Community Forums

newfiejeff · 05-31-2006, 09:18 AM

How much of a charge does the trailer converter put into a battery when hooked up to 110v/generator?

Jeff

newfiejeff · 05-31-2006, 09:18 AM

How much of a charge does the trailer converter put into a battery when hooked up to 110v/generator?

Jeff

Hitchhiker · 05-31-2006, 10:56 AM

I think it varies, depends on the specs for your particular brand and model converter. Without checking, I think mine is 55 amps.

But that might be the total rating including the battery charge, not sure.

Gary RVRoamer · 05-31-2006, 01:33 PM

Your converter is probably rated somewhere between 30 and 50-55 amps, which is the total output. In late model converter/chagers, whatever amount is not being used to power lights, fridge circuit board, and other 12v powered gear is available for battery charging. In older converters (before around 1996) the smaller converters were often limited in their charging output to a fixed amount, sometimes only 3-5 amps.

If you would post your trailer make/model we might be able to guess the brand and model of converter and therfore it'sr capacity. Better yet, look and see what brand and model converter you actually have and we will be able to tell you for sure.

newfiejeff · 05-31-2006, 03:33 PM

I have my trailer at my campground, it's a 2006 trail sport 27 qbss. I was only wondering if it's better to charge through the converter or bring my own battery charger.

RV Wizard · 05-31-2006, 11:41 PM

In your case (being in a campground) the converter should be very acceptable to keep the batteries charged up if you are plugged into shore power. If you were out boondocking and needed to live off the batteries then you may want 1. more batteries, 2. larger charging system, 3 possibly even solar panels to help keep up batteries, so you could reduce the amount of time you would have to run the generator to recharge the batteries. If you will give us a little more information as to how you will be using the trailer then we may be able to help you better.

newfiejeff · 06-01-2006, 02:28 AM

I usually use my furnace and this time of year in our area the days or the nights can get cold so it will cut in alot. I use the lights but don't turn alot of them on because I am not sure of the wattage. I hear that you can buy flourescent light and if you can are they worth the money. I don't mind using the generator to charge the batteries through the trailer, but if I my home charger was quicker/better than the one in the trailer then I would bring it.

newfiejeff · 06-01-2006, 02:29 AM

What would be the name of my panel box(converter) in my trailer. I will find out this weekend but was hoping to find some information on the net about it.

Gary RVRoamer · 06-01-2006, 02:39 PM

If you are lucky you have a Progressive Dynamics or Iota conerter. If not so lucky, a Magnetek or Parallax (neew name for Magentek).

Since its a 2006, you can rest assured that almost the entire outpurt is available for battery charging, Even if it is a minimal 30 amp converter, it will be fine to re-charge your batteries while it sits idle in the campground during the week.

Your home charger is probably a 10 amp model and the usual 10 amp automotive charger puts out 10 amps only briefly and quickly reverts to about 6-7 amps. Your converter will do better than that.