I have had a couple of travel trailers over the last few years. The family and I have put somewhere around 30,000Mi on. I have had some major frame issues with my last one so I sold it and plan to build my own. I just ordered an 18' all aluminum trailer that comes in about 6 weeks or so. Initially its just going to be a tent and kitchen on wheels. As time allows I will build it out.
Electrically just like the trailer will be a work in progress. Just enough to get by until I can get by with buying some more.
I have access to a few Renogy 100AH batteries that I can use for trips for the next while.
I also have a 1000W inverter that I used last year to run a small fridge.
For our first trip I would like to get the inverter installed in the trailer with 2x100AH Renogy batteries... Further I was planning on ordering a 50A DC2DC Renogy charger. To facilitate charging for this first trip I figured I would just wire up the DC2DC charger and run/idle my truck to charge up the batteries every couple of days.
I have a chicken scratch wire diagram on my desk here...
To walk through it.. Left side is the truck. Off the battery a 75A fuse (as per renogy manual for the 50A charger). aprox. 20' of 4 AWG cable to the bumper. Anderson connector at the bumper.
Into the trailer is an Anderson Connector to the truck. The plan was for the Electrical gear to be at the rear of the trailer. So banking on another 20' of 4 AWG to the DC2DC Charger. Out of the DC Charger into a 65A fuse (again as per Renogy guide)
Now for the first trip drifting away from my diagram, we will skip the terminal blocks. Diagram shows a 2000W inverter.. I actually only have a 1000W for now
Off the house batteries I will start with a 100A fuse running on 2 AWG (overkill for now but if I upgrade the inverter likely needed). THis connects to the 65A fuse from the DC2DC Charger and to the Inverter.
DC Load wise for now will be nothing but an water pump and maybe a couple 12V fans we have and maybe a USB charger.
AC Load will be my small fridge. Last summer a full 100AH battery would run the fridge for about 60 hours. (Fridge draws around 1.7AH).
Sooooo here comes the question part.
Well.. thats a lot. Thanks kindly for taking the time to read!
Mike
Electrically just like the trailer will be a work in progress. Just enough to get by until I can get by with buying some more.
I have access to a few Renogy 100AH batteries that I can use for trips for the next while.
I also have a 1000W inverter that I used last year to run a small fridge.
For our first trip I would like to get the inverter installed in the trailer with 2x100AH Renogy batteries... Further I was planning on ordering a 50A DC2DC Renogy charger. To facilitate charging for this first trip I figured I would just wire up the DC2DC charger and run/idle my truck to charge up the batteries every couple of days.
I have a chicken scratch wire diagram on my desk here...
To walk through it.. Left side is the truck. Off the battery a 75A fuse (as per renogy manual for the 50A charger). aprox. 20' of 4 AWG cable to the bumper. Anderson connector at the bumper.
Into the trailer is an Anderson Connector to the truck. The plan was for the Electrical gear to be at the rear of the trailer. So banking on another 20' of 4 AWG to the DC2DC Charger. Out of the DC Charger into a 65A fuse (again as per Renogy guide)
Now for the first trip drifting away from my diagram, we will skip the terminal blocks. Diagram shows a 2000W inverter.. I actually only have a 1000W for now
Off the house batteries I will start with a 100A fuse running on 2 AWG (overkill for now but if I upgrade the inverter likely needed). THis connects to the 65A fuse from the DC2DC Charger and to the Inverter.
DC Load wise for now will be nothing but an water pump and maybe a couple 12V fans we have and maybe a USB charger.
AC Load will be my small fridge. Last summer a full 100AH battery would run the fridge for about 60 hours. (Fridge draws around 1.7AH).
Sooooo here comes the question part.
- The truck is a 19 F150 with a 5L in it. The alternator is 240A. I think (read hope) that should be good to idle and charge at 50A's. Any concerns running at full hit 50A while idling?
- Further to this I have read the new Renogy DC2DC chargers can be throttled. Anyone know how to do this? I see nothing in the manual about it but I guess its an app setting via bluetooth? (https://renogy.com/blog/so-many-dc-...little-timewhich-one-is-best-for-your-system/)
- Cable sizes.. Thoughts? Will 4AWG be large enough for this long of a run? If we relocate the electrical to the front we could probable get down to 25' (one way).
- Cable Sizes.. Will the 2AWG be large enough for a 2000W inverter. Cable run from the battery to the inverter would likely be less then 2' (one way)
- Fuse sizes.. Thoughts..
- Fuse types... What fuse types/breakers would you guys recommend? Trying to keep prices reasonable but I also don't want to waste money and have to replace a bunch of times.
Well.. thats a lot. Thanks kindly for taking the time to read!
Mike