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06-22-2016, 06:40 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 136
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Not charging from tow vehicle
I noticed yesterday at a grocery stop that even though my TV was running, my battery had dropped to 12.2v. I switched my fridge to propane and continued to camp where I had a plug-in available. I checked my fuse in the truck and it's good.
When I get home I plan on getting the multimeter out and seeing what I can find, but thought I'd ask here since I'm always open to the idea I missed something stupid....
__________________
2016 212HW led valiantly into the beyond by a 2010 Track Edition Ford Ranger 4x4.
Nights camped 2016: 14
Nights camped 2017: 11 (so far)
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06-22-2016, 07:02 PM
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#2
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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What's your tow vehicle? Did it ever charge the trailer?
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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06-22-2016, 07:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Posts: 930
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Being this an a frame subforum....my tingling spider sences tells me this is an a frame camper.....
To the origional poster...have your conections checked at your vehicles out pin...most will do it for free...
D-mo
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2008 Nissan Frontier 4x4
2011 Rockwood A122
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06-22-2016, 07:29 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,243
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Could be several things. New Trucks many times have the wire harness for the charging pin, but it is not hooked up to the TV power. One some vehicles there is even a relay to prevent it from draining battery when TV not running. Check that there is a fuse is in the TV fuse block. If there is 12V at the charge pin, it it most likely due to the gauge of the wire for the 12V aux. If you have a slightly dirty Bargman connector, you can get 1-2V drop before you get to the battery. The 12V aux ( unless modified) will maintain a full battery with no real ( non parasitic CO/Propane detector) current draw at best.
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2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
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06-22-2016, 07:55 PM
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#5
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World Traveler Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Santa Rosa
Posts: 175
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Some 7 pin connectors are hooked up to the battery and some are not and the only way to check is to meter Pin 4 of the connector. Use a meter or 12 light tester to tell and all recommendations say to always start a trip with fully charged battery and this should keep it topped off. Personal I do not run my Fridge on 12vdc while traveling I switch from home AC to propane while on the road.
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2014 A194HW
2004 Toyota 4runner V8 4WD
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06-22-2016, 08:11 PM
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#6
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Here's a diagram of the 7 blade RV plug so you can verify the source of the problem, Truck side or Trailer side, terminal #4.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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06-22-2016, 08:16 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: eastern NC
Posts: 1,783
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 05CrewDually
What's your tow vehicle? Did it ever charge the trailer?
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x2....I wish Luv70sFord would reply, my 2015 F150 does the same thing, even though all the trailer lights do work,.... dealer says there is nothing wrong, but my tester says there is a problem......
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06-22-2016, 08:46 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 136
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Sorry, signal goes in and out here. TV is a 2010 Ranger, 12v was run from the battery to the 7 pin by my dealer. I'm unsure if it ever charged but I'm leaning towards no. I only recently got an actual guage installed in the camper and just happened to check while stowing groceries.
I'll be checking with a meter when I get home. Very possible it's truck side. Power goes from battery, through a 20 amp fuse, an unknown rating circuit breaker, and then to the back of the truck. I wasn't impressed by the initial install, none of the crimp and seal connectors had been shrunk. This is begging for failure in 6 months where I live. See it all the time on the semis I work on. I went through and sealed them all, but I didn't verify anything, even after questioning why you would run a fuse before a circuit breaker.
When I get home I'll be tearing it apart after researching proper wiring installs first. Wanna make sure I get it done right.
Fwiw I'm an ASE master tech, and I feel so foolish. I think a cheap harbor freight meter is being added to my toolbox before my next outing.
__________________
2016 212HW led valiantly into the beyond by a 2010 Track Edition Ford Ranger 4x4.
Nights camped 2016: 14
Nights camped 2017: 11 (so far)
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06-22-2016, 10:23 PM
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#9
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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You can get a coupon from a magazine in most cases and get the HF meter for free. I have one in every vehicle and one in the Wildcat.
The way you describe the shoddy work by the dealer, if the truck is at fault, I'd be tempted to start over with a new circuit breaker and a roll of 12ga wire and do it right.
Best of luck and let us know how you make out.
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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06-22-2016, 10:58 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,770
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In my experience, the 12V from the TV is not sufficient to run the fridge without it also pulling from the battery when driving. I use a battery disconnect switch to isolate the battery from the camper 12V system if the fridge is running on 12V.
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Tom
2012 Rockwood A122S
2008 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4X4
Former owner of a 2002 Coleman Niagara GTE
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06-22-2016, 11:07 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
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Check the fuse that is at the end of your 7-pin cable that links to the trailer. Usually in a junction box. Had same problem and traced back to junction box and found a 30 amp fuse crammed into that mess of wires- and was blown! I replaced mine with a resettable fuse breaker so I don't have to search it out again!
