I wanted to reconfigure my electrics to maximise charging to my camper trailer batteries for an upcoming trip.
The gear:
2010 Prado GXL 3.0D4D. Starting battery is a new Optima Redtop D34R. Aux is a 55aH Optima Yellow-top D34.
Camel Camper Trailer has 2 x 105aH AGM batteries.
A Few months ago the alternator in the Prado died, so (just in case) I removed LeighW's voltage booster, and installed a CTEK D250S DCDC charger between the Start and Aux batteries, and obviously replace the alternator to Toyotas upgraded alternator.
Before my testing today, I ran down all the batteries a bit. This isn't an ideal "Resting voltages" test, but the numbers were:
Start batt 12.35V
Aux batt 12.5V
Trailer batt 12.35
Testing equip is standard voltmeter and clamp-type ammeter
So, current setup:
DCDC charger to Aux, and the anderson on the towbar runs off the Aux battery. Basically the 20A D250S is charging 265aH of batteries. Probably not ideal.
Results: (after starting the car)
Start batt 13.46
Aux batt 13.1V (and rising. I think it was in the Bulk phase with voltage steadily rising)
Trailer batt 12.6V (and rising as per above)
Amps to Aux batt 19.8A
Amps to Trailer batt 6.5A
I then replaced the ALT-S fuse with Leigh W's voltage booster, however I installed it the wrong way around, and surprisingly enough, the results were the same! (ie I buggered this part of the test)
The gear:
2010 Prado GXL 3.0D4D. Starting battery is a new Optima Redtop D34R. Aux is a 55aH Optima Yellow-top D34.
Camel Camper Trailer has 2 x 105aH AGM batteries.
A Few months ago the alternator in the Prado died, so (just in case) I removed LeighW's voltage booster, and installed a CTEK D250S DCDC charger between the Start and Aux batteries, and obviously replace the alternator to Toyotas upgraded alternator.
Before my testing today, I ran down all the batteries a bit. This isn't an ideal "Resting voltages" test, but the numbers were:
Start batt 12.35V
Aux batt 12.5V
Trailer batt 12.35
Testing equip is standard voltmeter and clamp-type ammeter
So, current setup:
DCDC charger to Aux, and the anderson on the towbar runs off the Aux battery. Basically the 20A D250S is charging 265aH of batteries. Probably not ideal.
Results: (after starting the car)
Start batt 13.46
Aux batt 13.1V (and rising. I think it was in the Bulk phase with voltage steadily rising)
Trailer batt 12.6V (and rising as per above)
Amps to Aux batt 19.8A
Amps to Trailer batt 6.5A
I then replaced the ALT-S fuse with Leigh W's voltage booster, however I installed it the wrong way around, and surprisingly enough, the results were the same! (ie I buggered this part of the test)
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