Truck camper isolation from truck batteries wiring issue

[pdxkid]

But, if you have a Victron DC-DC charger this unit (which model/year??) should be able to know if the truck is running or not.
And this has to be the only way in for current to the Camper.
As you say your camper is from 2003 there might be wiring issues that take shortcuts around your B2B charger.

I've seen to many old campers with horrible hacked wiring in the last couple years on campgrounds with owners desperately looking for help to get it fixed.
Everything is just cheap cheap cheap, lousy assembled and then hacked by some shade tree DiY electricans.

I have a Victron Energy Orion-Tr IP43 12/12-Volt 30 amp 360-Watt Isolated DC-DC Converter purchased and installed last year.

 

[Ozymandias]

I have a Victron Energy Orion-Tr IP43 12/12-Volt 30 amp 360-Watt Isolated DC-DC Converter purchased and installed last year.

Is it the Smart Version?
If so, did you adjust the settings in the app according to the picture below.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Most refers are Dometic brand and are 3 way units 12 v 120 v and propane

 

[CoastyAV8R]

As far as I can tell, the fridge only runs on propane or shore power. It doesn't have a battery only mode. But it does require power when in propane mode for the circuit board.

The amount of power required to keep the fridge's "brain" running is pretty minimal and shouldn't have drained two truck batteries. Without the camper connected to the truck, does the coach battery power everything in the camper? You should have a load test done on the coach battery to verify it's good because if it has an internal short, it would drain the truck batteries. I think you either have a wiring issue in the camper or you have one in the truck or perhaps left a light on in the truck to drain the batteries down.

 

[pdxkid]

Most refers are Dometic brand and are 3 way units 12 v 120 v and propane

It must have that battery option then. Not clear from the minimal controls on the face of it. I suppose that's what drained the truck's batteries.

 

[pdxkid]

The amount of power required to keep the fridge's "brain" running is pretty minimal and shouldn't have drained two truck batteries. Without the camper connected to the truck, does the coach battery power everything in the camper? You should have a load test done on the coach battery to verify it's good because if it has an internal short, it would drain the truck batteries. I think you either have a wiring issue in the camper or you have one in the truck or perhaps left a light on in the truck to drain the batteries down.

The fridge must have a battery only option, that would explain things. Yes, after I charged truck batteries, we went on our shakedown trip and when we arrived at camp I unplugged the 7 pin from the camper and the camper's two 100 ah Lipo batteries (new last year, showing full state of charge) power everything just fine.

 

[pdxkid]

Is it the Smart Version?
If so, did you adjust the settings in the app according to the picture below.

View attachment 140815

I have the Victron Connect app and when I open it it connects to the Victron Energy SmartShunt 500 amp Battery Monitor (Bluetooth) which is also part of the system. That menu option does not appear for me. I don't know if the DC to DC charger is the "smart" version, I linked the exact one I ordered.

 

[Ozymandias]

That means you have the basic one, which does not sense an Alternator.
It can and should be controlled by a switch to only be powered on with engine running.
But most easy it would be to exchange that unit for a Smart one, no additional wiring and full control over the unit through the app.

If this is the only way power from the truck can enter the camper then this is the only thing you need - and you can revert the truck to the stock configuration.

 

[Ozymandias]

By the way, you don't need an isolated one for a camper, a non-isolated one is just fine for an RV and cheaper.
Isolated is more for marine stuff from what I know.

 

[pdxkid]

Interesting @Ozymandias so something like this? Amazon product ASIN B086Q8YNJZ
My current one is Isolated but not Smart, apparently

 

[Ozymandias]

This one in 12V

https://www.victronenergy.com/dc-dc-converters/orion-tr-smart-non-isolated

User manual

https://www.victronenergy.com/uploa...34439-Orion-Tr_Smart_DC-DC_Charger-pdf-en.pdf

 

[pdxkid]

Interesting @Ozymandias so something like this? Amazon product ASIN B086Q8YNJZ
My current one is Isolated but not Smart, apparently

Oops, link didn't work.

 

[pdxkid]

This one in 12V

https://www.victronenergy.com/dc-dc-converters/orion-tr-smart-non-isolated

User manual

https://www.victronenergy.com/uploa...34439-Orion-Tr_Smart_DC-DC_Charger-pdf-en.pdf

I like the thought of simplicity and just undoing the shoddy wiring job. I politely informed the mobile rv guys that I wasn't happy with the wiring job and their only response was basically "how should we have done it/where should we have mounted it?" to which I responded something to the effect of "I don't know but you're the professionals and that's why I hired you" They have since ignored me. Cost me about $300.

 

[Topzide]

@pdxkid, I wish that people that work on our vehicles took the pride that we do, in it's upkeep in the job that they were asked to do! Every time that I'm asked to help and or fix something, I treat it as if it was my own! I'll do a down and dirty too get it to a better location and than do the repair correctly. A repair like what you got should have been okayed by you and not the norm! The basic wiring issues that you've shown, is of someone who doesn't really care about their job. It's like when you open an electrical panel box and the wiring is neatly run in it's place, The goy/gal that did that work is a professional and cares about their work!

 

[slowmover]

I like the thought of simplicity and just undoing the shoddy wiring job. I politely informed the mobile rv guys that I wasn't happy with the wiring job and their only response was basically "how should we have done it/where should we have mounted it?" to which I responded something to the effect of "I don't know but you're the professionals and that's why I hired you" They have since ignored me. Cost me about $300.

There’s been plenty over the years that was new to me in this way. Library books, magazines, asking around. The last thirty years the Net has made it easier to figure out WHAT I should pay for (examples & part numbers, etc).

It’s not always successful, but it beats hell out of, I DON’T KNOW.

More than once I’ve forestalled crooked practice by being able to describe or ask intelligent questions. No different than what Dad or Grandad did. It’s on me, in part.

.

 

[Ozymandias]

https://invertersrus.com/product/orion-ori121236140/

Good company, official retailer for Victron US.
Got some stuff from them lately.

Call to order and ask about B-stuff, open box and such. Great deals available.

They are on Amazon too.

 

[pdxkid]

I just couldn't sleep well knowing about this hack wiring job so I reached out to the mobile RV repair guys again, to give them another chance at resolution of some sort. They offered to uninstall everything and give me a refund. I think that's what I'm going to do and then order the smart version of the exact Victron DC to DC charger that I have and go with @Ozymandias suggestion. A big thanks to everyone again.