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Needing to hook up a DC-DC Charger in my popup trailer via an Anderson plug between truck and trailer. Wondering if I could use one of the 40amp Aux Switches to do so from under the hood to the back of the truck?
Anyone ever do this? Appreciate any input you may have.
So long as it isn't pulling 40 amps then no reason you couldn't.
You know there is a fuse in the box to change over switches 5 and 6 to full time power, right?
Yes, I saw that those two are switchable to full time power but have some more research to do on DC-DC chargers. My understanding is that it needs to be hooked up so that they only pull amperage and charge the aux batteries when the engine is running so that one doesn't pull down the starter battery too much..
Yes, I saw that those two are switchable to full time power but have some more research to do on DC-DC chargers. My understanding is that it needs to be hooked up so that they only pull amperage and charge the aux batteries when the engine is running so that one doesn't pull down the starter battery too much..
I can't speak for other brands, but the Victron DC-DC smart chargers auto detect your engine running and will shut off a few seconds after you shut off your truck. Also, if you don't want to go through the hassle of running dedicated charging wires, fusing, connectors etc. you can use your truck's existing charging line to run the lower output (18amp) Victron charger. Anything bigger than that will require a dedicating charging circuit.
I'll be charging three 100ah lithium batteries in the trailer, so the 18amp may not be enough. I was thinking that I could run wire from under the hood where the 40amp Aux Switches wiring harness is located, through the frame to the back of the pickup truck where I'll end it with an Anderson plug. The trailer side would be the other Anderson plug back to the battery bank where I'll install the DC-DC charger. I think this will work, but am far from an electrical expert...
I put a 40 amp DC-DC charger in my RV and used an Anderson connector at the rear of the bed.
If you want 40 amps of charging at the rear of your bed you will need 4 gauge wire from the truck battery to the rear Anderson connectors. Any lighter wire is not going to carry 40 amps back there, you will have too much current loss for the run from the front to the rear of the truck.
I used 4 gauge wire from the battery, through a 60amp breaker, through a 60 amp relay (activated buy up fitter switch number 2) and then to the Anderson connector in the rear.
Okay..... I see your in line 60amp breaker but I'm not seeing the 60amp relay that you turn on with the up fitter switch, unless that is it on the left side of the photograph with 2 large gauge red wires and one smaller gauge black wire running to it? What kind of relay did you get?
Okay..... I see your in line 60amp breaker but I'm not seeing the 60amp relay that you turn on with the up fitter switch, unless that is it on the left side of the photograph with 2 large gauge red wires and one smaller gauge black wire running to it? What kind of relay did you get?
I can't say exactly what relay I put in there. I had it in my spare parts box. But it probably something like this
Keep in mind when running DC circuits the run length is from the source, to the device and back, so double the distance from the battery, solenoid etc to the rear mount anderson.
With an 8' bed truck that could be close to 45-50'.
Keep in mind when running DC circuits the run length is from the source, to the device and back, so double the distance from the battery, solenoid etc to the rear mount anderson.
With an 8' bed truck that could be close to 45-50'.
huh? All the wire / gauge / distance charts I've ever seen just ask for the end-to-end distance, not the end-to-end-to-end distance. However, since I ran both a dedicated 12v and ground wire I ended up putting in about 40 feet total.
huh? All the wire / gauge / distance charts I've ever seen just ask for the end-to-end distance, not the end-to-end-to-end distance. However, since I ran both a dedicated 12v and ground wire I ended up putting in about 40 feet total.
It depends on the wire gauge calculator that you use. The calculator I use specifically says round trip distance.
Also, keep in mind that a 20 amp DC-DC charger is rated for 20 amps on the output side. It could draw 30 amps on the input side to do that. You have to take that into account when you calculate the wire gauge.
FWIW, my 560 Ah of LiFePO4 battery in my RV trailer doesn't get any charge from the truck. My solar takes care of that. I rarely connect to shore power either.
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