2014 Camping Thread

[Hevishot]

Make sure that you put the batteries on a 2x6 or something so they are not sitting directly on the concrete floor it can bugger some batteries up. Even if it cant I would rather a battery spill onto a 2x6 than onto my floor.

[ken0042]

What I have started doing with my battery is bringing it inside and then hooking up an old cell phone charger that has an LED indicator. That way all winter there is minimal draw on the battery all the time, and then give it a charge in the spring. (Or hook it back into my trailer and let it do the charging.)

I do make sure I test the voltage monthly.

[ranchlandsselling]

How long do lights usually take to come from DX.com?

I'm going fishing for a week and ordered some LED's but haven't seen them yet. The website said ships in 7-10 days but I'm suddenly wondering if that was an option I didn't pick. Their tracking system either sucks or I don't understand.

[ken0042]

Yes, ships in 7-10 days. As in they will get it put into the mail in 7-10 days. I think my average turn around time is 4-6 weeks.

And yes, their tracking systems combines all the crappy parts of Canada Post's, along with anything bad about HK post office tracking.

If you are really in a jam and want to make a trek to the deep SE, I still have some unopened. I'm also downtown during the week.

[ranchlandsselling]

https://www.dx.com/p/t10-2-5w-270lm-...6#.VANjLWbF22c

How many do you have? I ordered 12 of the ones you suggested, the 270 lumen ones I believe. Linked above. So 24 individuals.

[Slava]

So I am wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. Seems that my truck which is totally setup for towing doesn't actually charge the trailer battery, or send a charge through to use the lights or anything when it's hooked up. How can I check to make sure? I have a multimeter but I guess I don't know where to put the probes? Then once I confirm that is the issue, how do I fix this?

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Slava

So I am wondering if anyone else has dealt with this. Seems that my truck which is totally setup for towing doesn't actually charge the trailer battery, or send a charge through to use the lights or anything when it's hooked up. How can I check to make sure? I have a multimeter but I guess I don't know where to put the probes? Then once I confirm that is the issue, how do I fix this?

Your truck will not charge your trailer battery really at all. The lead dedicated to sending power from your truck to your trailer is really only a weak trickle charge.

When you say "use the lights", do you mean the inside lights in your trailer? Or the actual running and brake lights of the trailer?

[ken0042]

RLS- I have 7 of these bulbs. (3.5 pairs)
http://www.dx.com/p/t10-1-9w-6500k-1...8#.VAOcE5j4CY0

Slava- just to quantify, your truck sends 2 amps of power to your battery. So if you have a standard 100 amp hour battery, and it's down to 50% power, it would take 25 hours for your truck to re-charge your battery. So while it is quite slow, I disagree with how Madman said it.

As for how to test. Your battery should be at around 12.6 to 12.7 volts when fully charged. Charging it will show around 13.5 to 14 volts. So here's how to test with a multimeter:
- Unplug from any charger- like your trailer's 120 volt plug in. Leave it unplugged for at least an hour. Turn on one light for at least an hour. The reason for this step- your battery might show higher than it really is if you have just finished charging it.
- Plug in your truck, and start your truck.
- Use your multimeter at your trailer's battery. If it is showing over 13 volts, your truck is charging it. If it's under, then you are right that it isn't charging.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Madman

Your truck will not charge your trailer battery really at all. The lead dedicated to sending power from your truck to your trailer is really only a weak trickle charge.

When you say "use the lights", do you mean the inside lights in your trailer? Or the actual running and brake lights of the trailer?

Well I bought a new battery in July, and I tested it this weekend and it's dead (like 0.175 volts dead). I have outside lights like turn/brake signals. But absolutely nothing inside. So I figured that when the trailer is plugged into the truck I should be able to get something there? Even after a couple hour drive though, nothing at all.

When I was at a fully serviced site I had no issues, so I know the issue is in the DC line somewhere... and theoretically not the battery. I should mention that when I bought the battery I camped with it the same weekend and had power for the lights and water pump that weekend.

[ken0042]

Plugged in your 12v converter (120 AC to 12 DC) will power everything in your trailer- no matter if you have a working battery or not. It even works with no battery. However if your battery is so dead it is showing under a volt- the power coming from your truck will not make it past the black hole that your battery has become.

[Slava]

OK, so how do I know if the truck is actually charging the battery? I can charge the battery as I have a charger, and can check it in a couple days to see if the charge is held, but I guess I need to know if the truck is charging the battery otherwise it will just happen again.

[Slava]

nm, figured that out on Google... Now to begin the troubleshooting.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by ken0042

RLS- I have 7 of these bulbs. (3.5 pairs)
http://www.dx.com/p/t10-1-9w-6500k-1...8#.VAOcE5j4CY0

Hmmm... I'm tempted, but think I would rather just wait and change all my bulbs out with the same bulb. Although sadly it'll be next year I guess.

[Madman]

Slava, bottom line is don't rely on your truck to charge your battery...especially from a completely dead state.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Madman

Slava, bottom line is don't rely on your truck to charge your battery...especially from a completely dead state.

I just want to make sure that my battery is charged when I get to my destination and is good for my stay. I have to make sure that's happening.

[Madman]

Originally Posted by Slava

I just want to make sure that my battery is charged when I get to my destination and is good for my stay. I have to make sure that's happening.

Bring your trailer home several days early and leave it plugged in.

If its not charged after 2-3 days of being charged in, there is a problem.

The other good thing to do is if you've been out dry camping and used your battery a lot, then charge it back up when you get home before you take it back to storage.

[FlamesKickAss]

I had to use my truck this weekend to charge up the battery to get a few extra hours. When the furnace turned on everything else started to shut off. I plugged into the truck and ran it for 30 minutes and it got me through the next few hours.

For my F150 I had to put a fuse and a relay in the fuse box under the hood for it to charge. I used the relay from the rear defroster.

[Nufy]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

I had to use my truck this weekend to charge up the battery to get a few extra hours. When the furnace turned on everything else started to shut off. I plugged into the truck and ran it for 30 minutes and it got me through the next few hours.

For my F150 I had to put a fuse and a relay in the fuse box under the hood for it to charge. I used the relay from the rear defroster.

I had to do the same thing last fall at the season end ball tourney in Okotoks.

Battery died so I hooked up my truck and left it connected for the rest of the weekend.

No extra hardware required. Factory wiring did it all through the 7 pin connector.

[ken0042]

Just be aware that with many vehicles- the power will only flow if the vehicle is running/ in the "on" position. I have heard of several exceptions, but the idea is that you can leave your tow vehicle connected without worrying about the trailer draining both batteries.

[Hockeyguy15]

So I guess I should have winterized my trailer this weekend, ha! Good old Calgary weather.