Is this true?

[zulu52]

I have a Northstar 8.5 Arrow mounted on my 2015 Chevy 2500, 4X4, long bed, single rear axle.

A friend told me that when the truck motor is running that it is supplying power to the camper's on board battery charger through the seven prong plug.

I was under the impression that I could only charge my battery when I was plugged into A/C.

I would like this to be true but I'm skeptical.

Any input?
Zulu

[zulu52]

Thanks, I will look for the relay.
Zulu

[GeoBoy]

woodhog wrote:
Your NORTHSTAR Arrow should have a voltage sensing relay already installed, up near the back of the fuse panel, it is a small plastic cased rectangular box with wires going into the bottom. Ours is Gray about 4"x 4", when the camper batteries go below the low voltage limit,
I think ours is 12.7 volts, the power connection to the truck will be
disconnected. The relay closes at 13.7 from the truck to begin the camper battery charge cycle.




If you open the door under the sink, look up on the panel area behind that fuse panel.

Ours is made by BEP Marine.

The relay may have been an option, and not standard equipment.

[woodhog]

Your NORTHSTAR Arrow should have a voltage sensing relay already installed, up near the back of the fuse panel, it is a small plastic cased rectangular box with wires going into the bottom. Ours is Gray about 4"x 4", when the camper batteries go below the low voltage limit,
I think ours is 12.7 volts, the power connection to the truck will be
disconnected. The relay closes at 13.7 from the truck to begin the camper battery charge cycle.




If you open the door under the sink, look up on the panel area behind that fuse panel.

Ours is made by BEP Marine.

[jimh406]

I would make it where they could be in parallel or separate using a switch like this one.

http://www.attwoodmarine.com/store/product/4-Way-Battery-Selector-Switch

That's what my Class A had, and that's what I used on my boat as well.

[mkirsch]

More likely, the relay just disconnects the house battery from the truck when the engine is off, regardless of the state of charge.

If it were to wait until the house battery is low, the truck battery would also be low because they're in parallel with the relay connected. At that point, too little too late. You'd be better off to keep them in parallel so both batteries could share the starting load of the truck.

[mellow]

I thought all newer TC's come with a relay so that if the battery level is to low coming from the truck it disconnects it so it doesn't kill the truck's battery. I know my friends 2011 Lance has this feature.

[portscanner]

Keep in mind - if you have power at the 7 pin plug when your truck engine is turned off - if/when you kill the battery in the camper (by leaving things on too long in the camper) - YOU WILL KILL THE BATTERY IN YOUR TRUCK!!!!

Install an automatic disconnect or unplug the 7 pin if you think you might run the battery down. You dont want to be out in the middle of nowhere and find you killed the starter battery in your truck.

[deltabravo]

tuna fisher wrote:
I like this, I have a 01 DM, how should I check mine, I've had my doubts if it's charging. I use very little battery power. Sorry, not trying to hi-jack this thread.

Check the aux fuse under the hood, in the big fuse box.
Label on he back side of the fuse box cover shows what each fuse protects.

[Kayteg1]

I would believe manual says things like that.
I know that modern 300 pages manuals are not favorable books to read, but sometimes worth it.
If not, contact the manufacturer.
I can't count how many times I informed dealers about vehicle features.
Those people are experts in price gouging, not in technical knowledge.

[tuna_fisher]

I like this, I have a 01 DM, how should I check mine, I've had my doubts if it's charging. I use very little battery power. Sorry, not trying to hi-jack this thread.

[realter]

When you pay extra for trailer ing and camper wiring, the least GM could do is have it work. Took me 2 years and several dealer visits , none knew what to do. Finally, thank goodness Apache Camper Center fixed it so it would work. Can't believe the dealer was so ignorant.

[GeoBoy]

My 2015 GMC 3500HD has an optional heavy duty auxillaruy battery and the power wire is always hot. There is a solenoid that disconnects it from the starting battery. I did not have to install a fuse on stud 1 as in my 2005 Silverado. As already stated the truck will charge the TC battery while it is running, You have to plug into 120 volts to have the TC's onboard charger charge the TC's batteries.

[deltabravo]

2015 is different than previous years. I have read on truck forms that the charging circuit is enabled when the truck is in gear.

I can't comment on the fuse box aspect of it, because I haven't seen a 2015.

The information posted above pertains to older model trucks for sure, but may not be applicable to GMT1000 trucks.

[Bedlam]

Only Ford's use a switched power lead on the 7-pin plug.