Perko Battery Selector Switch ?

[absolutsnwbrdr]

When referring to my wiring diagram below for my new teardrop, I have a question regarding the Perko 8501 Marine Battery Selector Switch



If I were to replace the SPDT switch (between the batteries and the WFCO) with this Perko switch, would the following knob positions result in:

1) Power the trailer from just the tow vehicle battery
2) Power the trailer from just the RV battery
ALL) Connect both batteries in parallel to power the trailer, also resulting in being able to charge the RV battery while towing
OFF) Disconnect all batteries from each other and the trailer

[Moho]

yep, thats what it would do.

[Moho]

Also since it seems you're gonna be doing a bunch of custom wiring, I have one of these and it works great for copper lugs and custom cable lengths of larger gauge (8 - 4/0awg)

http://www.amazon.com/Z-Red-B790C-Hammer-Crimper/dp/B000M7LFKK

[wa_flyfisher]

Depending on your TV, you should be able to charge your TT battery while it is hooked up. I know all I had to do was get a relay that was missing from the TV fuse block.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Also since it seems you're gonna be doing a bunch of custom wiring, I have one of these and it works great for copper lugs and custom cable lengths of larger gauge (8 - 4/0awg)

Thanks Moho! Glad I was reading the manual for that selector switch right then! There are only going to be a few "heavy duty" wires on this setup. Most will be 14 or 16 gauge wires going to LED's and accessories.

Depending on your TV, you should be able to charge your TT battery while it is hooked up. I know all I had to do was get a relay that was missing from the TV fuse block.

I have a 2005 Outback Sedan. It's not pre-wired for trailer hookup. The regular Outback wagons were, but I don't believe they had a 12V wire for charging while towing either.

[bdosborn]

Why not use a battery combiner that will automatically connect your trailer to the car when its running? It then disconnects when you turn the car off. It also has a manual mode so you can combine any time you want. I have one and it works great. Now I don't have to remember to disconnect the TV from the trailer or isolate the batteries.

Battery Combiner



Combiner FAQ

Bruce

[bdosborn]

here's a sticky about making larger cables :

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?t=40788

Bruce

[absolutsnwbrdr]

Thanks Bruce. I remember looking into that before. I may eventually add one to my new teardrop, but the nice thing about the battery selector is that it relatively cheap, and will act as a full disconnect for both batteries.

[Dale M.]

Thanks Bruce. I remember looking into that before. I may eventually add one to my new teardrop, but the nice thing about the battery selector is that it relatively cheap, and will act as a full disconnect for both batteries.

Might be a good thing....

Dale

[bdosborn]

I used to just unplug the 7 way trailer connector from the truck when we stopped and then plugged it back on when we left. That was even cheaper and it acted like a total battery disconnect as well. My trouble was I would forget to unplug, hence the need for the automatic upgrade.
Bruce

[absolutsnwbrdr]

The battery selector switch will also disconnect the on-board battery for storage too. Guess I could just disconnect at the battery terminal, but the switch gives it a "hint" of "professionalism"

[bdosborn]

Duh, okay now I get it. You know, I had a nice battery disonnect of the tear and I never used it. When I realized that, I started to think about why I needed a battery disconnect and really couldn't come up with a good reason.
Bruce

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I had a nice battery disconnect of the tear and I never used it. When I realized that, I started to think about why I needed a battery disconnect and really couldn't come up with a good reason.

That'll be me a year from now

I did bookmark that battery combiner though! Thanks again Bruce!