Dave,
Charging could not be simpler. I have #8 conductors connected to the battery
terminals in the engine compartment of my Saturn Vue, fused at 40A near the
battery and terminated near the West Mtn 80A Rig Runner in the back in
PowerPoles, standard small ones with 45A pins. The two deep cycle batteries
are paralleled and a connector harness with PowerPoles then connects to the
engine compartment "charging" system.
We used to run a custom designed box that would limit current, monitor
voltage and cut off the charging if the engine side dipped below a preset
value, but all that led to too little charging. Hence the direct connect.
Seems that with all the wire, connections and fuses involved, we have enough
voltage drop and current limiting that this JUST works. After running a
rover stop for 3 hours, the voltage of the 2 deep cycle batteries will be
dipping to 12.0 volts. If we drive for a hundred miles, the batteries charge
up and we start the new rover spot in the high 12 range.
Works for us. Obviously, a big diesel pickup truck with a whopper alternator
would be a better choice but the comptroller here at the QO estate may have
an issue with that!
I've been on the verge of buying a Honda 2 kW generator to run all of this.
I know that this would provide good stiff voltage and give the vehicle
charging system a break, but that requires even more work/time/money.
73,
Mark K2QO
FN03ra
On Mon, Sep 13, 2010 at 10:06 PM, David All <n3xudfm19@gmail.com> wrote:
> Mark,
> Can you describe how your set up to charge your radio batts from the SUV.
> Thanks,
> Dave N3XUD/R
>
>
>
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