TV travel battery charging issue; very discouraged...

Michele

Was so excited to take my maiden camping voyage with my new T@B max, and new TV, 2016 Subaru Outback. Everything fine at home; battery charged, frig cooled; took a three hour travel to camping site to find battery totally dead and food warming up. Contacted the Little Guy dealer who also did the wiring on my TV; brought it in today after an hour and a half drive, for them to say that the Subaru is just too smart and is not letting the alternator charge the T@B battery because it sees the Outback battery is charged; it is programed to conserve on gas mileage and won't kick in to charge the T@B battery. That was the diagnosis, the fix being to "trick" the alternator to thinking it must turn on by keeping the TV lights on while traveling. One and a half hour drive back home; no, the battery did not charge even though my TV lights were on the whole way. When I say no charge, I mean 12% battery power; had house lights but couldn't even turn on the T@B;s radio. Okay, so I am a "girl"; vehicle mechanics are not my thing but camping is; I just want to be able to use my T@B; I have several trips planned this summer, no hook-ups, so I need to rely on what I thought I bought. Can anyone give me any ideas about what the issue might be so that I can pass it on to my Little Guy dealer's service department? Thanks.

source3

You can by-pass the TV charge wire.  Install a relay fuse switch.  Have to head out but here is a copy/paste of two post from another thread.  But will give you something to think about.

It is also convenient to have the battery charge wire ran through a relay.  I use a fused relay (http://www.hella.co.nz/en/products/relays-flashers/mini-relays-normally-open/12v-4-pin-normally-open-mini-relay-25a-fused.html). You can also buy a socket for the relay to plug into.  I have it mounted to the engine side firewall.

In simple terms-
The relay is closed (switch on) when your TV is running - send current to you trailer plug.  When the TV is not running, the relay opens (switch off) and no power to the trailer plug.  This avoids accidentally running down your TV battery because you forgot to unplug the trailer from the TV.  

I have the relay switched through the "charge" fuse of the TV.  The switch wire can be smaller gauge as the charge fuse is only drawing at most 7.5amps.  The input/output wires that will be carrying the current to the trailer plug is a larger gauge as the current will be ~20 amps. Limited by the Hella 25A fuse.

Read up on automotive relays until you can wrap your head around the idea.  It can be confusing.  Most automotive relays discussed on the internet are for headlights, but the concept is the same.

And here is a simple diagram.  Terminal #87 will be going out to your trailer battery charge plug.  http://www.mp3car.com/imagehosting/12527647e9129233622.bmp

AND.....

If you are going to re-wire, run #8 or #10 wire from the battery into a 25 amp fuse/relay (http://www.delcity.net/store/Hella-Mini-ISO-Relays-with-Fuse/p_808962) then to the trailer socket.  The relay is controlled (on/off) by the ignition fuse (pigtailed from the ignition fuse). This will prevent the trailer socket battery terminal being hot when car is off, hence no battery drain on tow vehicle. 

Michele

Thank you; will definitely pass this on to the dealer's service department.