2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"
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2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"
Just glad to get away
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06-22-2016, 11:49 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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If you've got a Silverado, it may never have been hooked up (although if you have the fuse, it should be hooked up).
See this for hooking it up.
SilveradoSierra.com • How to Hook Up the Constant 12v Power for 7pin Trailer Plug : How-To Articles
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1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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06-23-2016, 12:03 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 652
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In most cases, the wiring from tow vehicle to 7 pin connector, then from 7 pin to rv battery is to small to charge the rv battery more than a modest amount. A very small voltage drop will result in zero charging. Simple ohms law. That circuit might minimize battery discharge, but it will never completely recharge a dead battery. At least thats been my experience.
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2016 Ford F-350 Lariat CC, 4x4 SRW. B&W turnover with extender. 2015 CC Silverback 29RE, fitted with Reese Goose Box. Amateur Extra Class K5TS, 2016 nights camped 16
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06-23-2016, 01:04 AM
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#14
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2007 WildCat 32QBBS
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NJ
Posts: 2,349
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo
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See Post #8
__________________
*Current: 2005 Ford F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.0 diesel 4x4*
*Retired: 1987 F350 Crew Cab Dually 6.9 turbo diesel
2007 Forest River WildCat 32QBBS
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06-23-2016, 06:14 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,770
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pooneil
In my experience, the 12V from the TV is not sufficient to run the fridge without it also pulling from the battery when driving. I use a battery disconnect switch to isolate the battery from the camper 12V system if the fridge is running on 12V.
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Adding to what I said.
Here is a quick way to understand what is happening in the charging system.
Plug into the TV and disconnect the battery. Turn the fridge on 12V and use a volt meter to check the voltage at the fridge. Now reconnect the battery and check again. When I did this on a prior camper and TV, the voltage went up substantially. IIRC, it went from 8V at the fridge with just the TV to 12V with the battery connected.
If your readings show any voltage increase when the battery is hooked up, the fridge will be draining the battery to some degree.
__________________
Tom
2012 Rockwood A122S
2008 Toyota Tundra Double Cab 4X4
Former owner of a 2002 Coleman Niagara GTE
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06-23-2016, 06:21 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: SUNSHINE STATE
Posts: 1,768
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Ford missing relay
If it is a Ford TV, you may be missing a Relay.
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Sid & HRH MISSY, SHIH TZU
2019 WILDCAT 28 SGX
2014 F-250 KING RANCH PS 6.7L/SWD/6R140/BFT
TST Truck System Technologies TM-507SE
DAYS CAMPED 2022 51 DAYS
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06-23-2016, 09:47 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: eastern NC
Posts: 1,783
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DAISY BOYKIN
If it is a Ford TV, you may be missing a Relay.
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please explain,.....I have a 2015 F150, a friend told me he "thinks" he remembers finding a relay in his glove compartment that he had to install,..... I only get 6v on the #4 pin not 12v, ...... I can plug in my Tekonsha 6562 7-Way Blade Tester and it doesn't show the 12v either, meaning "something is not right", .... all my trailer lights(brake, turn sig., backup, ect.) work correctly and I made the mistake of telling the dealer that, so they say everything is ok, "no Problem",..... but without the 12v it isn't going to charge the battery and "something is not right",.... I don't need it for my fridge, because it doesn't have 12v option, just 120v and gas,.....
this all came to light when I bought a Tow Ready 118019 7 Way Cigarette Lighter Plug Adapter a couple of months ago, that plugs into the 7 pin socket to give me an outside 12v socket for a small air pump,..... it didn't work on my new truck, but does on my old 02 F150, ..... I've googled many times over the last two months about missing relay and can't find any info, any info you can give about a missing relay would be appreciated............
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06-23-2016, 09:52 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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06-23-2016, 10:14 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: eastern NC
Posts: 1,783
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rockfordroo
fella10:
I did a google and this was the first thing to come up. Hope it helps.
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thanks rock, but I've seen that one, it deals with much older model trucks,.... I've even talked to Auto Zone hunting a missing relay and they suggest that since everything is controlled by the computer today and that since all lights do work, the 6v on pin #4 could be that because of the computer and that everything really is ok,...... a lot has changed since 2002, it may be that I don't have a problem, I was just interested when the "missing relay" was mentioned........
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06-23-2016, 04:00 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,907
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I think I've seen postings of the relay on newer models; but can't tell you how new. Does your owners manual give you any clues?
__________________
1988 Coleman Sequoia - popup (1987-2009) - outlasted 3 Dodge Grand Caravans!
2012 Roo19 - hybrid (2012-2015)
2016 Mini Lite 2503S - tt (2015 - ???)
2011 Traverse LT, 3.6L, FWD
2009 Silverado 1500 Ext Cab, 5.3L, 4x4, 3.73
2016 Silverado 2500HD Dbl Cab, 6.0L 4x4, 4.10
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