Isolating truck batteries....

[geusterman]

I put a selenoid in the engine compartment today that is lit by the pink/yellow wire for the ciggy lighter. It sends battery power to the camper's three deep cycle 12V with a new 6 gauge wire. I will pull the fuse on the old charge wire. Anybody do anything else like this to protect starter batteries? geusterman

 

[SBall]

For my truck camper I've tried the diode isolators to isolate my camper battery from my truck starter battery but the diode voltage drop didn't allow for ample charging current to the camper battery. I then looked at installing a solenoid in my truck's engine compartment, but there was no room to mount one conveniently. I then stumbled upon a battery combiner, that is a voltage-sensing relay that I installed in my camper where the B+ wire comes in from the truck, (under the sink). This relay closes automatically at 13. 3 volts which happens to be when your alternator is active, (engine running). When you shut down your truck's engine, the voltage sensing relay opens after a delay time of several seconds. These devices also have a manual signal lead that you can employ to force the relay closed, or force it open. A most elegant solution! West Marine sells them in two sizes. I use the smaller 50A model for my truck camper, part number 143268. They also offer a 150A version, part number 128293. You can try their web site at westmarine.com.

Steve

 

[y-knot]

I kind of did the same thing. I put a 175 A service in the front(winch or jumper cables) and in the rear. The rear has an outlet under the bumper for another winch or to jump off people. Inside the bed,, in a special aluminum cross bed box, I have another 175A end. This one feeds a bed mounted winch and fuel transfer pump normally. When the trailer (36' goose neck) is hooked up, I can connect it to the power lead. This by-pases the factory 30A feed and runs straight to a Isolator and then two the batteries. It is arranged so that the factory feed still works, but when I know I will have a bigger load(we run the refrigerator off of a inverter which is powered by two optima red tops) I can connect to the power lead. Works great, the power lead only supplies power while the engine is running, so know need to worry about the trucks batteries. I use quick connect connectors at all ends of the power lead.