Charging battery in bed
#1
04-09-2018, 01:25 AM
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Virginia
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#2
04-10-2018, 11:35 PM
Not likely. It seems Ford's trailer plug 12V is not energized until it senses a trailer. I don't know, but perhaps you can emulate a trailer by adding some resistance to one of the other circuits, The other hurdle is that the amount of alternator output seems to be dictated by the needs of the starting battery, and when it is fully charged the alternator goes into more or less idle mode. I think you'd need to wire your in-bed battery directly to your starting battery, with adequate fuse protection, of course.
#3
04-11-2018, 08:44 AM
Laughing Gas
Yes, absolutely possible.
Forget the alternator comment. The trucks voltage regulator will maintain 14.4-14.7 (ish).
The batteries are wired in parallel, so there is no separate starting/house battery.
The truck needs to sense a load a load on the brake light circuit before it “turns on” the trailer plug. You’ll need to make a simple jumper on the brake light circuit. Not sure what size will do it (maybe 1 kohm, draws 14/100 = .014 amps. Maybe 100 ohm to draw .14 amp? Someone else may jump in with the actual current to trip the circuit on). Simple and cheap to wire it up (<$20)
Forget the alternator comment. The trucks voltage regulator will maintain 14.4-14.7 (ish).
The batteries are wired in parallel, so there is no separate starting/house battery.
The truck needs to sense a load a load on the brake light circuit before it “turns on” the trailer plug. You’ll need to make a simple jumper on the brake light circuit. Not sure what size will do it (maybe 1 kohm, draws 14/100 = .014 amps. Maybe 100 ohm to draw .14 amp? Someone else may jump in with the actual current to trip the circuit on). Simple and cheap to wire it up (<$20)
#5
04-15-2018, 11:15 AM
Postmaster
#6
04-22-2018, 10:42 AM
#7
04-22-2018, 03:17 PM
Voltage does stay near constant, but instead of monitoring voltage on the charge lead, you may want to check amperage. There is s “smart charging”’system in play here. If there was not, charging at over 14-volts continuously would not be advisable. I think you might be surprised how little current is passed down the charge lead.
A good many truck camper guys run a 4 ga directly off the truck battery to the camper battery.
A good many truck camper guys run a 4 ga directly off the truck battery to the camper battery.
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