Do I need a toad battery charger? - Page 2

Pete'sMH · 11-22-2020, 02:14 PM

My Stay in Play doesn’t use much power in the kind of driving we usually do but I didn’t want to have to wonder about it so I installed one of these. Easy to do and no more wondering.

https://rvibrake.com/products/towed-...13115309260823

steve2777 · 11-22-2020, 03:59 PM

I also had dead battery problem with my toad, and installed wiring connecting the + and - from the motorhome's 7 pin connector to the toad's battery (with a diode on the + wire). Haven't had an opportunity to test things out yet. My question is this: won't this arrangement keep the toad's battery up WITHOUT using a separate charger that's powered by the same + and - connections? Other than the feedback info some of these toad chargers give, what are you gaining by adding the charger?

**EA37TS** · 11-22-2020, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve2777

I also had dead battery problem with my toad, and installed wiring connecting the + and - from the motorhome's 7 pin connector to the toad's battery (with a diode on the + wire). Haven't had an opportunity to test things out yet. My question is this: won't this arrangement keep the toad's battery up WITHOUT using a separate charger that's powered by the same + and - connections? Other than the feedback info some of these toad chargers give, what are you gaining by adding the charger?

A charging line running off the 7 pin serves the same purpose and if one is installed a separate charger serves to lighten the wallet with no additional benefit.

steve2777 · 11-22-2020, 04:08 PM

As I suspected. Thanks!

Down South · 11-22-2020, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve2777

I also had dead battery problem with my toad, and installed wiring connecting the + and - from the motorhome's 7 pin connector to the toad's battery (with a diode on the + wire). Haven't had an opportunity to test things out yet. My question is this: won't this arrangement keep the toad's battery up WITHOUT using a separate charger that's powered by the same + and - connections? Other than the feedback info some of these toad chargers give, what are you gaining by adding the charger?

That's a good question and one that I had asked in a roundabout way.
After doing research on this it appears that what you have is good enough.
I ran a #12 wire from the 7 pin which is the center pin on the 6 pin that plugs up to the Jeep.
I installed a 15 amp diode and a 15 amp fuse at the toad battery. I tested it and it is supplying power to the toad battery.
I'll be making a couple day road trip in a few days for a better test.

Islandsmith · 03-10-2021, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down South

That's a good question and one that I had asked in a roundabout way.
After doing research on this it appears that what you have is good enough.
I ran a #12 wire from the 7 pin which is the center pin on the 6 pin that plugs up to the Jeep.
I installed a 15 amp diode and a 15 amp fuse at the toad battery. I tested it and it is supplying power to the toad battery.
I'll be making a couple day road trip in a few days for a better test.

I tried this setup but have been unsuccessful. I show 12V at the 7pin connector on the RV and have run a 12G wire from the center pole of the 6pin connector on the toad side through a fuse to the battery. My battery keeps dying after two hours of driving.

I'm a bit stumped on how to trouble-shoot this. Is it a current issue?

abjbrtd · 03-10-2021, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Islandsmith

I tried this setup but have been unsuccessful. I show 12V at the 7pin connector on the RV and have run a 12G wire from the center pole of the 6pin connector on the toad side through a fuse to the battery. My battery keeps dying after two hours of driving.

I'm a bit stumped on how to trouble-shoot this. Is it a current issue?

A couple of questions.

Have you checked for 12v on the wire you ran, before you attached it to your battery?

Did you use a diode?

Down South · 03-10-2021, 02:26 AM

I tested my setup. With the MH running and Jeep shut down, I checked voltage at the Jeep battery. I can't remember the exact numbers but the Jeep battery voltage was climbing up over 13V.
So, I knew it was charging.

**16ACE27** · 03-10-2021, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Islandsmith

I tried this setup but have been unsuccessful. I show 12V at the 7pin connector on the RV and have run a 12G wire from the center pole of the 6pin connector on the toad side through a fuse to the battery. My battery keeps dying after two hours of driving.

I'm a bit stumped on how to trouble-shoot this. Is it a current issue?

12 volts will drag your battery down. You have to have over 13 volts from the MH while connected to the toad in order to do any charging to the toad battery.

Islandsmith · 03-10-2021, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

12 volts will drag your battery down. You have to have over 13 volts from the MH while connected to the toad in order to do any charging to the toad battery.

I should have just said "I have appropriate voltage". Just checked and I have 14.4V at the 7pin plug. I will verify that I am also getting that to the battery.

I did NOT use a diode.

IDguy · 03-10-2021, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbcassidy

If you want the toads' brake system to function, then yes, a charger is a good thing to have. On short trips, 2 - 3 hours you could get away with no charger. But, on all day trips, you will keep killing the toads' battery. This will give the toads' battery a very short life.

DBCassidy

Nonsense. My Cherokee toad does fine multiple days with brake buddy and no help from RV.

IDguy · 03-10-2021, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjoster56

Just set up a 2013 Jeep Wrangler to MH. I added the trickle charger - about $100. Thought the cost was well worth the peace of mind. Just completed coast to coast and back with no issues. (using RVi3 braking system)

Waste of money.

IDguy · 03-10-2021, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

12 volts will drag your battery down. You have to have over 13 volts from the MH while connected to the toad in order to do any charging to the toad battery.

Nonsense.

**16ACE27** · 03-10-2021, 05:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDguy

Nonsense.

Science!

Down South · 03-10-2021, 02:05 PM

12V is about 50% charge. The battery voltage for a 12V battery is 12.73V for full charge.
Your charge wire should be charging at 13V+.

abjbrtd · 03-10-2021, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IDguy

Nonsense. My Cherokee toad does fine multiple days with brake buddy and no help from RV.

what year is your Cherokee?
Our 2016 ran the battery down in a couple of hours first tow a couple years ago

A little contact cleaner in the 7way got everything (including turn/brake lights) working again

JoeDS · 03-11-2021, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Down South

I tested my setup. With the MH running and Jeep shut down, I checked voltage at the Jeep battery. I can't remember the exact numbers but the Jeep battery voltage was climbing up over 13V.
So, I knew it was charging.

You really need around 14+ volts to charge a battery. 13 volts will help but is not adequate. It is best to use a #10 (less voltage drop)wire which is normal on the 12DC connector. I would skip the Diode. The diode induces a voltage drop usually around .7 volts for a silicone diode. I have towed many trailers and 5th wheels and charged the aux battery in the trailer without the diode. The purpose of the diode is for preventing reverse current flow. You don't have a need for that in this application.

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