jupe
utah
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bought a fifth wheel two years ago new. how can I find out what amp rating my converter is on the unit? I do mostly dry camping and am looking to extend my battery usage by adding more batteries and want to make sure I have enough charge capacity in the converter??
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
Even a 25 amp converter will charge a large battery bank, given enough time. I think, unless you plan to try to recharge via generator, it is a non issue.
I'd think in terms of adding solar if boondocking is the goal. Panel prices sometimes dip below $1.00 per watt, and if you DIY all the parts work out to about $2.00 per watt.
Regards, Don
Kustom Koach Class C 28'5" 256 watts Unisolar, 875 amp hours in two battery banks 12 volt batteries, 2500 MSW watt inverter.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Open up the fuse/breaker panel and post the brand and model number.
2001 F150 SuperCrew
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
675 watts solar
Send a PM if I missed something
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aruba5er
Neenah Wisconsin
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If it's orignal it probably ain't big enough. my 45 amp convertor won't charge my 2 "27's" by running the generator in 12 hours. That's how long you can run a genny in Yellowstone. Started at 8am and had to shut off at 8pm and batterys still low. Someday I will get a better convertor. Remember, the co. that made your camper did not go overboard and supply a good 3 stage convertor.
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beemerphile1
I'm 57, I'm not a
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Joined: 04/20/2007
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jupe wrote:bought a fifth wheel two years ago new. how can I find out what amp rating my converter is on the unit...
Look at the papers that came with the RV. There should be a separate manual for the converter. Or, look at the converter and tell us the brand and model number.
Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
- Soren Kierkegaard
2006 Weekend Warrior FK1900/1998 Ford E150 4.6L = 8MPG
2009 Aliner Sport/2009 Pontiac Vibe 1.8L = 22MPG
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jupe
utah
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Thanks for comments. I put on an 80 watt solar panel, planning on swapping two 12 interstate batteries for 2-4 better quality 6 volts and wanted to make sure I had an acceptable converter to charge them when I run my gen. Appreciate the advice on how to find out and that factory supplied items typically don't give you the top of line or even close.
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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What do you mean by "enough charge capacity?" Do you mean to keep gen time to a minimum while you do 50-90s? Define "enough." Answers will vary with your reply.
2003 Chev 2500HD Gas, 2003 Komfort 26FS 5er
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smkettner
Southern California
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You need 60 to 100 amps and 14.4 to 14.8 volts for charging 2 to 4 batteries quickly. Probably need to pull bigger wire to the battery also. You may need more than a Honda 2000 generator as you approach or exceed 100 amps to the battery.
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RoyB
King George, VA
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If you purchased your Rv trailer new it should have come with a folder of booklets and brochures and should have had one in the package about your converter/charger. My hugh folder was inside the cabinet where the water heater is.
Looks in the large folder of brochures you got with the new trailer...
Give us the model and year of trailer and we can probably find a photo of the inside of your trailer on-line and Identify your unit. They are usually located near the floor maybe close to the fridge or stove oven in the Kitchen area. If you only have one battery installed it is probably a 45 amp converter/charger unit.
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - PM me
Roy and Carolyn
RETIRED DOAF/DON/DOD/CONTR RADIO TECH (42yrs)
K9PHT (Since 1957) 146.52M
2010 F150, 5.4,3:73 Gears,SCab
2008 Starcraft 14RT EU2000i GEN
2005 Flagstaff 8528RESS
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jupe
utah
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by charge capacity I was thinking that my converter on my trailer is probably only putting out about 5 amps and my thought is that when I run my generator it would take too long to recharge the batteries. I felt if I had a 30 amp converter it would lessen the amount of generator time. We do mostly dry camping and might be out for 1-2 weeks and have run out of battery capabilities in the past. However I am admittedly pretty green on how all the electric aspects function between battery, converters and chargers, etc
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