jcervini
Monroe, CT
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Joined: 10/16/2002
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Hi,
Going to be dry camping this coming weekend. First time doing this without hookups. We have made provisions for getting extra water to the trailer, but I have a question on charging the battery for running the lights and water pump.
By just idling my truck will the battery recharge its self? Any idea how long it takes?
Thanks.
Joe
03 GMC Sierra 2500HD CC SB D/A 4WD
2003 CedarCreek 32BHBS
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was_FunCruiser
Cyberspace
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Joined: 06/08/2002
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Here's a thought.... I see you have a duramax diesel (great choice by the way), are you running a deep cycle battery in your trailer? If not, can't you just swap it out with your 2nd battery from the truck?
But to answer your question, I did that a several years ago while staying the weekend at a state park. It just would not charge the battery quick enough or thorough enough to keep me powered at night.
On edit: In retrospect, I wonder if there's any problem with placing a deep cycle in the auxiliary spot in the diesel for recharging? Ok, you battery Guru's, what's the answer?
*This Message was edited on 23-Jun-03 06:06 PM by Dually-Daddy*
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Pineapple Kid
Kauai Hawaii
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Joined: 11/25/2002
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First have 2 batterys. Disconect one while dry camping so you wil have a charged one when you tow to go home for your break away brakes.
We minimize electric use when we dry camp we only use the lights for short periods of time. We put a candle in the bathroom and have several kerosene lamps in case we need light inside outside we use a propane lantern.
You must maintain a decent amount of charge so your refer will work ok. I leave the water heater on pilot only which keeps the water very hot because you will use so little of it, we do a shipboard shower; wet, soap, quick rinse which uses less than 1 galon of water and we save the water to use to flush the toilet. I shut off the service valve to the toilet and use a large cup to flush or add water to the toilet ( you use lots less water (Bring a couple of milk jugs full of water to use in the toilet)
Now to answer your question yes your battery will get charged by running your truck although not too fast. It would charge faster if you jumper cable it to your truck battery ( make sure everything is off when connecting the jumpers ) I have made a fused cigarette lighter plug jumper out of # 12 stranded wire with clips on the end and take my discharged battery on road trips with it hooked up and it charges it up fast, I just put the batery in the truck bed hook up the jumper wire and plug it in to the socket and take it for a ride. You have no voltage regulator this way so be carefull you don't over charge
( lots of bubbles or boiling of the battery)
Their are millions of litle tricks to dry camping ( and RVing also ) you will find them here if you read enough posts then try them to see if they fit your style. Have a ball
Aloha from Kauai
Pineapple Kid
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Airstreamer67
Pineville, LA USA
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Joined: 11/07/2002
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Pineapple Kid, in describing your charging a battery from your vehicle's 12-volt electrical system while traveling, why do you feel there is no voltage regulator involved? If you are charging a battery from your vehicle's system, there is a voltage regulator involved. Otherwise, your vehicle's system battery would become overcharged.
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fppf
Buffalo, NY, USA
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I would leave the truck batteries alone. There are 2 for a reason. As for charging with the truck. Its not good to let your diesel idle that long plus a battery wont charge at idle. The system is made to charge at speed IE about 1700 RPM. So you would need to run the motor at that RPM which I don't think any one else around you is going to like.
We have dry camped for 3 days on 1 battey. We ran the firdge, hot water, and water pump. The lights we where carful with. You just need to be really careful. You dont need 4 lights on when one will do fine. Check out the lamp above your table, mine has 3 bulbs in it.
1997 International 9800 Flat Floor COE
2004 Fleetwood Terry Quantuim AX6 365FLTS
Trailair Air Ride Pin Box with custom Fab auto ride height leveling
Trailer Wire Convertors:
2 wire to 3 wire
3 wire to 2 wire
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Yeti Shaman
Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
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Joined: 11/05/2001
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You will be surprised how much battery you can save , by having 12V florescent lamps inside trailer
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CPC
San Fernando Valley, USA
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Joe, I agree with kf4cyb@earthlink.net about floursecent lights. I changed some of mine after I checked and found that the incandescent lights drew all kinds of current. Last summer my batteries were starting to fail and would not hold a charge (we were dry camping) so I had to hook up the truck and let it run for a 1/2 hour or so to charge up the batteries. Since all new vehicles have alternators they are able to charge at idle. It's not the most effecient way to charge batteries but it will do in an emergency. I'm getting solar cells installed this summer to take care of the problem.
