Renogy DC-DC Charger Installation

Mouseketab
Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,238
edited August 2021 in Modifications & Upgrades
We installed this mostly in the truck, and only added some wire to the trailer. But here is our DC-DC Charger install. A PDF file with full description attached. UPDATED - DO NOT disconnect the ground wire from the 7-pin wiring, merely add the new neutral to your ground bundle or ground pin in your junction box. UPDATED PDF file.


Carol
MOUSE-KE-T@B
2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
Harvest, AL
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Comments

  • DenisP
    DenisP Member Posts: 542
    Very nice installation. We installed a Victron DC-DC battery charger earlier this year and have been very happy with it. 
    2018 T@b 400, 200ah Lithium with Solar
    2013 Tundra TRD 5.7L
    Massachusetts
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  • JeffroNC
    JeffroNC Member Posts: 366
    Thanks for taking the time to post this. Do you have any test results? 
    2019 T@B 400 BDL 2017 F150 3.5L Ecoboost
    Jeff & Amy
    Now in Manistee, MI

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  • CrabTab
    CrabTab Member Posts: 457
    Beautiful install @Mouseketab!  Thanks for providing such clear, downloadable documentation too.

    2019 320 Boondock Edge     - Sold Jan 2022
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  • Mouseketab
    Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,238
    JeffroNC said:
    Thanks for taking the time to post this. Do you have any test results? 
    Not really yet. Haven't gone out. We did hitch up the T@B, and when we crank the engine, the digital meter does jump up when hooked up, so it works, but haven't gone driving when pulling the T@B yet.
    Carol
    MOUSE-KE-T@B
    2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
    2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
    2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
    Harvest, AL
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  • JeffroNC
    JeffroNC Member Posts: 366
    @Mouseketab OK thanks, its got to be better than the 4 amps or less I get from the factory setup in my F150. :-)
    2019 T@B 400 BDL 2017 F150 3.5L Ecoboost
    Jeff & Amy
    Now in Manistee, MI

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  • Blueespy
    Blueespy Member Posts: 265
    What timing.  I have a F-150 (2020) and it def doesn't charge my new lithium batteries while moving.  My brother-in-law a diehard Air Stream guy is going to do something similar on his rig and suggested I consider the same for our t@b.  I like the fact everything is in your truck.  I am though confused a bit on the trailer setup.  Could you send some more pictures or explain it a bit more?  Our t@b 400 BDL is a early 2019 model.
    2025 Haven 220
    2020 Ford F-150 XLT (V-8)
    Niceville, Florida
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  • Mouseketab
    Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,238
    edited August 2021
    What I did was open up the junction box under the front of the T@B and disconnect the hot that runs through the 7-way line on the trailer. Then I ran new wire in a wire chase along the 7-way cord and zip tied it to the 7-way cord with the other end of the Anderson connections toward the truck, then tied in the new wires to where the old hot and ground were in the junction box. I sealed off the old hot that was in the 7-way cord with heat shrink tubing. On a 2019 400, you will probably have a junction box with lots of posts and the wires put on the posts with ring terminals.

    Anderson connectors on truck end.



    New wires zip tied to 7-way cord.

    Junction box on 400

    7-way wiring. So disconnect the black coming from your 7-way inside the junction box, and feed in the new wires and hook them in the same spot. I used red and black wire, and made the red hot, and the black ground.

    Carol
    MOUSE-KE-T@B
    2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
    2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
    2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
    Harvest, AL
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  • cafyrman
    cafyrman Member Posts: 40
    Anyone know what size the junction box to battery feed is on a 2018 400?  I'm looking to do the same and was thinking about this exact same procedure, but I'm worried that the battery feed is too small a gauge for the DC>DC converter I bought -- a Victron 18 amp.
    2018 T@B 400
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  • Dutch061
    Dutch061 Member Posts: 765
    I am not sure of the wire size, I suspect 8 Gauge which is more than adequate for 15 Amps. 8 Gauge would pass 15 Amps up to 28 foot.

    Looking at the photo of the junction block above, I think this is a safe assumption. 

