batteries isolated?

[DPelletier]

Are my batteries isolated from my camper if the camper or trailer is plugged into the factory wiring harness (trailer package)? I used to have a trailer and so I would disconnect automatically when setting up, but now with my camper I am not sure if I need to worry about unplugging when I set up or not? Does anyone know for sure?



Thanks

Dave

 

[Thomas]

They're not isolated.

 

[KenHokie]

They are NOT isolated. There is a 40 Amp fuse that protects the trailer power feed but the trailer power is connected directly to the truck's batteries. I have thought about installing a relay so that the trailer power feed was only active when the truck is running.

 

[jrobinson2]

On my truck I mounted a radio shack relay and a 30 amp circuit breaker to the side of the clutch reservoir. I removed the "40 amp trailer" fuse from the PDC and used fully insulated . 250 quick slide terminals and # 10 wire to connect the rear PDC fuse terminal to the breaker, to the relay, then back to the front fuse terminal in the PDC. For ignition power to the relay I used the fuse tap on #8 fuse inside the cab that feeds my A pillar gauges. I stored the original 40 amp fuse in the "spare" location that only has one terminal in the PDC so if I have any problems I can unhook my wires and reinstall the fuse. Also the radio shack relay has the same terminal configuration as the factory PDC relays and will work as a spare in an emergency. I used the 30 amp breaker because I think the quick slides may heat at 40 amps and the Radio shack relay is only rated at 30 amps. My 8' pop-up camper only uses 12 amps with everything on so this works well for me, total cost was less than 15 bucks.

Jared

 

[DPelletier]

Thanks for the info guys.

I'll probably just go the low-tech route and unplug the camper when I get to the campsite! This does, of course, explain why my camper battery (a single group 31) showed 85% after dry camping for 7 days! Truck didn't seem to notice though.

Dave

 

[jcbrown]

Low Voltage Shutoff...

You can install a PriorityStart! box between the battery and the PDC to disconnect trailer/truck load on low voltage.

You would need to change the 12 gauge battery cable supplied with the PrioritStart! module to 6 gauge cable with eyelet's.

 

[paccool]

The relays I've always used look just like a starter solenoid. It turns on with a lead from the switch that is on after the starter is released. Turn the key off and it simply turns off and isolates the trailer. Is good as it won't allow the truck battery to run down if you use up the trailer battery.



Stan

 

[Prairie Dog]

I've used those too Stan and they work better than an isolator which usually dies at the most inopportune time.

Any one out there that wants to do this just make sure you get one thats rated for 100% duty cycle, the ford starter solenoid isn't and will fail in short order. Napa sells them for under $30.