Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

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Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby saican » Wed Jun 29, 2022 6:08 pm

Hello All,
I s there is any other cheaper option to charge Lifepo4 battery from towing vehicle alternator, I did looked for DC to Dc charger they are quit expensive please help me with the parts and wiring diagrams if there is any cheaper option available.
Thanks
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby swoody126 » Wed Jun 29, 2022 6:40 pm

does your TV have the factory installed towing package ?

if so all you need to do is run a wire from the plug to your battery

the factory systems isolate the RV battery from the TV system when the key is off so the TV's battery doesn't discharge

here is a diagram of what came w/ both my F-350 and my Jeep Cherokee factory towing packages

VmDJZkF.jpeg
VmDJZkF.jpeg (37.08 KiB) Viewed 572 times


the "12v Power" is the one

BON CHANCE

sw
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby Pmullen503 » Wed Jun 29, 2022 7:56 pm

What is too expensive? And how big a battery are you trying to charge?.
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby PaulC » Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:22 pm

swoody126 wrote:does your TV have the factory installed towing package ?

if so all you need to do is run a wire from the plug to your battery

the factory systems isolate the RV battery from the TV system when the key is off so the TV's battery doesn't discharge

here is a diagram of what came w/ both my F-350 and my Jeep Cherokee factory towing packages

VmDJZkF.jpeg


the "12v Power" is the one

BON CHANCE

sw

That will not work for charging lithium batteries
Cheers
Paul :thumbsup:
Time is the only real capital we have. Money you can replace but time you cannot.
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby saican » Wed Jun 29, 2022 10:25 pm

Pmullen503 wrote:What is too expensive? And how big a battery are you trying to charge?.

I am looking to charge 24V 200ah lithium battery,while towing the camper i have seen Dc to Dc charger which are around 200$ but looking for something cheaper.
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby saican » Wed Jun 29, 2022 10:26 pm

PaulC wrote:
swoody126 wrote:does your TV have the factory installed towing package ?

if so all you need to do is run a wire from the plug to your battery

the factory systems isolate the RV battery from the TV system when the key is off so the TV's battery doesn't discharge

here is a diagram of what came w/ both my F-350 and my Jeep Cherokee factory towing packages

VmDJZkF.jpeg


the "12v Power" is the one

BON CHANCE

sw

That will not work for charging lithium batteries
Cheers
Paul :thumbsup:

Do you have any idea how i can do it without spending too much money.
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby friz » Thu Jun 30, 2022 6:51 am

$200 to keep from smoking a lithium battery or burning your rig down, seems like the least expensive option.

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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby Pmullen503 » Thu Jun 30, 2022 7:39 am

saican wrote:
Pmullen503 wrote:What is too expensive? And how big a battery are you trying to charge?.

I am looking to charge 24V 200ah lithium battery,while towing the camper i have seen Dc to Dc charger which are around 200$ but looking for something cheaper.


Does your battery have a balance tap?

Chargers for RC batteries are a good value and very sophisticated but you must have a balancing tap on the battery. The next question is how fast do you want to charge? Cost is proportional with capacity.

Ball park: for $100 you could get a charger that would charge a 50% depleted 200 Ah battery in about 10 hours. You are limited by how much current you can pull through the car and trailer's wiring.
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby swoody126 » Thu Jun 30, 2022 1:55 pm

PaulC wrote:
swoody126 wrote:does your TV have the factory installed towing package ?

if so all you need to do is run a wire from the plug to your battery

the factory systems isolate the RV battery from the TV system when the key is off so the TV's battery doesn't discharge

here is a diagram of what came w/ both my F-350 and my Jeep Cherokee factory towing packages

The attachment VmDJZkF.jpeg is no longer available


the "12v Power" is the one

BON CHANCE

sw

That will not work for charging lithium batteries
Cheers
Paul :thumbsup:


th-2.jpeg
th-2.jpeg (7.36 KiB) Viewed 437 times


sw
"we are the people our parents warned us about" jb
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby pchast » Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:48 pm

There are some charge controllers for LI for under $100.
:thinking: I would check ebay

Consider the length of the trip and your demand needs.
You need to decide how large a battery and what charging
rate is needed to provide it.
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby saican » Sat Jul 02, 2022 10:07 am

pchast wrote:There are some charge controllers for LI for under $100.
:thinking: I would check ebay

Consider the length of the trip and your demand needs.
You need to decide how large a battery and what charging
rate is needed to provide it.

Thanks
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby dbhosttexas » Sun Oct 02, 2022 1:57 pm

saican wrote:Hello All,
I s there is any other cheaper option to charge Lifepo4 battery from towing vehicle alternator, I did looked for DC to Dc charger they are quit expensive please help me with the parts and wiring diagrams if there is any cheaper option available.
Thanks


Correct me if I am wrong, but Lifepo4 batteries themselves aren't exactly cheap...

Searcing Amazon for DC to DC charger lifepo4 shows me an assorment of options many of which are well under $100.00
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby tony.latham » Mon Oct 03, 2022 10:40 am

Searcing Amazon for DC to DC charger lifepo4 shows me an assorment of options many of which are well under $100.00


Do you have a link?

Thanks,

Tony
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby dbhosttexas » Mon Oct 03, 2022 1:17 pm

tony.latham wrote:
Searcing Amazon for DC to DC charger lifepo4 shows me an assorment of options many of which are well under $100.00


Do you have a link?

Thanks,

Tony


https://www.amazon.com/s?k=dc+to+dc+cha ... _sb_noss_2

FWIW, I already have a DC to DC charger that is not necessarily rated for Lifepo4 but I have been told the AGM profile is the one to use for Lifepo4, and no lifepo4 and lion are NOT the same thing...

https://amzn.to/3C2npsQ

I have already ordered a Chins 200ah lifepo4 for my build and am confident enough in the AGM profile that I am willing to test it...

Whatever you do, do NOT use the calcium profile!
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Re: Any cheaper option for DC to DC charging

Postby troubleScottie » Thu Oct 13, 2022 11:30 am

There are nice chargers that cover a wide range of battery types.

REDARC Electronics Dual Input 40A in-Vehicle DC Battery Charger : about $400; over your price point, but a great product, could be used in conjunction with a solar setup (two inputs)

Renogy 12V 60A DC to DC On-Board Battery Charger : about $200 on Amazon; supports multiple battery types, only a single input. You could use switches to select more than one source.

You would really have to add wiring (10 gauge or smaller (bigger diameter) depending on distance), solenoid, fuses, Anderson connectors, more wiring, glands from the vehicle battery to the trailer to make everything work. Think high power car audio system (do people still do that?) The 12V power wire on a 7 pin connector is not rated to carry high current (40-60 amps) -- more like minor charging like an electric brake battery charger.

Given possible Lithium battery charging issues, I would not skimp on this part of your build.

BTW: I do not think AGM profile is close to the same as Lithium profile. It is still very much a lead acid battery system.
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