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Topic ClosedBattery charging - Event Date: 10 Oct 2017
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Apr 2016
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: Battery charging
    Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 4:45pm
Both my GM products have battery voltage supplied to the Bargman connector. Both have fused lines. Neither will charge the TT battery without running, the alternator is the charge source. Determining if the TV is charging the TT battery is as simple as measuring the voltage at the TT battery with the TV running. I added a digital volt gauge to TT and a digital volt gauge to the TV to better monitor what the charge circuit is doing.
Mike Carter
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2705 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 10:26am
Depending on the TV, it can be slightly difficult to determine if your TV is, in fact, charging the battery on your R-pod.

For example, the Bargman (AKA "7-pin") connector on our F-150 is a "smart connector". The F-150 does not provide power when the truck is off. It also does not provide power if there is no trailer connected. As a result, you can't just check for voltage by probing the 7-pin connector, regardless of whether the truck is running or not.

The way that I check it is to look at the voltage on the R-pod batteries. First, the trailer must be connected, and second, the truck must be running. When the truck is off, the batteries on the R-pod will be at their static voltage, which would be in the very high 12V range, or "around" 13 volts, depending on their state of charge (this is presuming they are pretty full). When the truck is started and the trailer is connected, the voltage at the R-pod batteries should jump up about a volt or so (~~ 14 volts).
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Posts: 70 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 7:24am
Originally posted by sailor323

If the battery is completely discharged and if the TV is set up to send a charge via the Bargman connector, and depending on the output of your alternator, it could take hours.  You can speed that up a bit by using a good set of jumper cables from the TV to the battery.  I charged a completely discharged battery (225 amp hour capacity) via the Bargman, 65 amp alternator--took over 2 hours
Just a head's up..... depending on the state of charge, connecting a discharged trailer battery to a charged TV battery can potentially draw considerable current until the discharged battery charges a bit.  This could possibly blow the fuse or breaker protecting the TV 12V feed to the trailer.  If the TV fuse blows, replace it and then switch to jumper cables until the trailer battery charges up a bit.  

I ran a 10 gauge wire from TV battery to the trailer connector and protected it with a 30A fuse (the max for 10 gauge wire) at the TV battery.  It has never blown but I have also never connected to the trailer with a discharged battery.  I keep a couple spare fuses just in case.  

Paul
2014 Rpod 171
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Uncle Hamish View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 6:38pm
Pretty sure it's enabled
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 6:37pm
I'm pretty sure it is enabled.
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:59pm
Think it is a the 1:00 position on TV connector. You should check to ensure you have battery voltage there. If you don't it is either not hooked up or not enabled. The other cheap thing I did was buy a relatively cheap digital LED ammeter gauge, that plugs into 12V accessory outlet. That tells me the status of battery charging as I tow. I wanted more accurate info than the standard ammeter gauge in dash.
Mike Carter
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Uncle Hamish View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:48pm
Thanks again folks!
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:43pm
Originally posted by Uncle Hamish

PS. Safe to assume this bargman is the big round 8-9 pin connector on my TV???


7-pin, but, yes.  Smile
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Uncle Hamish View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:26pm
PS. Safe to assume this bargman is the big round 8-9 pin connector on my TV???
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Uncle Hamish View Drop Down
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 5:25pm
All good info! Thanks a ton y'all!!!
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