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From: Ted Heise <theise@panix.com>
Newsgroups: rec.outdoors.rv-travel
Subject: Re: Charging from tow vehicle
Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2025 12:59:12 -0000 (UTC)
Organization: My own, such as it is
Message-ID: <slrnvrm6t0.a6i.theise@panix2.panix.com>
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On Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:29:13 -0600,
  sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
>  On 2/21/2025 8:49 AM, Ted Heise wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > 
> > Thinking of trading in my Acadia for a new one and the sales 
> > rep mentioned something about it having a larger alternator.  
> > That make me just idly wonder if it's possible to get a 
> > factory installed system that would supply enough power at the 
> > 7-pin connector to recharge a LiIon battery while towing.
> 
>  I am about 99.9% sure the answer to your question is no, Ted. 
>  Still a good idea to get the big alternator, and maybe even a 
>  double battery setup. The main problem is the wire size on the 
>  7-pin plug.

Oh, that's a very good point, I completely forgot about that 
little detail.  


>      ...On my TOAD, I installed a power plug so I could use a 12 
>  Gauge wire that was always on, but that was only for trying to 
>  keep the battery on the TOAD up to run the braking system.  
>  This would not be enough to charge depleted LI batteries.
> 
>  What you need is very heavy gauge wire from the battery to the 
>  back of the tow vehicle with a plug for a DC-DC charger if you 
>  really want the tow vehicle to charge the trailer battery.
> 
> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_jHoEEkiUc>

Thanks for the feedback, and to Ralph too.

I guess I'm still looking for a way to keep the battery charged 
when flatspotting.  The generator works, but seems more trouble 
than it's worth (weight, shortish run time, gasoline odors), so I 
may look into solar.  Else I'll just reconcile to campsites with 
electricity.

-- 
Ted Heise      <theise@panix.com>       West Lafayette, IN, USA