Dual Battery Question

[bruceb58]

2 hours ago, jake111 said:

Well, officially "smart" or not, when I hooked up my slide-in camper to the trailer 7-way, I immediately noticed a BIG difference in the way it charged the house battery.  Or maybe I should say, how it didn't...  I was sitting in park and the alternator was putting out well under 13 volts, too low to trip the camper separator, so no charging.  Yes, I revved it up.  No, it didn't help.  I saw the voltage varying quite a bit.  I know of no "unsmart" alternator that behaves like this.  Certainly, none of my older cars and trucks did this.

In order to get my alternator to kick up to a high enough voltage to enable my DC to DC converter to start, I momentarily turn headlights on and off. Once the alternator sees the load of the converter, it stays in high voltage mode.

 

If the truck is still in its high voltage mode after a startup, it will start up the DC to DC fine.

 

Yes...it's a smart alternator. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be having this behavior. My F150 did the exact same thing.

[revrnd]

OK, I found what I was looking for...

 

In 1980 the RPO V10 Cold Climate Pkg consisted of:

C42 - HD Heater & Defroster

K05 - Block Heater

UA1 - HD Battery

[jake111]

7 hours ago, revrnd said:

 

Is that thru the plug on the LH side boxside or the 1 on the bumper?

In the camper I changed the plug from the left front area to the rear so I could just use the 7-way in the bumper.  LH front in the box requires cutting a hole and mounting in bed, which I did on my old truck, and which was a pain to reach the plug when necessary.

[jake111]

5 hours ago, bruceb58 said:

In order to get my alternator to kick up to a high enough voltage to enable my DC to DC converter to start, I momentarily turn headlights on and off. Once the alternator sees the load of the converter, it stays in high voltage mode.

 

If the truck is still in its high voltage mode after a startup, it will start up the DC to DC fine.

 

Yes...it's a smart alternator. If it wasn't, it wouldn't be having this behavior. My F150 did the exact same thing.

Yes, I think I panicked when I first hooked up and was getting erratic voltages.  Seeing the alternator drop well below 13 volts I was afraid I really toasted something.  In practice, it does start charging and then is fine.  I even returned the DC-DC charger because I don't think I need it (until I want to switch to lithium).  I now have a Scangauge showing more precise voltage levels and on the last outing everything looked good.

Edited November 23, 2024 by jake111

[revrnd]

21 minutes ago, jake111 said:

In the camper I changed the plug from the left front area to the rear so I could just use the 7-way in the bumper.  LH front in the box requires cutting a hole and mounting in bed, which I did on my old truck, and which was a pain to reach the plug when necessary.

 

I didn't realize there is a plug @ the front. I was going by the plug on my brother' truck. His has the 5th Wheel/Gooseneck Provisions. My truck w/o it has a plastic filler plug.

[bruceb58]

3 hours ago, jake111 said:

Yes, I think I panicked when I first hooked up and was getting erratic voltages.  Seeing the alternator drop well below 13 volts I was afraid I really toasted something.  In practice, it does start charging and then is fine.  I even returned the DC-DC charger because I don't think I need it (until I want to switch to lithium).  I now have a Scangauge showing more precise voltage levels and on the last outing everything looked good.

When you do get a DC to DC converter again, get the Victron Orion XS 50A. You will need to run heavier wires though. I know you had the 30A before but the Orion XS is so superior in many ways when you want to charge lithium. I have 560AH of lithium in my trailer.

Edited November 23, 2024 by bruceb58

[redwngr]

2025 2500 battery and alternator offerings.

 

Dual alternators are standard on Denali Ultimate, available on all other trims

 

 

K4Z is not available on Denali Ultimate, but is available on all other trims  (that meet conditions listed)

 

[revrnd]

OK, I purchased a new to me cargo/snowmobile trailer (a new drop hitch is on the shopping list):

 

We're going to install a battery so that I can power the interior lights when not connected to the truck. Is the auxiliary battery wired from the factory in such a way that if the truck is parked for the day, connected to the trailer, the main/starting battery will not be drawn down?

 

 

Edited January 1, 2025 by revrnd

[swathdiver]

12 hours ago, revrnd said:

OK, I purchased a new to me cargo/snowmobile trailer (a new drop hitch is on the shopping list):

 

We're going to install a battery so that I can power the interior lights when not connected to the truck. Is the auxiliary battery wired from the  in such a way that if the truck is parked for the day, connected to the trailer, the main/starting battery will not be drawn down?

 

 

If it's wired the TP2 way.