New MH Owner Toad Questions

[Gary.Jones]

Don

I hear you, but the notoriously weak OEM Honda battery reputation is well understood outside of RV toad applications.

However, you are could be right. I don't like unnecessary 12 volt lines to connect and disconnect when connecting the toad, however, I will think that through a little more. How is that line regulated? How do you keep from overcharging the battery? Is the connection direct to the CR-V battery or through some regulation device??

Gary

[757driver]

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

Don

I hear you, but the notoriously weak OEM Honda battery reputation is well understood outside of RV toad applications.

However, you are could be right. I don't like unnecessary 12 volt lines to connect and disconnect when connecting the toad, however, I will think that through a little more. How is that line regulated? How do you keep from overcharging the battery? Is the connection direct to the CR-V battery or through some regulation device??

Gary

Gary,

The line is not regulated only fused. I believe I put a #12 or #14 wire in for the charge line and it goes directly to the battery. Enterga has 12v power to their 7 way plug at the back of motorhome and my charge line is in the coiled cord going to the toad so no extra lines to hook up. I think that the small amount of current going to the CRV won't overcharge or hurt anything.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Gary.Jones-

Here are two recent threads with (some) posts discussing charge lines and components:

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f85/picke...ns-279800.html
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/the-...-240459-2.html

[MRUSA14]

Originally Posted by Gary.Jones

I don't like unnecessary 12 volt lines to connect and disconnect when connecting the toad, however, I will think that through a little more. How is that line regulated? How do you keep from overcharging the battery? Is the connection direct to the CR-V battery or through some regulation device??

Gary

There is nothing extra to connect or disconnect once you are properly set up. It will pass the 12V though the same cord and connector that carries your brake light signals, turn signals, etc. There is no need for regulation as the voltage is already regulated at your motorhome. It is a well regulated voltage and your toad battery will take as much or as little as it needs. I have been doing this for about 13 years and no battery problems at all except for a year or so when my charge line connection was intermittent. During that time I had a couple of dead battery episodes on the toad. A proper charge line completely eliminates this issue.

[Gasman 2]

Originally Posted by MRUSA14

There is nothing extra to connect or disconnect once you are properly set up. It will pass the 12V though the same cord and connector that carries your brake light signals, turn signals, etc. There is no need for regulation as the voltage is already regulated at your motorhome. It is a well regulated voltage and your toad battery will take as much or as little as it needs. I have been doing this for about 13 years and no battery problems at all except for a year or so when my charge line connection was intermittent. During that time I had a couple of dead battery episodes on the toad. A proper charge line completely eliminates this issue.

Exactly, Entegra's build on Spartan chassis have a 30 amp fuse in the round box under the chassis batteries in the Spartan service center that is for the charge line. It is labeled F7 "trailer charge line". This circuit is in the 7 pin trailer connector.
Travel trailers have used this method to keep the trailer battery charge for years.
So no need to over think the concept with regulators, relays, switches and other stuff you don't need.
Just add a fuse at the toad battery to protect the wiring and you are ready to go.
Richard

[Gary.Jones]

Guys

Thanks for the information and I will think it through. My strategy of idling or charging after 2 long pull days has worked well, but this would be easier and I will look into it.

Gary