RV Battery Charger and Portable Solar Panel System for Boondocking

Question

Question:

We have a Rockwood 2608BS trailer that we haul behind a 2015 F150. Our battery bank is 540 amps. We are going to Alaska for 3 months and will be boon-docking a lot, moving from place to place and need to depend on our battery system. We are looking at the Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger - Dual Input - DC to DC - 12V/24V - 40 Amp Item # 331-BCDC1240D. We have a 7-way trailer plug. Do I get the power for the charger directly from the black wire in the 7-way? Do I need to run a new heavier wire to the 7-way in my truck? eg: 8 gauge or larger. Is it better to run a 6 or 8 gauge wire from my truck battery back to a new/different plug and then have the second plug from my truck go to the charger? something dedicated for the charger only We also are looking at solar. We are not sure if we need 100, 200, or more watts. We do not plan on attaching the solar to the trailer, but to have a stand alone system that we can set up when we stop. Any thoughts on this? Thank you.

asked by: Bob M

0

Expert Reply:

Yes, Redarc DC to DC battery charger # 331-BCDC1240D is the right choice for charging your trailer's 540-amp battery bank.

This unit can mount in the cabin of your vehicle, along a chassis frame rail, or in the engine compartment and it will connect to the vehicle's battery for input power, not to your 7-way. Use the heaviest gauge wire you can for all connections. Redarc recommends 6-gauge for runs up to 16-feet and 4-gauge for longer runs; this applies to battery input power, solar input power and output runs to the battery bank. This is covered in detail in the linked instructions. Redarc also recommends using low-resistance 60-Amp MIDI Fuse Kit # 331-FK60 to enable best charging performance. You can add a solar panel for connection to the Redarc by using the yellow input wire.

If you prefer a stand-alone portable solar system rather than a trailer-mounted setup we offer several such systems shown on the linked page including the 200-watt Go Power # 34282610. This 2-panel system can be used with 30-foot extension cable # 34270356 so that your panels can be in the sun collecting power while the RV is parked in the shade. This system can be moved as needed so you can connect it either to the vehicle battery or the RV battery bank.

I linked a series of articles on solar power for reference.

expert reply by: Adam R

0

Answer 1

While we do not carry a direct replacement for your Covenant W914-36FT, the closest I was able to find the: -Greystone 32" Electric Fireplace with Crystals - Recessed Mount #324-000081. Based off of my research, your Covenant heater measures 36”…

view full answer...

Answer 2

For a 12,000 lb. electric car trailer winch like the Bulldog Winch Trailer Winch part #BDW10040, I recommend a standard 12 volt lead acid battery rated up to at least 650 cold cranking amps (CCA). As long as the battery is rated up to 650 CCA then…

view full answer...

Answer 3

Most if not all trailer wiring harnesses/connectors use larger wires for the 12 volt and ground circuits compared to the other circuits (lights). The sockets themselves don't have an amperage rating so you will go by the draw of the things…

view full answer...

Answer 4

Hi John, So we do offer plug-and-play replacements for your Dometic unit, but the options we offer require that you have the same branded controller to plug in a heat strip. This means you would need to replace the entire system in order to have a…

view full answer...

Answer 5

You can put a maintenance charge on your trailer battery with the 12 volt accessory circuit of the 7-way. The 1:00 position of your 7-way carries this circuit. You would just need to run a length of 10 gauge wire like part #10-1-1 (sold by the foot),…

view full answer...

Answer 6

The Bulldog Winch Ratcheting Wheel Tie-Down Strap #BDW20362 is designed to connect to a D-Ring type of connection point so you wouldn't need to install an e-track on your trailer. For your application I recommend installing the Brophy D-Ring Tie…

view full answer...

Answer 7

Yes, the High Pointe Over the Range RV Microwave #HP74ZR has a two speed exhaust fan which will remove all smoke, steam, and odors out of the immediate cooking area, but it will not vent it outside. If you wanted to have the microwave be able to vent…

view full answer...

Answer 8

The Shocker Hitch Air Cushioned Gooseneck Coupler part #SHK46MR that you referenced can be used with the 4 inch B and W offset ball part #BWGNXA4085 that you mentioned. In fact, the picture we got from Shocker Hitch that I attached to this page shows…

view full answer...

Answer 9

Hey John, so the correct amount of spring bar tension will be based on the trailer's tongue weight and how it affects the suspension of your Nissan Frontier. Every WD system is a little different but what it comes down to typically is measuring…

view full answer...

Answer 10

The OEM prep package consists of 4 "pucks" in the bed of the truck that will allow you to drop in puck style hitches for easy installation and removal, that gives you a completely clear bed when not in use. The B&W Companion OEM 5th…

view full answer...

Answer 11

I got some information from Yakima and included a diagram of the EXO SwingBase #Y34VR, which is the base part for the EXO SwingBase 2 Tier #Y82VR. Though the measurement from the pin hole to the closest edge of the carrier is not included in said…

view full answer...