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Truck Camper Battery

1981K20

Up North
Joined
May 19, 2020
Member Number
369
Messages
219
Loc
North of MT but south of AK
So I would like to charge my truck camper battery while driving. I am lost as to how to do this. If I just 'run a wire' from the battery to the truck camper battery will it just overload the wire and burn me to death? It's a '93 and has clearance lights but I don't use them, I'm going to see if the original camper wiring has something built in but it only has 3 tiny wires, pwr/ grnd for clearance lights and I'm not sure what the 3rd one is...but it's small so I can't see it charging much.

Any advice for the electrically retarded guy? :homer:
 
If it's not already set up for it, you want something like this so when you turn the truck off it isolates the truck and camper battery:


I'm not sure if all them amazon ones are the same, I see some for 50 and others for 100.
 
If it's not already set up for it, you want something like this so when you turn the truck off it isolates the truck and camper battery:


I'm not sure if all them amazon ones are the same, I see some for 50 and others for 100.

Thanks, I'll invest in something like that as the tiny camper wire will likely do little even if it is for charging. That set up looks more like what I had pictured a proper set up looking like.

Will it matter that both batteries are completely different sizes/ amperage?
 
If it's not already set up for it, you want something like this so when you turn the truck off it isolates the truck and camper battery:


I'm not sure if all them amazon ones are the same, I see some for 50 and others for 100.


Often those won't deliver full voltage to both batteries, it was recommended by mt4runner to use a constant duty solenoid to charge while engine is running.
 
Often those won't deliver full voltage to both batteries, it was recommended by mt4runner to use a constant duty solenoid to charge while engine is running.
I can build one that does that, I think I have a new constant duty solenoid in my garage from my 8274 rebuild. After seeing the link Ebs posted I get what has to be done now, which is pretty much run suitable wire and isolate it with a solenoid. I assume the voltage regulator on the truck will then regulate voltage and all will be fine, but should I run a fuse on the large wires or just on the ignition source wire going to the solenoid?
 
I can build one that does that, I think I have a new constant duty solenoid in my garage from my 8274 rebuild. After seeing the link Ebs posted I get what has to be done now, which is pretty much run suitable wire and isolate it with a solenoid. I assume the voltage regulator on the truck will then regulate voltage and all will be fine, but should I run a fuse on the large wires or just on the ignition source wire going to the solenoid?


I would just cause. Not sure how the differing batteries will perform, the instructions on the noco isolator says they must be the same type & size.
 
So I would like to charge my truck camper battery while driving. I am lost as to how to do this. If I just 'run a wire' from the battery to the truck camper battery will it just overload the wire and burn me to death? It's a '93 and has clearance lights but I don't use them, I'm going to see if the original camper wiring has something built in but it only has 3 tiny wires, pwr/ grnd for clearance lights and I'm not sure what the 3rd one is...but it's small so I can't see it charging much.

Any advice for the electrically retarded guy? :homer:
Do you have solar?
 
I bought one of these to limit the current leaving the truck going to the trailer, as old Land cruisers have small alternators. It would probably work for you as well.

 
Thanks for all the replies!!

No solar, I tried one but it wouldn't power a test light so I threw it out :laughing:

After the replies here and the research I've done I've decided to just run a cable from Alternator, through a constant duty solenoid and out to truck camper battery.
100w minimum for "solar" in my book.
400w is infinite power in the sunny months for me.
 
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