Dead battery and check engine light

[Jay P]

2 hours ago, Steve Martin said:

Looking for details on this.  I've got a good idea, just curious your setup details if you can share.

Got one of these. Bought some wire at Home Depot (2 wires in one cable). Hooked up the + & ground. My battery maintainer came with an adapter meant for a motorcycle battery which I soldered on to the 2 wires. Just plug it in and let in charge/maintain the battery.

I work from home so I don't drive much anymore. I can go 3 to 4 weeks without doing anything and my truck will still start fine but that can't be good for the battery. All the computers the truck has drain the battery even though they go to sleep after a short time.

 

Jay

 

https://www.amazon.com/POLLAK-12-706-Plastic-Blade-Style/dp/B000BGOFCC/ref=sr_1_omk_6?crid=F4B0G3WWYSDM&keywords=7+pin+trailer+plug&qid=1648997643&sprefix=7+pin%2Caps%2C174&sr=8-6

[Steve Martin]

Jay,  Thanks.  That's what I was thinking mainly.  My only concern is feeding amps backwards through the wiring to the battery through whatever harnesses and wiring are in the loop back to the battery.  It's not a direct battery connection obviously like you would hook up a charger/maintainer to.

[Jay P]

2 hours ago, Steve Martin said:

Jay,  Thanks.  That's what I was thinking mainly.  My only concern is feeding amps backwards through the wiring to the battery through whatever harnesses and wiring are in the loop back to the battery.  It's not a direct battery connection obviously like you would hook up a charger/maintainer to.

True but that connection is there to charge/maintain an RV battery (it can also provide power for electric brakes) so it has to be direct and the wire sized properly to do that.

[gemarsh]

15 hours ago, Jay P said:

True but that connection is there to charge/maintain an RV battery (it can also provide power for electric brakes) so it has to be direct and the wire sized properly to do that.

Good idea! I didn't think the 7-way would have power back there when truck is off. Never thought of taking a dvm or a simple test light to check.

 

My '21 1/2ton and '22 1ton both have 30 amp fuses. Still, it's plenty big for a battery maintainer.

[gemarsh]

15 hours ago, Jay P said:

True but that connection is there to charge/maintain an RV battery (it can also provide power for electric brakes) so it has to be direct and the wire sized properly to do that.

How do you remember to unplug the connector before driving? 

 

I would backover the maintainer, destroying the maintainer, shorting out the fuse and be cruising down the road with a cord dangling behind me like a honeymoon procession car!

 

[Jay P]

I leave the charger on the tonneau cover where it's hard to miss.

 

Jay

[Steve Martin]

On 4/5/2022 at 9:26 AM, gemarsh said:

Good idea! I didn't think the 7-way would have power back there when truck is off. Never thought of taking a dvm or a simple test light to check.

 

My '21 1/2ton and '22 1ton both have 30 amp fuses. Still, it's plenty big for a battery maintainer.

so on the 7 way 1 o'clock is pos and 7 o'clock is neg.  I get 12.65 volts touching the two with a multimeter.  I'm thinking this might do the trick or what Jay previously posted will work as well.  I'm trying to understand what this is actually used for in real life.  Why would you need to hook up an inverter to the 7 way on the truck?  I'm sure there is a purpose.

[gemarsh]

2 hours ago, Steve Martin said:

so on the 7 way 1 o'clock is pos and 7 o'clock is neg.  I get 12.65 volts touching the two with a multimeter.  I'm thinking this might do the trick or what Jay previously posted will work as well.  I'm trying to understand what this is actually used for in real life.  Why would you need to hook up an inverter to the 7 way on the truck?  I'm sure there is a purpose.

I'm under the impression Jay is using this idea to keep his battery fully charged with a small battery maintainer, without having to pop his hood to hook the maintainer up.

[Steve Martin]

12 minutes ago, gemarsh said:

I'm under the impression Jay is using this idea to keep his battery fully charged with a small battery maintainer, without having to pop his hood to hook the maintainer up.

Yes.  I think I'll buy maybe one of these and rig it like he did with my maintainer.  I was just thinking about why this plug is for an inverter which I do have but after thinking about it further I can see where it would be somewhat handy if you don't use the plug in the truck bed.  Except for camping you'd have to be careful to keep the battery charged or be stuck in the middle of nowhere unless you have a jumper of course.