I have a 2005 WW FS2300. For some reason (I guess because it has a generator) there is no connection from the TV to the batteries for charging while you're driving. But you can greatly decrease the generator usage by keeping the batteries topped up when you get to camp.
There is a junction box in the front for the TV hookup where I could put a lead from the TV power to the trailer batteries - would it be OK to just do that? Should I take anything else into consideration? Do I need to isolate things so that when I do run the inverter charger from the generator that I'm not feeding it back into the truck if I leave the truck plugged in?
On my previous travel trailer, it would charge as I drove. I thought it was silly that this one did not. This trailer has a generator and I'm assuming that's why they left it off.
I'd just wire from the junction box to the battery. My trailer does not have a fuse or circuit breaker in this line, but if I was adding it, I would put an in-line fuse of about 30A. You don't indicate what truck you have; some (FORD I know of) have an automatic relay to disconnect the line when the truck is shut down, others I understand don't. If you don't have a shutdown relay, it is possible for the trailer to discharge the truck battery; you would have to unplug the cable to prevent this.
doughere wrote: I'd just wire from the junction box to the battery. My trailer does not have a fuse or circuit breaker in this line, but if I was adding it, I would put an in-line fuse of about 30A. You don't indicate what truck you have; some (FORD I know of) have an automatic relay to disconnect the line when the truck is shut down, others I understand don't. If you don't have a shutdown relay, it is possible for the trailer to discharge the truck battery; you would have to unplug the cable to prevent this.
Doug
Doug, that's interesting about the disconnect. Yes I have a Ford F250 turbodiesel, year 2000. Good to know I don't have to worry about it draining.
Although if the engine is off I can still turn the lights on and the running light circuit and all other trailer lights still work.
30A fuse to the battery is good idea, failsafe even if there is probably another fuse in the cab.
My 99 F350 only supplies current when the eng is running. It comes from the charging circuit. It's built that way so you don't run down the batt in the TV. Most trucks are this way if they come with a tow package.
Glen
04 Tail gator XT 34' 5th wheel garage model
99 F350 CC DRW 7.3 ais intake, adrenaline hpop, JW valve body,
cooling mist water inj, DP tunes, 4" turbo back exh sys
trucool trans cooler added
08 Arctic Cat Prowler 700XTX
smkettner wrote: Somehow the trailer 7 pin connector charge circuit is not hooked up? I can't imagine the OEM forgot to do that.
I would connect the battery to the 7 pin connector or is that what you are doing?
yea that's what I intend to do. There is already a line going from the batteries with a 30A breaker on it, and it may already be going to the connector junction box. I will tear into it this evening and see what I can find. It might just be disconnected on the other end.
I'm also having problems with the trailer brakes not activating, there is an intermittently loose wire somewhere or bad connector pin.
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