12 volt only solar setup?

Originally posted by Mr. Scott So is there some sort of plug-and-play unit that I can get to replace the existing converter?  Our RPod is a 2014, I think.

If you're referring to the ac to DC converter I believe WFCO makes an ac to DC charger aka converter that is plug and play compatible with the existing one and is set up to replace it for charging Li batteries. I would go that route (or check with Progressive Dynamics if you don't like WFCO) rather than add another component in series with the existing converter which has a complex multistage charging profile, not what you want for Li batteries.

If youre talking about a DC to DC converter so you can charge the Li batteries from the TV that would be a new installation not a repolacement in a location of your choice so you can do what you want. Several manufacturers make them.

Originally posted by offgrid Originally posted by StephenH Well, that was the problem. The 12V supply line from the TV did not go just to the DC to DC input. If that had been the case, it would have been much easier. I ended up disconnecting that wire from the little breaker underneath the front of the trailer so I could use just the circuit I installed and not feed back through the connector. Something is not right. If you cut the 12V line from the TV immediately after it leaves he trailer side of the connector and splice in the DC DC converter at that point then there shouldn't be any backfeed into the TV 12v system. All the other +12v lines coming through the connector are dedicated to some lighting or braking function controlled and powered by the TV. The only one of those lines that should ever get connected into the trailer 12v system is the breakaway brake line, and that should only happen when the Bargeman connector has been pulled. o Sounds like maybe there is a wiring issue somewhere in the trailer.

No problem there. I did not think to splice the wire there to the DC to DC charger. I did not have a wiring diagram to see what was connected there so I went with something that seemed like it would be the best option. In any case, that wire from the Bargman connector has to be connected to the battery for the TV to charge it. That was the problem. I could not see how to isolate the DC to DC charger from the load connections so the DC to DC charger would not also be trying to draw power from the battery and be charging itself, which really is impossible. Plus, by doing it the way I did, I was able to just connect a wire from the feed line to the terminal that controls the DC to DC charger's powering itself up and turning itself off. Otherwise, I would have needed to run a wire to an ignition circuit controlled circuit anyway to turn it on and off.

Awesome. Thank you.  It will be a couple of months at least before I start buying parts, but this discussion is really going to help.

StephenH, you could do the same thing using the +12V from the Bargeman to turn the DC DC on and off. Either way, it's a good point that anyone doing this would need to either disconnect their trailer connector as soon as they stop or run a wire from their ignition to the DC DC on/off input, otherwise they will draw down their TV battery trying to charge the trailer battery.

You don't need to have a second connector to do that. If you run your solenoid output to the TV +12V pin on the Bargeman it would do the same thing.