Using a battery trickle charger

Pablo OB

New Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2024
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4
Location
San Diego
I’ve read in various forums that it’s better to use a battery trickle charger than to keep the trailer plugged into the grid/house all the time. I’m wondering if the solar port on the driver’s side of my 2024 E19 trailer (see pic) can be used to plug in my trickle charger? I’m guessing not, but I’m hoping so! Otherwise, I’ll need to open up the battery compartment and connect it directly there, I assume. I would appreciate anybody’s expertise on this! Thanks — Pablo
 

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I believe that is a solar port. It may go to your controller. I don’t think attaching a charger would be good for the controller. What I have done in the past is hook a 15 W solar panel to that connection. The 15 W solar panel kept my batteries topped off even in partial sunlight throughout the day.
If that port goes into your trailer controller, be sure to not have a controller on your panel. If that connection goes directly to your batteries, then you would need a controller on your panel. I could be wrong about a trickle charger being plugged in there because I am no electrical guru.
 
Do you have any solar panels installed on your trailer? If so, that solar port should indeed be wired directly into the input side of your solar controller, in parallel with the pre-installed panels. Otherwise, I believe you just have the solar prewire option, and I don't think that port will be connected to anything.

If you do have solar, and as long as the trailer is not stored under full cover, the rooftop panels will be more than sufficient to keep the batteries charged while the trailer is stored. No trickle charger or shore power connection required. If the trailer is covered, you could connect a small auxiliary panel (with the same open voltage rating as the rooftop panels) to that port as described above. If you have solar but still prefer to use a trickle charger, it would have to be connected directly to the battery.

I'd also recommend disconnecting the main battery switch found under the dinette bench while the trailer is in storage/unplugged from shore power. This will disconnect the battery from the converter and all the 12v systems, but the solar controller will remain connected.
 
I’ve read in various forums that it’s better to use a battery trickle charger than to keep the trailer plugged into the grid/house all the time. I’m wondering if the solar port on the driver’s side of my 2024 E19 trailer (see pic) can be used to plug in my trickle charger? I’m guessing not, but I’m hoping so! Otherwise, I’ll need to open up the battery compartment and connect it directly there, I assume. I would appreciate anybody’s expertise on this! Thanks — Pablo
Can you tell us what type of battery(s) you have? That may affect how you maintain them.
 
I believe that is a solar port. It may go to your controller. I don’t think attaching a charger would be good for the controller. What I have done in the past is hook a 15 W solar panel to that connection. The 15 W solar panel kept my batteries topped off even in partial sunlight throughout the day.
If that port goes into your trailer controller, be sure to not have a controller on your panel. If that connection goes directly to your batteries, then you would need a controller on your panel. I could be wrong about a trickle charger being plugged in there because I am no electrical guru.
Thanks Charlie J. I appreciate the idea! I’ve got a small panel that I can use.
 
Do you have any solar panels installed on your trailer? If so, that solar port should indeed be wired directly into the input side of your solar controller, in parallel with the pre-installed panels. Otherwise, I believe you just have the solar prewire option, and I don't think that port will be connected to anything.

If you do have solar, and as long as the trailer is not stored under full cover, the rooftop panels will be more than sufficient to keep the batteries charged while the trailer is stored. No trickle charger or shore power connection required. If the trailer is covered, you could connect a small auxiliary panel (with the same open voltage rating as the rooftop panels) to that port as described above. If you have solar but still prefer to use a trickle charger, it would have to be connected directly to the battery.

I'd also recommend disconnecting the main battery switch found under the dinette bench while the trailer is in storage/unplugged from shore power. This will disconnect the battery from the converter and all the 12v systems, but the solar controller will remain connected.
Thanks, Selkirk. I only have the pre-wire option. I haven’t been able to trace the wiring yet to figure out where that port goes, but I’m guessing you’re right. Thanks for the other tips, too.
 

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