    Brad
    2020 400 BDL aka "Boonie"
    2022 Black Series HQ19 aka "Cricket"
    2021 F-250 Tremor with PSD aka "Big Blue"
    Concord, NC 
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  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,655
    FYI, that photo is of my junction box, on a 2015 320. The battery wiring is all 10G. I suspect the 400 is configured the same, but I don't know if the battery wiring is any heavier. 
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
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  • Mouseketab
    Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,238
    ScottG said:
    FYI, that photo is of my junction box, on a 2015 320. The battery wiring is all 10G. I suspect the 400 is configured the same, but I don't know if the battery wiring is any heavier. 
    My apologies Scott. The thread was about a 400, and I misread. I was mainly trying to point out that the junction box is completely different than mine, which is some wires in a box tied together with wire nuts.

    Carol
    MOUSE-KE-T@B
    2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
    2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
    2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
    Harvest, AL
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  • Blueespy
    Blueespy Member Posts: 265
    Mouseketab - thank you for the additional photos.  I too had a question regarding the gauge of wire from the junction box to the batteries.  My Air-Stream loving brother-in-law was at a recent Air Stream rally and attended a seminar on DC-DC Charger Installation.  I sent him your posts and his two comments were - yep this will work as long as he uses the same gauge wire and "in the seminar it was mentioned the Charger should be as close to the batteries as possible", which isn't an issue in an Air Stream but could prove challenging in a t@b 400, but it looks like this gentleman came up with a clean solution.  I'm going to start complying my supply list and hope to have everything when my son (a certified electrician and a very good mechanic) visits.  I'll be incline to let him read your post and then grab a chair, find a shade tree and enjoy a cool one while my young son breaks a sweat.  He'll love the challenge and appreciate his Dad's shade tree comments. 
    2025 Haven 220
    2020 Ford F-150 XLT (V-8)
    Niceville, Florida
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  • Mouseketab
    Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,238
    UPDATE - Only remove the HOT wire from the 7-pin wiring, and replace it with the HOT wire from the Anderson connector. DO NOT remove the ground wire from the 7-pin wiring, just add the additional neutral from the Anderson connector. (Your lights won't work)
    Carol
    MOUSE-KE-T@B
    2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
    2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
    2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
    Harvest, AL
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  • Dutch061
    Dutch061 Member Posts: 765
    edited August 2021
    Brakes won't work either unless there is enough of a ground connection through the trailer ball. Which I wouldn't want to depend on either.

    Brad
    2020 400 BDL aka "Boonie"
    2022 Black Series HQ19 aka "Cricket"
    2021 F-250 Tremor with PSD aka "Big Blue"
    Concord, NC 
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  • Mouseketab
    Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,238
    Dutch061 said:
    Brakes won't work either unless there is enough of a ground connection through the trailer ball. Which I wouldn't want to depend on either.

    Brad
    I have surge brakes, so don't have that consideration, but you are right :)
    Carol
    MOUSE-KE-T@B
    2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
    2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
    2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
    Harvest, AL
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  • Blueespy
    Blueespy Member Posts: 265
    Mouseketab, have you had the opportunity to do a test run with your DC to DC install?  I am planning to make the gear purchase and do the same install mid-Nov but wanted to ask if everything seems to be working as you planned. 
    2025 Haven 220
    2020 Ford F-150 XLT (V-8)
    Niceville, Florida
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  • Mouseketab
    Mouseketab Member Posts: 1,238
    Yes I did. I took the T@B to Georgia, and ran the 12V fridge while driving (6 hours), and the T@B was still fully charged when I arrived at our campground. No detailed testing, but the plug in meter showed 12.8 just before connecting to the truck, and then showed 12.8 when we arrived and disconnected before plugging into the campground pedestal. Same thing for the trip home.
    Carol
    MOUSE-KE-T@B
    2007 Dutchmen T@B Clamshell #2741
    2022 nuCamp T@B 320 CS-S
    2021 F-150 502A Lariat SuperCrew, 3.5 EcoBoost 4x2
    Harvest, AL
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  • Tundra57
    Tundra57 Member Posts: 640
    I installed one in the front gas box of my 2019 Tab 400 a couple years ago. Uses the usual charging wire from trailer plug to enable. Power comes direct from battery using dc battery plugs like in pictures of other installation here. Battery goes through winch solenoid and ignition fed switch on instrument panel in truck so I can disable it. Mine works great too. 20 Amp version.
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