|
10-12-2017, 07:24 PM
|
#1
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
|
Questions involving the tow vehicle electrical system
I have two questions involving the tow vehicle battery:
1. If my trailer is hitched to my truck and electrically connected to it, and the trailer is parked and connected to shore power, will the trailer's battery charger charge my truck's battery?
2. In a similar situation but without shore power, will my trailer's solar panels charge my truck's battery?
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
|
|
|
10-12-2017, 07:30 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,363
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
I have two questions involving the tow vehicle battery:
1. If my trailer is hitched to my truck and electrically connected to it, and the trailer is parked and connected to shore power, will the trailer's battery charger charge my truck's battery?
2. In a similar situation but without shore power, will my trailer's solar panels charge my truck's battery?
|
While I suspect it depends on the vehicle, I'd bet that with the ignition off, it is unlikely that either sources would charge toe tow battery.
Now, if you wired directly to the battery without an isolation relay, that is a different story, but the charge rate would probably be as bad as charging the trailer battery from the tow vehicle.
|
|
|
10-12-2017, 07:45 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Front Range, Colorado
Trailer: 2017 5.0 TA picked up in July 2017.
Posts: 523
|
No. Try an extension cord from the trailer 120 V outlet and a battery tender hooked to the TV battery.
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 02:06 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
1. If my trailer is hitched to my truck and electrically connected to it, and the trailer is parked and connected to shore power, will the trailer's battery charger charge my truck's battery?
|
Yes, but as Jon explained only if the truck's circuit for the trailer battery is left connected when the truck is not running. It shouldn't be, but some apparently are.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
2. In a similar situation but without shore power, will my trailer's solar panels charge my truck's battery?
|
Same as with shore power, since the wiring between the trailer's battery and the truck is not affected by connection of shore power.
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 09:34 AM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Juneau, Alaska
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19
Posts: 555
|
It really depends on weather you have a battery isolator and what kind. Easy way to tell would be to hook a battery charger or plug in your trailer with the truck hooked up. Check both trailer battery and TV battery voltage before plugging in and after. If both voltages rise you know there is no Isolation. If the trailer battery voltage rises but TV doesn't then you know there is. You might want to do this at night so Solar has no effect. You also could burn all surface charge off both by running lights on both for ten minutes or so.
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 11:15 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Port Angeles, Washington
Trailer: 2017 Escape 19
Posts: 197
|
Another way to check on whether your TV battery is isolated from the trailer when the ignition is off is to use a multi-meter and check the charge circuit for continuity on the TV. The TV charge circuit is usually at the 1 o'clock position looking at the TV. Check for voltage between this location and ground both with the ignition off and on. If there is no voltage when the ignition is off your TV battery should be isolated from the trailer batteries even if left plugged in as long as the ignition is off.
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 11:35 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
|
Do not assume your vehicle has a battery isolator.
My 2014 does not !
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 01:21 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
The Dodge Ram 1500 Steve and myself as well as other have do not shut off, their light circuit is live with or without the key, so one must physically disconnect.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 01:28 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Olympia wa, Washington
Trailer: 5.0TA 2017
Posts: 2,255
|
my highlander did not have a battery isolator but i was told it did. Dead battery now i always unplug the vehicle when i am staying hitched for the night
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 02:21 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Southwick, Massachusetts
Trailer: None, sold my 2014 5.0TA
Posts: 7,124
|
You can install an after market isolator like this one.
__________________
Happy Motoring
Bob
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 05:37 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
|
I do not like messing with factory wiring while still under warranty.
__________________
Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 06:14 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: North of Danbury, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 21C
Posts: 3,033
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cpaharley2008
I do not like messing with factory wiring while still under warranty.
|
My sentiments exactly .👍
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 10:21 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
|
Looks pretty complicated. I think I saw a pancreas in there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by padlin
You can install an after market isolator like this one.
|
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
|
|
|
10-13-2017, 10:24 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Santa Rosa County, Florida
Trailer: 2014 Escape 21 Tow: 2024 Toyota Tundra
Posts: 3,097
|
Thanks all for the replies. Unsurprisingly, my question was prompted by electrical problems in my truck. Turns out that charging didn't matter-- I needed a new battery. Occam's Razor wins again.
__________________
Mike Lewis
She don't lie, she don't lie, she don't lie-- propane
Photos and travelogues here: mikelewisimages.com
|
|
|
10-14-2017, 12:26 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Troy, Idaho
Trailer: August 2017 17b
Posts: 226
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Lewis
Looks pretty complicated. I think I saw a pancreas in there.
|
TOTally
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|