Can Trailer Battery Be Charged While in Use

Question:

Can I charge my trailer battery while using it for lighting the trailer at the same time? Cheers.

asked by: Albert C

Expert Reply:

A battery cannot be charged and discharged at the same time but if you have a charger connected to a battery that is delivering power to a load then it can look like you are both charging and discharging at the same time.

It is best to charge a battery individually, not two connected together, and to do so without a load on the battery.

Your battery charger will ideally be matched to your battery; both come in various amp hour (Ah) capacities. For example, the CTEK Multi 25000 # CTEK56674 is an AC-powered charger that plugs into your standard 110-120V and that can charge batteries of up to a 500-Ah rating. A smaller charger like # CTEK56353 works for smaller batteries up to 150-Ah.

The linked article on chargers may be of interest.

expert reply by: Adam R