Charging trailer battery from Dmax

[stillracing]

I understand the Dmax only provides a trickle charge to the trailer battery, is this true and what is the voltage suspose to be? I can not seem to get any reading at all.

[Turbo Al]

Still racing: Can't help you with the amount of charge but I spent 10 days up north (IE no plugins for power) and did not have any problems at all with the trailer battery. I plugged it into the truck (not running via trailer connector) every night and it more than kept up with demand. It behaved the same as the 1993 setup.

[tpitt]

stillracing:
I hope I'm not asking a dumb question, but did you plug in the 40 amp fuse in the box under the hood? tpitt

[stillracing]

Al that is good to know. I am questioning wheather I have the charge wire connected at the right terminal because I am unable to get a volt reading at the trailer battery while the truck is running.

All other lights, signals, brake lights work properly on the trailer, I wonder if the negative ground and or charge wire is connected properly. Would all lights work properly with positive and negative connected worng.

I just bought a new battery and want it connected to the truck battery right, I am thinking if the lead wires are not connected properly that could ruin the new battery.

[stillracing]

Terry,

I did plug in the 40 amp fuse. I will check that it is not blown. thanks

[Turbo Al]

Good point Tpitt & good morning smile.gif . But if I recall (a year ago) the fuse was in mine for the trailer plug in but I had to install the brake control harness and fuse (40amp).

[stillracing]

Terry, Reno Dmax owners are talking about a meeting in Reno, can you make it.

[Turbo Al]

Stillracing. Good morning, I gather that your truck didn't come with the trailer wiring option and that you installed it. Just tell me what wires went were (color and size) and I will see if mine is the same (2001). I ordered my truck with the harness.

[ 06-22-2002: Message edited by: Turbo Al ]</p>

[stillracing]

Al, I have the factory trailering harness and compared my connections with the correct? ones on another thread.

My Prodigy brake controller seems to be working now that it is correctly connected.

I have a feeling I may be using my electrical meter incorrectly. I have it set for reading 12v. Will the setting read a trickle? I think it should.

And on edit, A very good morning to you.

[ 06-22-2002: Message edited by: stillracing ]</p>

[tpitt]

stillracing:
You should be able to test the circuit with just a test light. I don't believe with a 40 amp fuse it is only putting out just a trickle. I will test mine in a little while with a test light and let you know.
I will be coming through Reno on the 29th on my way back from Edge. Maybe I can spend the night of the 28th at Reno. I'm leaving for Ogden early a.m the 26th., but don't exactly know how long Ill be in Ogden. I'm also stopping by A.T.S. in Murray, Utah on the way to pickup an exhaust system to be installed over there. I don't have time to install it myself right now. If everyone can set a firm date, maybe I can shuffle things just a bit. The problem is I don't get off work until 8 p.m. Tuesday night, and that depends if I'm on a fire or not. So I set it up with Aaron to be there by noon on the 27th (Thur.) The only problem with the 29th that I can see is that motovet can't make it and it would be nice if he could as he is coming so far. Any way set a date and we will play it by ear. Terry

[tpitt]

stillracing:
Just checked mine with a test light. Worked o.k. Hope this helps. Terry

[TXMAX]

Stillracing,

If you are getting no voltage reading at all then it is probably incorrectly connected (the test light will only indicate voltage not current). On the other hand you can have voltage and little to no amperage depending on the engine RPM. If you have voltage with little to no amps you still won't be getting a charge. There is output at idle but in most vehicles it is very low (I've never checked the DMAX since I don't battery issues, see sig). So once you get voltage you can then check your amp output at idle and then at higher rpms to get an idea what type of charge current your getting via the trailer connector.

Abe

[Flyboy]

The voltage regulator is built in the alternator. It is very close to the truck batteries and reads the higher voltage from them and reduces charging when they are fully charged. The camper battery is a loooong way back and charged with a smaller gauge wire. It will never get a full charge because the alternator has cut back. My solution will be to install the second alternator and wire it only to the trailer. Think it will work?

[bigbobed]

I'm planning on putting a generator in my truck so I can run the fiver ac on the road. Now I'll have two competing charging sources for the battery, truck alternator and fiver inverter. Think either one will be damaged?

[odoh]

Flyboy ~ The local auto rewire shops recommends that ~ provided a battery is included and I think you have the battery on the trailer. Having just installed another alternator, I'm not quite sure of the implications of the single small gauge wire to the ECU. Supposedly, its a charge indicator line. Of course, one must weight the impact on the warranty. ~ odoh

[letsgo]

stillracing
On some digital volt meters there is a circuit that detects voltages greater than what you have selected, and will not permit the meter to read any voltage at all, some times you will see "0.00" or "OL" and if there is no automatic protection the meter will just blow up.

good luck

GMC 2002 DURAMAX SLT EXCAB SHORT BOX 2500HD 4X4 AUTO

[GBurton]

bigbobed asked?
"I'm planning on putting a generator in my truck so I can run the fiver ac on the road. Now I'll have two competing charging sources for the battery, truck alternator and fiver inverter. Think either one will be damaged?"

Short answer

[29mdla]

I have 5 Optima battries in my enclosed trailer connected by an isolator to an 8g stero type power cable to the jumper + connector under the hood. They charged up fine doing it this way. Connected through the 7 way trailer connector large center connector. I have another trailer that runs a whinch through this same connection

[bigbobed]

GBurton

Thanks for such a detailed response. You obviously don't have the aversion to typing that I have.
You are correct. My fiver has a converter not an inverter. Not the first time I have used the wrong term. Never have figured out why dc to ac is inverting and ac to dc is converting.

Thanks,

Bob