*This Message was edited on 24-Jun-03 01:01 PM by Canoga_Park_Couple*
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Thinker
Louisiana chuck wagon. Still have much to learn!
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I have the same question. To get some answers, I bought two digital volt meters (Camping World) that plug into the cig plug. I put one in the camper, one in the truck.
A battery is fully charged at 12.7 volts or higher. It is to be considered fully discharged at 11.9 volts.
To charge a battery, you must put more volts into it than 12.7. Typically the range is 13.5 - 14.0 volts.
In my trailer I took out the wimpy battery that the dealer put in and replaced it with two large Marine Gel Cell batteries. These are not starting batteries, but designed as marine house batteries.
In my truck, I cut a stick to poke from the front seat to the gas pedal (diesel actually). I then use my seat adjustment (fore and aft) to set the speed of idle.
However, I found that the Duramax will idle while producing 14 volts. I am headed for Elkmont (GSMNP) tomorrow for some dry camping.
We need to run the fridge, water pump, a fluorescent light, and an roof vent fan. At home I did some tests and they ran for hours and hours. I think the voltage dropped .2 volts.
I will let you know (in two weeks) how it all worked. First long dry camp in this rig.
Walt
Thinker
New Orleans
Itasca Meridian 36G DP DGen, 350 C7 Cat, Awesome Allison Tranny,
Honda Pilot dink with Roadmaster Blackhawk tow bars, M&G Air Brakes on Toad.
Still loving living the RV life.
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steve&tana
Breckenridge, Texas, USA
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Joined: 06/21/2003
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Would solar charges help any? Don't know a thing about them but in theory makes sense to try them.
Steve & Tana  
Breckenridge, Texas
1996 Country Coach 40' Intrigue w/ 300hp Cummins
'06 Ford Ranger XLT 6cyl 4X2 Auto with Remco Driveshaft Disconnect
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zane
russellville, arkansas - usa
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A little info on battery use and recharging plus an idea of what you can operate off battery and > inverter>>the supply is trying to maintain the watts needed for the appliance. Amps to volts, directly proportional.
Electricity will sometimes make you walk off scratching your head., I have worked in the business 45+ years and still hit a stump now and again.
My TT Ac pulls 5amps @ 120 volts = 600 watts AC
For DC >>600watts divide by 12 volts = 50 amps DC
AV = 120volts x 5 amps = 600 watts
DC = 12 volts x 50 amps = 600 watts
These are theory, in actual use the amperage is a little higher say 5% maximum.
Battery power is somewhat deceiving, on first look, it would appear that an 80amphr battery would supply 5amps ( 80 divide 5 = 16 ) continuously for 16 hours. Not true. A close rule of thumb is to use about 80% of the rated amp hr divide by amps and you get a ( close ) to true figure.
Below is some actual values for battery's>>
Appliance draw 80 amp hr battery provides approximately time to
Use in amps continuous power for. Recharge battery.
********* ***************** *********
5 amps 13.5 hours 16 hours
15 amps 3.5 hours 13 hours
25 amps 2.4 hours 12 hours
105 amp hr battery provides
continuous power for.
######## ############## ###########
5 amps 15.8 hours 16 hours
15 amps 4.2 hours 13 hours
25 amps 2.4 hours 12 hours
So if you put 2 - 12v battery's in parallel you would get 12 volts but
( close ) to twice the amp hr use ).
Using 4 - 6 volt battery's in a series / parallel circuit, you could get 12 volts and (close) to twice the amp hr use of just 2 - 6 volt battery's.
Battery's can be effected by several things among them are - age - temperature -liquid level - condition of terminals and connections - wire size - etc.
Just try to be sure you have plenty of charging power for the battery's.
Take Care Enjoy
Mexfishguide
Baja Travelers
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