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  1. #1
    Fireside Member Steve & Sheryl's Avatar
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    Charging a battery from the truck

    Recently I had an overnight drop off at the dealer that turned into a three week stay. I did not isolate the battery. When I went to pick up the trailer, the battery was completely dead. At the time I did not know about pumping the brakes to activate the line-in from the 7-point connector, so I couldn’t even power the jack to lift the tongue. I solved the problem with a 100-foot extension cord and a 20/30 amp adapter plug. That got me thinking “What would I have done if there wasn’t a power outlet?” That was a pretty easy answer too: hook up the solar suitcase and give it a few minutes, or (shudder) hand crank it.

    The last few cloudy rainy days has got me pondering alternatives to sunshine. I can normally go three days off a full battery, and if its sunny, I’ve got no worries. Getting in a pickle seems improbable, I know I can always hook up and go somewhere with power to recharge, so I can’t justify the weight/cost/space/hassle of a generator.

    But I’m wondering. Can I recharge the battery from the truck? I’ve got a Battleborn LiFePo4 battery and a Victron BMV 712. I believe I can jumper from the truck battery to the trailer. I’ve done that plenty with LA batteries, but haven’t confirmed that for the LiFePO4. And I don’t yet know if I can include the Victron in the loop so I can monitor the charge.

    I’d like to be more elegant. First thought was alligator clips on the truck and a connection to the solar jack. I need to figure out max current from the truck, but that seems plausible. The next step is a “plug” at the truck. Not sure I’d go that far, right now I’m just musing.

    But, has anyone experimented with using their truck to recharge a battery? And if so, what did you learn?
    Steve & Sheryl
    Bucca and Nyx RIP-Tag and Gordon
    2019 Imagine 2250RK
    Ford F250

  2. #2
    Big Traveler Calbar's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve & Sheryl View Post
    Recently I had an overnight drop off at the dealer that turned into a three week stay. I did not isolate the battery. When I went to pick up the trailer, the battery was completely dead. At the time I did not know about pumping the brakes to activate the line-in from the 7-point connector, so I couldn’t even power the jack to lift the tongue. I solved the problem with a 100-foot extension cord and a 20/30 amp adapter plug. That got me thinking “What would I have done if there wasn’t a power outlet?” That was a pretty easy answer too: hook up the solar suitcase and give it a few minutes, or (shudder) hand crank it.

    The last few cloudy rainy days has got me pondering alternatives to sunshine. I can normally go three days off a full battery, and if its sunny, I’ve got no worries. Getting in a pickle seems improbable, I know I can always hook up and go somewhere with power to recharge, so I can’t justify the weight/cost/space/hassle of a generator.

    But I’m wondering. Can I recharge the battery from the truck? I’ve got a Battleborn LiFePo4 battery and a Victron BMV 712. I believe I can jumper from the truck battery to the trailer. I’ve done that plenty with LA batteries, but haven’t confirmed that for the LiFePO4. And I don’t yet know if I can include the Victron in the loop so I can monitor the charge.

    I’d like to be more elegant. First thought was alligator clips on the truck and a connection to the solar jack. I need to figure out max current from the truck, but that seems plausible. The next step is a “plug” at the truck. Not sure I’d go that far, right now I’m just musing.

    But, has anyone experimented with using their truck to recharge a battery? And if so, what did you learn?
    You can just plug the trailer into the truck 7 pin connector and that will charge the battery and also allow you to power the tongue jack. When my trailer is in storage it is stored without batteries and I just plug into the 7 pin connector like I do when towing and all 12V stuff works.

    Rob
    Rob & Barb
    2022 Solitude 378MBS
    2022 RAM 3500 SRW HO Aisin 4x4
    Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

  3. #3
    Site Sponsor
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    On the road, it will work better than when parked. Alternator output at engine idle is limited and may barely have more than the truck requires. Won’t hurt to try, but be reasonable in your expectations.
    John & Kathy
    2014 F250 Lariat FX4 6.2L SBCC
    2014 Reflection 303RLS
    SW Indiana

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