Teardrops n Tiny Travel Trailers

Hello,

In my planning stage I am largely ignorant of the electrical phase of planning and construction. I know I want both 12v system and also 110v for the galley for micro and heating water etc. I know about deep cycle 12 v batteries but AM ignorant of the system that would allow me to charge the battery when driving down the road. I do not readily locate a 110V large storage battery. Is there such a thing and is it possible to charge such a battery using the 12v automotive system?

Thanks for your attention in this matter.

Gene So

1. The 12 volt and the 120 volt (used to be 110 many years ago, now is 120) differ not only in the actual voltage but in the type of current. The 12 volt we are using is DC, direct current. The 120 volt we are talking about is AC, alternating current. DC is what batteries supply; AC comes from the power grid, generators and inverters. Inverters are powered by the battery or batteries. AC has a hot wire (usually black) and a neutral wire (white) and a ground wire (green or bare). DC has a positive wire (often red) and a negative wire (often black).

2. Batteries that we would use in a trailer come in 6 VDC and 12 VDC versions. Add two 6 VDC in series (connect the positive of one to the negative of the other = 12 VDC). Add enough cells or batteries in series and you could have 120 VDC, but we don't need that in a trailer.

3. AC and DC do not mix and are not interchangeable. But 120 VAC can be used with a battery charger to charge 12 volt batteries and 12 VDC can be used with an inverter to supply 120 VAC. There are certain limitations we won't go into now.

4. If you don't have a basic understanding of electricity possibly the best way to handle it is to install something like aPD 4045. It gives you a battery charger and both a DC and an AC power distribution system, all in one unit. You still need to wire up the lights, plugs, etc but it is a solid unit to base all the electrical needs upon.

5. As for charging while driving down the road there is at least one topic here on that but I am out the door right now. Maybe someone else can pick up my slack on that. It is done via a plug and socket connection between the TV and the trailer. Again certain criteria and limitations.

Charging while towing is covered extensively here....

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=28620

Only requirement is you have to go beyond standard "flat 4" trailer lights plug wiring on tow vehicle and trailer, most likely to 7 pin RV style (industry standard) .... Its not rocket science, and if TV (tow vehicle) is not setup for this sort of thing, its not to much more complicated than running a wire from engine compartment (battery) to plug/socket on rear of TV....

But this is all covered in the topic link will take you to...

Dale

I use a 6 pin as it is smaller and cleaner and I don't have electric brakes.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

MtnDon gave an excellent summary.

Vedette wrote:I use a 6 pin as it is smaller and cleaner and I don't have electric brakes.
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

Vedette is correct that a 6 pin connector is smaller but it can support both electric brakes and trailer battery charging.



As far as a six pin being cleaner, you can always wash your connectors.

Cheers,

Gus

And don't always depend on wire colors..... Wire plug positions(terminals) by function....

http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

But personally all my trailers and my friends have 7 pin RV so we do not need any adapters if we are towing a trailer we do not own (borrowed or loaned)... Only adapter I carry is 7 pin RV to "flat 4" (just in case) ....

Dale