Isolator or solenoid?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Carlsbad TX
Isolator or solenoid?
I am installing a 130 amp 3G on my 86 F250. I would like to install a back-up battery as well, and it be a deep cycle. I also pull a dump trailer with it's own deep cycle battery which I need to keep charged with the truck, as well as I pull a 30ft travel trailer.(not at the same time) What would be the best setup to maintain all batteries?
Will I need something between the 130 alt. and the deep cycle bateries? Will the 130 kill the batteries if charged to fast? I was thinking that if I had a deep cycle as a back-up battery, then I could connect my trailer batteries to it and allow it to charge them. Is this a good way?
I'll take any ideas.
Chuck
Will I need something between the 130 alt. and the deep cycle bateries? Will the 130 kill the batteries if charged to fast? I was thinking that if I had a deep cycle as a back-up battery, then I could connect my trailer batteries to it and allow it to charge them. Is this a good way?
I'll take any ideas.
Chuck
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Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Virginia
It's hard to beat a isolator for what you want to do. You can rig starter relays in a lot of configurations, making some sort of complex manual set-up you have to think about all the time to keep the batteries charged, or you can use the isolator to automatically keep the batteries charged, and use manual battery switches to select which battery you want to use.
The isolator is basically an electrical check valve, letting the aux batteries be charged, but keeping the aux batteries off the truck's electrical system as far as drains and loads. I think I would buy two small isolators one each for the back-up battery, and one for the trailer battery.
The isolator is basically an electrical check valve, letting the aux batteries be charged, but keeping the aux batteries off the truck's electrical system as far as drains and loads. I think I would buy two small isolators one each for the back-up battery, and one for the trailer battery.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 333
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From: Carlsbad TX
When I had my trailer built, the guy put a small trickle charger on my(deep cycle) trailer battery. I have been running it connected dirrectly to my starting battery, but if I leave it hooked up to my trailer, it drains my battery after a day or two.(sometimes over night) How fast can I charge a deep cycle battery? Would it be a good idea to make my auxillory battery on my truck a deep cycle, or the same as my starting battery?
Do travel trailers normally have isolators on them between them and the tow vehicle?
I thought about setting it up the same as my TT and connecting the trailer charge wire to the same wire charging the auxuillory battery.
Chuck
Do travel trailers normally have isolators on them between them and the tow vehicle?
I thought about setting it up the same as my TT and connecting the trailer charge wire to the same wire charging the auxuillory battery.
Chuck
