DC to DC charger

[brillmtb1]

Are the RAM alternators smart alternators. I have a 2017 3500

I am wondering how my slide in camper when plugged in is getting a charge vs what a DC to DC device if I install would do, add, etc

 

[rncordy]

Google is your friend:https://www.google.com/search?q=how...ate=ive&vld=cid:2d00ff87,vid:Nkb0nSuRQxE,st:0

 

[sag2]

The bigger problem is the size of the charging wire to the camper, especially if it is at the rear of the bed. Usually at best it is going to be 12ga and at that length the voltage drop can be significant. So although it may charge, the amperage available is probably going to be less than 10A, so if you have a house battery that is really discharged, it will take quite a while for the battery to charge. That is where the DC to DC chargers shine, even more so if you have switched to a lithium battery.

 

[Ozymandias]

I use 2AWG as charge wires to the Camper, any smaller turns hot with todays Lithium batterys.
Direct charge,no B2B in between since a couple years as the B2B gave me headaches.
Doin it again I'd go with 0/AWG, there is serious currents flowing.

 

[AH64ID]

Are the RAM alternators smart alternators. I have a 2017 3500

I am wondering how my slide in camper when plugged in is getting a charge vs what a DC to DC device if I install would do, add, etc

No, they are not smart alternators like many smaller rigs these days. My wife’s Gladiator appears to have one, they vary voltage a lot. I’m not sure how much fuel it actually saves thou, or if it’s good for the battery.

A DC-DC converter will absolutely improve charge performance.

I plan to install a 12/12-18 DC-DC converter from Victron in my 5th wheel. It will work on the OEM 7-pin wiring, just be sure to install it as close to the RV batteries as possible.

This is the one I want.

https://a.co/d/3naOvoT

 

[SSchang]

No, they are not smart alternators like many smaller rigs these days. My wife’s Gladiator appears to have one, they vary voltage a lot. I’m not sure how much fuel it actually saves thou, or if it’s good for the battery.

A DC-DC converter will absolutely improve charge performance.

I plan to install a 12/12-18 DC-DC converter from Victron in my 5th wheel. It will work on the OEM 7-pin wiring, just be sure to install it as close to the RV batteries as possible.

I installed the Victron 12-12-30 a couple years ago in our truck camper. I ran 4ga wire from the Ram batteries to a female connector in the bad of the truck, then a male connector on a short 4ga wire through the side of the camper to the 12-12-30 inside the camper. From there a couple wires to the camper converter/charger. It just plain works great! On my phone I can see the 12-12-30 start charging the battery after I start my truck, and it's showing a full 30 amps charging. As we're travelers not "campers", we never run out of juice in our 2 100a lithium batteries. We rarely stay more than a couple days at any one camp spot.

 

[brillmtb1]

Thanks everyone