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08-21-2020, 09:13 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1
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can you overload your tow vehicle's battery with accessories?
We have a Ford F-150 half ton tow vehicle. We have a back-up camera, a phone, and a trailer brake hooked up when we are traveling. I want to add a dash camera. Will this be too much overload on the truck's battery?
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08-21-2020, 09:17 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Zephyrhills FL
Posts: 1,106
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No, that should not overload it. You should be able to add GPS, TPMS, and some other small loads with no problem as long as the battery and charging system are in good condition.
__________________
(Previous) Coachmen Mirada Select 37RB
(Previous) Coachmen Freedom Express 246RKS
(Current)2022 Grand Design Reflection150 226RK
2022 F150 Powerboost Hybrid.
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08-21-2020, 09:39 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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What you are talking about is a couple of amps. That's pretty much a tiny percent of the alternator's capacity.
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08-21-2020, 09:51 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,037
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FWIW, my dash cam company offered a setup to "permanently" power the cam. It cam with an 8' power lead that I ran down the passenger side of my truck and put in one of the "add a fuse" deals and plugged it into thee fuse box located behind the glove box. So the cam is on it's own fuse. Wire is hidden inside the trim along the side of the windshield. You can only see the wire for about 2" between the door and where I routed it into the fuse box. Took under an hour to install.
__________________
Al
I am starting to think, that I will never be old enough--------to know better.
Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist
S.E. Mich. Flagstaff 26FKWS / 2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost SCrew Propride
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08-21-2020, 09:58 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 597
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You don't say what year your F150 is or what size of alternator is on it, it is possible to overload an alternator, will you with adding what you want to add probably not. alternators for the F150 range from 65 amps to 130 amps, you may want to find out what alternator you have just in case you decide to add more features to your truck. AMPs go fast when you are adding stuff, if you have a 65 amp alternator you may want to look at upgrading to a higher capacity alternator.
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08-21-2020, 10:05 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,285
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Just adding "electronics" like dash cam, GPS, etc won't add much load.
Adding huge lights or high wattage stereos can add enough load to tax the alternator.
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"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)
"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"
2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change )
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08-21-2020, 10:42 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,724
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Quote:
Just adding "electronics" like dash cam, GPS, etc won't add much load.
Adding huge lights or high wattage stereos can add enough load to tax the alternator.
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YES... typical dash electronics like cams and video screens sip power and are very low load... no trouble adding to any system
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"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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08-21-2020, 11:18 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wildcatter
You don't say what year your F150 is or what size of alternator is on it, it is possible to overload an alternator, will you with adding what you want to add probably not. alternators for the F150 range from 65 amps to 130 amps, you may want to find out what alternator you have just in case you decide to add more features to your truck. AMPs go fast when you are adding stuff, if you have a 65 amp alternator you may want to look at upgrading to a higher capacity alternator.
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Even higher than that. The new F-150s are 210A to 250A
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08-21-2020, 03:54 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SailorSam20500
FWIW, my dash cam company offered a setup to "permanently" power the cam. It cam with an 8' power lead that I ran down the passenger side of my truck and put in one of the "add a fuse" deals and plugged it into thee fuse box located behind the glove box. So the cam is on it's own fuse. Wire is hidden inside the trim along the side of the windshield. You can only see the wire for about 2" between the door and where I routed it into the fuse box. Took under an hour to install.
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What was the brand of dash cam you used? I am looking for a new one.
Thanks
__________________
Retired Auto body teacher
2021 Arctic Wolf 3550 Suite
2019 F-250 Lariat Super Crew 6.2
Having lots of Fun traveling with my wife
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08-21-2020, 10:27 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5,037
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Quote:
Originally Posted by old40ford
What was the brand of dash cam you used? I am looking for a new one.
Thanks
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I have a Viofo A119S (front cam only - their A129 is front and rear view). I ordered it thru Walmart because they had a better price for it than Amazon or direct from the manufacturer. I also ordered the HK3 hardwire kit and the GPS module for the cam. Lots of sources for the fuse tap. Cam was purchase in Sept 2018 and is still working perfectly.
The pic below is clipped out of one AVI recorded on the cam. We were in a Custer SD to visit Mt. Rushmore.
__________________
Al
I am starting to think, that I will never be old enough--------to know better.
Tolerance will reach such a level that intelligent people will be banned from thinking so as not to offend the imbeciles. Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky, Russian Novelist
S.E. Mich. Flagstaff 26FKWS / 2022 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost SCrew Propride
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08-22-2020, 12:07 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Alaska
Posts: 1,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by babock
Even higher than that. The new F-150s are 210A to 250A
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That makes more sense. My Silverado has a 220 amp alternator. With all of today's electronics there is no way a 65 or 130 amp alternator could keep up.
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2019 Silverado LTZ 1500 6.2L 10 Speed 3.42 Max Trailering Package
2018 Freedom Express 192RBS
2022 Highland Ridge Open Air Lite Range 17BH
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08-22-2020, 12:13 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: California
Posts: 7,616
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlaskaErik
That makes more sense. My Silverado has a 220 amp alternator. With all of today's electronics there is no way a 65 or 130 amp alternator could keep up.
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Heated seats, heated steering wheel, inverters, electric power assist steering...just to name a few
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08-22-2020, 07:11 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 672
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SailorSam20500
I have a Viofo A119S (front cam only - their A129 is front and rear view). I ordered it thru Walmart because they had a better price for it than Amazon or direct from the manufacturer. I also ordered the HK3 hardwire kit and the GPS module for the cam. Lots of sources for the fuse tap. Cam was purchase in Sept 2018 and is still working perfectly.
The pic below is clipped out of one AVI recorded on the cam. We were in a Custer SD to visit Mt. Rushmore.
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Thank you very much
John
__________________
Retired Auto body teacher
2021 Arctic Wolf 3550 Suite
2019 F-250 Lariat Super Crew 6.2
Having lots of Fun traveling with my wife
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08-22-2020, 06:06 PM
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#14
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Grammar Pedant
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Frederick, CO
Posts: 1,580
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In theory, yes, batteries/alternators can be overloaded. If you were running 6 halogen 130W KC Daylighters (blast from the past, anyone?) and a 1,000W amp driving two 12” subs, then you’ll have power concerns!
Common electronics, though, are nothing. Enjoy your gadgets!
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Every time you use an apostrophe to make a word plural, a puppy dies.
TV: 2019 F-350 Lariat 4WD CCSB 6.7 PSD 3.55, 3,591 lb payload
Former RV: 2018 Rockwood Mini Lite 2504S
Former RV: 2007 Fleetwood/Coleman Utah
Former TV: 2005 F-150 King Ranch 4WD SCrew 5.4L Tow Package
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