Trailering and charging

[Firebolt420]

I have searched and didn't find anything like what I'm looking for or even close. Is there any type of electrical system that would allow the batteries in the boat to be charged while you are towing it? There are 2 thoughts that I am thinking about, the first one is to run off of the tow vehicles charging system, the second and most interesting is to have a alternator/generator that runs off a trailer wheel. Either way, an hour or 2 drive to the boating site of choice and bingzap you have just topped off the battery or batteries for a good start to the day if there is a thread out there about this already, sorry I looked and couldn't find it.

Ben

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailering and charging

Don't you thing running an alternator off a trailer would be a one time use situation since the alternator would be dunked when you back the trailer in the water. Yes -- there are devices that allow you to charge from the tow vehicle.

 

[saumon]

Re: Trailering and charging

Yes -- there are devices that allow you to charge from the tow vehicle.

Check on a RVs site or store. They do it all the time. On a 7-pin connector, one (red) is a 12V hot lead. Then, you'll need a 12 Volt input battery charger. That's it.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Trailering and charging

An alternator running of a wheel would be a new one.
Sailboats and some old aircraft have wind driven generators.

Tapping off of pin #4 of a 7-Pin Trailer Connector will give you 12v from the tow vehicle,
That would seem to be the easiest solution.
I would be sure to put a fuse at EACH End of the wire to the battery, just in case.

 

[Firebolt420]

Re: Trailering and charging

Thanks for the responses, I thought about the RV market but hadn't gotten that far yet. As far as the alternator getting dunked I had thought about that and I was still just curious if it has been done, possibly with a sealed unit or a removable unit. I like the idea of tapping off of the 7-pin, that would be the easiest and cleanest. Thanks again.

Ben:cool-new:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailering and charging

What are you running in the boat that requires you to charge your batteries while you drive? You start out with charged batteries right?

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Trailering and charging

Firebolt. you thinking out the box way to far.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Trailering and charging

The Rv market has already figured that out. campers.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Trailering and charging

Can you, sure if you like to throw money at things, or you can charge them the night before,

 

[Firebolt420]

Re: Trailering and charging

Yes I do charge the batteries prior to going out, this is just one of those things that kinda tugs at my curiosity string. I don't run anything that requires a huge amount of battery, but I do a lot of camping and was just kind of wondering 'What if I'm someplace that doesn't have electric hook up?' Not that I'd go out and drive around in circles to charge the batteries, but be able to have a alternate plan, hehe no pun intended.

Ben:cool-new:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Trailering and charging

I really don't see the need then.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trailering and charging

$89 gets you an 800 watt generator at Harbor Freight.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: Trailering and charging

My motor has no problem keeping BOTH my boat batteries fully charged.

If my batteries can't hold a charge between runs, it's time to service them, or replace them. If you've got to charge them every time before you launch, it's just a matter of time before they leave you stranded on the lake. Don't hide failing batteries with a charge that will last 30 minutes after you've shut down, then leave you dead in the water, when you shut down on the lake for that long.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trailering and charging

My motor has no problem keeping BOTH my boat batteries fully charged.

If my batteries can't hold a charge between runs, it's time to service them, or replace them. If you've got to charge them every time before you launch, it's just a matter of time before they leave you stranded on the lake. Don't hide failing batteries with a charge that will last 30 minutes after you've shut down, then leave you dead in the water, when you shut down on the lake for that long.

I think a bit more needs to explained before someone says this works for me so it should work for you.

If you have an I/O with a high output alternator, don't use a trolling motor, electronics, downriggers, radio, etc for long periods of time with the main motor off until the short run back to the dock, then you may not need something like this. If a person does fish like this and his O/B has a smaller output charging system, and the drive is rather long on the way to and from the fishery, then it may be of great value to have the tow vehicle charge the batteries. There are places I fish that are 2-3 hours (some more) each way, and I may fish there several days in a row, or there are times when I?m traveling further from one location to another and don?t have time to plug everything at the hotel overnight. With a tow vehicle charging system my batteries would either be fully charged or need far less time on the charger at home or at the hotel that night to be ready for the next day.

I don?t have a system like this, but it would be nice to have at times. For the normal person it may not make much of a difference and not worth the time, hassle and $$$ to do it though.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Trailering and charging

$89 gets you an 800 watt generator at Harbor Freight.

x2 and a lot easier

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Trailering and charging

on an RV all they use is a circuit breaker in line to limit amperage... keep in mind you will need TWO wires... generally the color code on a 7 pin RV plug is red or black for positive and white for ground

 

[wango]

Re: Trailering and charging

I have a small aluminum boat with a small outboard that doesn't have a charging system for my battery. I use a 12v trolling motor as well, along with lights and a small stereo. I have two deep cycle batteries, usually I don't have much trouble, but if I don't plug the boat in before going, I have had issues. I wired a 12v auxillary source from my 7 pin connector and have a short jumper that plugs into my boat.

My concern was adding the extra load to an ignition circuit, so I put a 12v continuous duty solenoid under the hood on the inner fender. My truck had an unused hot-when-ignition-on terminal in the under hood fuse box. I used that terminal to operate the coil in the solenoid. I ran an 8 gauge wire with a fuse from an auxillary battery terminal to the solenoid and 8 gauge from the solenoid to auxillary terminal in my 7 pin trailer connector. This way the boat is only charging when the truck's key is in the on position. This system has worked good for me to keep batteries charged on my camper and boat. I have a deercamp in a remote area of Michigan's upper peninsula, we don't have electricity I rarely take a generator and it can be several days before I can plug my boat into a regular outlet. This system cost me about 40 bucks and 30 minutes to install. I'm running the stock alternator and haven't had any issues, this same system charges the two deep cycle batteries on my 5th wheel camper.

I bought the solenoid, wire, fuses and fuse holders at NAPA. I don't remember the solenoid part number, but if you go this route make sure the solenoid is 12v, continuous duty, and rated for at least 20 amps. I think this may be the solenoid I used NAPA AUTO PARTS but I can't remember.

 

[Firebolt420]

Re: Trailering and charging

The generator would work and be fine and I will be getting one soon, but at the price of gas and some campgrounds do not allow generators no matter how quiet they are this is just an idea I'm kicking around. I really appreciate all the feedback negative and positive because when you get one of those ideas that gnaws at you it helps to hear all of it. I have pretty much decided I'm going to do the tapping into the 7-pin, but the alternator idea still intrigues me. Oh and I forgot to mention that for right now I am an apartment dweller so just simply plugging in is not always an option for me yet.

Ben:cool-new:

 

[Firebolt420]

Re: Trailering and charging

Mr. Wango thanks for that info, you have done what I am looking into. I missed your post while I was posting mine. This isn't something that I have to do because my batteries wont hold a charge it's just something to make sure my batteries are topped off when I get to the spot of the day or weekend. Plus it would be one of those it's there if you need it and cheap if you don't.

Ben:cool-new:

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Trailering and charging

T I have pretty much decided I'm going to do the tapping into the 7-pin, but the alternator idea still intrigues me.

Tapping the 7 pin is more than just wiring it up. If you do that, the first time you connect a drained battery you will either melt/burn off the trailer connector or wiring, or pop the fuse in the truck. A discharged battery connected to a fully charged battery can pull a hundred amps or more for a very short time. (jumper cables are large gauge and short for a reason!)

There are 12v charge regulators that travel trailers use to keep the current to a manageable level. Or do it like this guy, he did a direct connect to the trailer. But also replaced all wiring with 2 gauge welding cable.

Charging Trailer Batteries from the Tow Vehicle Alternator