system for the jeep, and I noticed that RVI sells a towed battery charger. Just curious as to what others do that have a charge line to their toad battery.
Thanks,

Rick
__________________
Rick and Debbie
Hot Springs, Arkansas
2016 Newmar 3755 Canyon Star

I think the voltage regulator on the MH will do what your asking.

[WyoTraveler]

I use a heavy duty diode in a metal box. You need a diode to prevent the toad battery discharging back into the MH when MH ignition is off. Built a diode into a box for about $6

[Two_Jayhawks]

I had the RVI Towed Battery Charger installed.