Adding a second battery on a truck camper

Divert · #1 04-30-2010, 07:21 PM

Hi, Just a question hopefully someone can help me out.
I just bought an older camper. It runs the running lights, three overhead lights, fan for the furnace, and other small electrical devices off of the 7 pin plug from my truck. I would really like to add a second battery to the unit. I was thinking that I might place a deep cycle battery in the box beside the camper and have that 12v wire go to a battery selector in the truck, to which the 12V wire that comes from the 7 pin plug (which is used for the power now) would be attached to aswell. This way I can choose to run off of the deep cycle 2nd battery without worry of killing the battery in my truck, then if needed I can switch to my truck if the deep cycle battery dies/gets low. Also (i'm not sure about this) i could select both batteries while my truck is running to charge the deep cycle battery.
Thanks for any info

noneck180 · #2 04-30-2010, 07:39 PM

So your camper doesn't have a battery of its own? or do you want two?? sounds like it doesn't have a battery ,, which is a must.. unless you want to run your truck, have the battery die or use an electrical site.

ram crazy · #3 04-30-2010, 07:47 PM

You can run two batteries but you need to use an isolator between the two batteries so your truck battery won't drain while you use the camper lights and furnace. You should be able to pick one of those up at any automotive store.

ram crazy · #4 04-30-2010, 07:50 PM

Sorry, I should also have stated that while the truck is running with an isolator installed it will charge both batteries.

Kingfisher · #5 05-01-2010, 01:15 AM

If it were me I'd put a mount bracket for the extra battery under the hood of the truck. Rather than putting it in the box.

I did this with my previous truck. What I did was not run an isolator, but I ran instead a relay which did the same thing. The relay was wired so that when the ignition was on it would activate the relay. Which would open the circuit between the batteries and it would charge both batteries when the truck was running. Then with the ignition off it would isolate the battery and just use the one battery for the camper. That way if it killed the camper battery I could still start my truck with the other one. Or if I was out for an extended period I could start the truck for a bit every day and charge up the camper battery.

The exact same thing as the isolator at 1/100th of the cost.

Rob

Reeves1 · #6 05-01-2010, 06:28 AM

Divert PM sent...

roger · #7 05-01-2010, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingfisher

If it were me I'd put a mount bracket for the extra battery under the hood of the truck. Rather than putting it in the box.

I did this with my previous truck. What I did was not run an isolator, but I ran instead a relay which did the same thing. The relay was wired so that when the ignition was on it would activate the relay. Which would open the circuit between the batteries and it would charge both batteries when the truck was running. Then with the ignition off it would isolate the battery and just use the one battery for the camper. That way if it killed the camper battery I could still start my truck with the other one. Or if I was out for an extended period I could start the truck for a bit every day and charge up the camper battery.

The exact same thing as the isolator at 1/100th of the cost.

Rob

couldnt have said it better myself.
i have dual 1600amp batts on a solenoid setup like this.
the thought of having a dead battery in the middle of no where is unacceptable.