Don't Charge your trailer from the generator to the power cord

[pianoman9701]

A little PSA here.

I recently sold my pop-up trailer to a forum member. I used it for two seasons and a few scouting trips in between. I run a CPAP all night, as well as the cabin heater and found that I had trouble maintaining the charge without running the generator for about 4 hours during the day. Lots of noise, lots of gas but I was able to sleep at night. I'd asked the RV repair place about this and, of course, he said I needed a bigger converter. I almost fell for that $500 suggestion but couldn't afford it at the time. By the way, All American RV in Orchards is not going to look to your best interests.

This past archery season, one of my neighbors from the camp above noticed I was running the genny everyday for hours. When he asked, I told him why. He brought down a battery charger and suggested I charge the batteries directly from the genny instead of going through the power cord, because charging directly to the batteries would be faster. I did so and it cut the charging time by 3/4s. I never had another problem. After he left, I drove to Wally World and bought a charger that shows the % of charge so I wouldn't overcharge, has fast and slow charge, voltage, the whole ball. If anyone here uses a lot of power in their trailer and hasn't figured this out by themselves, this is definitely the way to go. Have a nice day!

[baker5150]

Great post.

These converters are like trickle chargers.
I installed a NOCO Genius Mini in my TT when I went to a 4 bank 6 volt set up.

Not cheap for a 4 bank but it will monitor all 4 batteries independently, which increases battery life and makes charging fast.

https://no.co/products/charging/onboard

[92xj]

Great post.

These converters are like trickle chargers.
I installed a NOCO Genius Mini in my TT when I went to a 4 bank 6 volt set up.

Not cheap for a 4 bank but it will monitor all 4 batteries independently, which increases battery life and makes charging fast.

https://no.co/products/charging/onboard

Any desire to do a write up /picture thread of your upgrade.
I'm wanting to go to 4x 6v battery setup this February.

[baker5150]

Great post.

These converters are like trickle chargers.
I installed a NOCO Genius Mini in my TT when I went to a 4 bank 6 volt set up.

Not cheap for a 4 bank but it will monitor all 4 batteries independently, which increases battery life and makes charging fast.

https://no.co/products/charging/onboard

Any desire to do a write up /picture thread of your upgrade.
I'm wanting to go to 4x 6v battery setup this February.

I'll get something together and post it.

[Boss .300 winmag]

My buddy runs a cpap in deer camp off a deep cycle marine battery, his really old one died this year in camp he bought a new one charged it to get it fully charged, and never needed charged again.

And his old one was really old, plus he uses it in Alaska every year hunting there.

Just a though so you don’t ruin your trailers batteries.🤔

[DRobnsn]

Most of the time when we are dry camping I use my truck batteries to run my cpap through the night. I've ran it for several nights without starting the truck with no problems.   

[pianoman9701]

My buddy runs a cpap in deer camp off a deep cycle marine battery, his really old one died this year in camp he bought a new one charged it to get it fully charged, and never needed charged again.

And his old one was really old, plus he uses it in Alaska every year hunting there.

Just a though so you don’t ruin your trailers batteries.🤔

How many days could he run the CPAP off of it without charging? I have a feeling that mine uses a few amps plus the cabin heater.

[pianoman9701]

Most of the time when we are dry camping I use my truck batteries to run my cpap through the night. I've ran it for several nights without starting the truck with no problems.

I assume you're running some kind of inverter???

[Boss .300 winmag]

My buddy runs a cpap in deer camp off a deep cycle marine battery, his really old one died this year in camp he bought a new one charged it to get it fully charged, and never needed charged again.

And his old one was really old, plus he uses it in Alaska every year hunting there.

Just a though so you don’t ruin your trailers batteries.🤔

How many days could he run the CPAP off of it without charging? I have a feeling that mine uses a few amps plus the cabin heater.

Whole season.😉

[DRobnsn]

Most of the time when we are dry camping I use my truck batteries to run my cpap through the night. I've ran it for several nights without starting the truck with no problems.

I assume you're running some kind of inverter???

Yep, I've been using a little one that plugs into the power outlet (cigarette lighter). I also use it when we use the tent for out of state hunts. When we dry camp we also use it to charge our devices during the day. 

[wadu1]

My buddy runs a cpap in deer camp off a deep cycle marine battery, his really old one died this year in camp he bought a new one charged it to get it fully charged, and never needed charged again.

And his old one was really old, plus he uses it in Alaska every year hunting there.

Just a though so you don’t ruin your trailers batteries.🤔

How many days could he run the CPAP off of it without charging? I have a feeling that mine uses a few amps plus the cabin heater.

The longest I've been on 12V for my CPAP was 7 days, after 7 it was down 25%

[baker5150]

Here is a quick drawing of how I wired TT charging system a couple years ago.

Using four 6 volt batteries, a battery selector switch, and 2 20 amp, manual re-set breakers.

I also installed a surge protector into the converter. 

I thought I had installed a 4 bank charger, but I then recalled I couldn't charge and monitor each battery individually while wired this way. 
I still need to figure out how to do that, if it's even possible.
This diagram is with a 2 bank charger, monitoring each "set" of batteries.

[92xj]

Thanks!

