Couple of electrical ??s

Bentr · April 2015

Can anyone tell me what this connection is for inside the battery/propane box on 2009 DM? I'm thinking maybe some sort of fuse for the battery and that it would be a good idea to know how to replace it if it blows:

Also, does anyone know what the amp draw of the T@B is when plugged into shore power and just charging the battery? I want to keep the battery charged when storing the trailer and I'm thinking of just plugging it into an outlet in my garage. But don't want to trip the breaker on a 15amp circuit if the battery charger is going to draw more than that. I can run a 30amp circuit out to the garage but don't want to if I don't have to. I might also get a solar trickle charger but again, much easier to just plug it into existing garage outlet if that would work.

Thanks!

Ben

ChanW · April 2015

Don't worry, the maintenance charge on your battery won't be anything close to your 15A @ 120v circuit breaker.

The maintenance current is 1/2 to 2A or so, at 12v, which translates to around a tenth of that at 120v.

Even at an initial high draw, it wouldn't be more than around 3A or so at 120v.

JandJ92010 · April 2015

I really don't know what the terminal that you are showing is, it may be a fuse or just a connection terminal. As for your battery, Chan is right, any battery charger will work, I maintain my battery over the winter by putting a 1 1/2 amp charger on it once a month, let it charge overnight and by morning it's done. Good till the next month.

Kates_Moby · April 2015

I dont know the technical term but it is my understanding that it can keep your electrical from frying. I just replaced mine because i broke mine when adding a tongue box. I got it at the auto parts store.

source3 · April 2015

The battery appears to be hooked to a terminal block. Could also be an automotive breaker that will trip off if the AMPs exceeds the breaker rating. You can get different size AMPs for the breaker (http://www.delcity.net/store/Auto-Reset-Circuit-Breakers-!-12-volt/p_198669.h_198849.t_1.r_IF1003?mkwid=cNYFTVyM&crid=38094426869&gclid=CjwKEAjw0-epBRDOp7f7lOG0zl4SJABxJg9qKwyRrQv5xqOlbXcnt5lydba59-s_iaQZ0H94K1ZpDRoCybrw_wcB)

Michigan_Mike · April 2015

Ben,

I would consider using a battery tender to maintain the trailer battery when it is sitting idle at your home. In as much as the trailer's electric converter will maintain and float the charge, I would not plug that in for any extended/idle duration, in an effort to save wear and tear on that device. A tender is cheaper and would be much easier to replace should it ever go bad.

And agree with the comments above, that device is either a wire terminal block or some type of circuit breaker in the event there is too much load or resistance on the circuit. You know the old saying, "it's best to let a sleeping dog lie."

Rad · April 2015

Michigan_Mike said:

..........You know the old saying, "it's best to let a sleeping dog lie."

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained"

Bentr · April 2015

"A replacement fuse in the hand is worth 2 at the auto parts store 50 miles away"

Bentr · April 2015

And thanks Mike for the suggestion re: using a battery tender instead of the built in charger. Seems like sound advice so maybe I'll just go ahead with the idea of a small solar charger and mount it to my garage as I think some others have done.

Rad · April 2015

Bentr said:

And thanks Mike for the suggestion re: using a battery tender instead of the built in charger. Seems like sound advice so maybe I'll just go ahead with the idea of a small solar charger and mount it to my garage as I think some others have done.

I just might do the same.

Michigan_Mike · April 2015

Bentr said:

And thanks Mike for the suggestion re: using a battery tender instead of the built in charger. Seems like sound advice so maybe I'll just go ahead with the idea of a small solar charger and mount it to my garage as I think some others have done.

Hey Ben, if I can do it anybody can do it!

Solar Charge Station

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5016350/uploads/editor/cg/xpji1xnhpywy.jpg

Bentr · April 2015

That looks awesome Mike. Can you tell me the model you use? And did you worry at all about wire length from panel to trailer battery. I assume some voltage drop but maybe not a problem with a maintenance charger?

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