Maxwell.262
Waterford Wisconsin
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My wife and I are going to do a few weeks of dry camping in south Texas this winter , other wise we usually stay hooked up. I have a 2000 watt generator and a smart charge charger with a deep cell setting. Can I plug in my 5th wheel for TV and computer and use the charger. I not worried about watts ,I under stand that, but will the smart charger scene that the trailer is also charging the battery and get screwed up? Should I disconnect the battery to do this ? If charging with trailer not plugged in it should be OK ,right ?
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garym114
Texas
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That is the way you do it without power hookup. Run the generator to provide the AC power, do what you want, charge, TV, ect.
When you are dry camping don't let the house battery get below 12.0 volts, shortens it's life if you discharge it too much.
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Crazy Ray
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click, read ,learn
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MNtundraRet
Bloomington, MN
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Are you saying that you have a separate portable smart charger? Are you plugging the trailer shore-power cord into the generator to supply trailer 120v AC and run the trailer's converter/charger?
If the trailer has a single-stage charger, the portable speed charger should still go into "bulk mode - 14.4v" when first charging. If the trailer also has a 3-stage charger, both will most likely start in "bulk mode" but one may back down to "regular mode - 13.6 v" sooner because it senses the battery is nearing around 90% charge. It depends more on the manufacturer's computer programing of their chargers. New versions work better. At worst, most chargers will at least continue charging in "regular mode" until battery-bank is fully charged.
In general most newer charges work fine when combined with other charging sources. It is not uncommon for a motor-home to have three sources while driving (solar-panels, engine-alternator, and generator running).
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pulsar
Lewisville, NC
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Moved from Forum Technical Support to Tech Issues.
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Maxwell.262
Waterford Wisconsin
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Thanks for the info on charging a house battery . I going to get a digital multi meter so I can tell what is going on. If we like dry camping we may do more and get set up better for it Thanks again Maxwell
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smkettner
Southern California
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No worries, hook it up and let it charge.
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