[syoungs]

Here is a quick drawing of how I wired TT charging system a couple years ago.

Using four 6 volt batteries, a battery selector switch, and 2 20 amp, manual re-set breakers.

I also installed a surge protector into the converter. 

I thought I had installed a 4 bank charger, but I then recalled I couldn't charge and monitor each battery individually while wired this way. 
I still need to figure out how to do that, if it's even possible.
This diagram is with a 2 bank charger, monitoring each "set" of batteries.

Imo it isnt neccessary to monitor each battery individually. Monitor them in pairs of 2 for their 12v performance, and if an issue arises then you can unhook from series and investigate further. If a single battery develops an issue, it will readily show itself through 12v monitoring.

[follow maggie]

Good post. battery chargers in rvs are notoriously crappy, unless you have a big dollar motorhome. An actual battery charger does a much better job.

[baker5150]

Here is a quick drawing of how I wired TT charging system a couple years ago.

Using four 6 volt batteries, a battery selector switch, and 2 20 amp, manual re-set breakers.

I also installed a surge protector into the converter. 

I thought I had installed a 4 bank charger, but I then recalled I couldn't charge and monitor each battery individually while wired this way. 
I still need to figure out how to do that, if it's even possible.
This diagram is with a 2 bank charger, monitoring each "set" of batteries.

Imo it isnt neccessary to monitor each battery individually. Monitor them in pairs of 2 for their 12v performance, and if an issue arises then you can unhook from series and investigate further. If a single battery develops an issue, it will readily show itself through 12v monitoring.

Agreed

It's really more beneficial for charging, if one of the pair has a lower charge rate.  They shouldn't, if of the same vintage and model, but it's possible.

[pianoman9701]

My buddy runs a cpap in deer camp off a deep cycle marine battery, his really old one died this year in camp he bought a new one charged it to get it fully charged, and never needed charged again.

And his old one was really old, plus he uses it in Alaska every year hunting there.

Just a though so you don’t ruin your trailers batteries.🤔

How many days could he run the CPAP off of it without charging? I have a feeling that mine uses a few amps plus the cabin heater.

The longest I've been on 12V for my CPAP was 7 days, after 7 it was down 25%

Wow. Maybe I just need an extra battery. Did you run an inverter or does your CPAP run off of 12V? My inverter also has a motor/fan.

[dmv9]

I run my CPAP directly from a 12v battery. I bought another adapter for the CPAP and snipped the wires and wired it directly to the battery. Works great. I've run it several nights without a recharge, apparently my cpap uses very little power.

[bornhunter]

Anyone ever try one of those YETI's?  They are supposed to run a cpap for about 3 nights before recharge?

[Mudman]

What about running genny plugged in to TT plus using the batt charger at a 5-10amp quick charge?  Is there an amp not to exceed when charging batts?

[DRobnsn]

Anyone ever try one of those YETI's?  They are supposed to run a cpap for about 3 nights before recharge?

I hadn't seen the Yeti version until you mentioned it. Amazon has a bunch of different brands and sizes. I'm thinking about trying one out.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Anyone ever try one of those YETI's?  They are supposed to run a cpap for about 3 nights before recharge?

Why?

Marine battery way cheaper, and doesn’t need charged every three nights.🤔

[syoungs]

What about running genny plugged in to TT plus using the batt charger at a 5-10amp quick charge?  Is there an amp not to exceed when charging batts?

There is a safe limit of what batteries can be charged at, and a limit of what batteries can be charged at to achieve long term battery health. I do not know these numbers off the top of my head, its typically different for each group size and manufacturer.

The factory converter/charger that almost all travel trailers come with is anemic at best. I REALLY doubt that putting another 10 amps onto a battery bank would cause any harm at all. I'm feeding my 2 6v batteries with a solar array, as well as the converter. the converter is an upgraded unit from progressive dynamics, with a charge wizard smart charge feature. basically the same thing your talking about, but in reverse. my solar will be lower amperage, and the progressive dynamics will dump the juice to them.

[Mudman]

  Good because I used to do it.  Worked faster.  Now have 6volts and don't need to as they last long time.

[DRobnsn]

Anyone ever try one of those YETI's?  They are supposed to run a cpap for about 3 nights before recharge?

Why?

Marine battery way cheaper, and doesn’t need charged every three nights.🤔

I think the versatility and weight difference are a couple good reasons. Depends on your overall camping setup as to if this is worth having or not though.

[pianoman9701]

Well, in a thread about trailers it would seem the Yeti might not be the best choice.

[lee]

What about running genny plugged in to TT plus using the batt charger at a 5-10amp quick charge?  Is there an amp not to exceed when charging batts?

Hi,..... this usually will not provide any benefit because... What you are doing is running 2 chargers in parallel and 1 of them will see the 14.2 volts provided by the other one and think it is the fully charged battery... and it will stop charging.

Lee

[lee]

Good post!!!!

I feel it all depends on the Type of Converter your RV has.

My older RV would only trickle charger the batteries when on Shore power so I would charge from the Gen set to a stand alone battery charger.

My 2013 RV has a much improved Converter and I have found it more efficient to plug the RV to the Gen set to charge. the Converter provides 3 charge levels: Bulk, Absorption, and Trickle.

Lee