How to Charge Camper Battery Using 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500 Dual Battery Bank

Question:

Hi, there is so much talk about the need for a DC to DC charger for lithium house batteries. I have a 2006 Chevy HD2500 diesel with standard 2 batteries and assume a standard 145 amp alternator, 7 point cord, and one 100 ah lithium for a truck camper. Is there enough power going thru the 7 point to charge the lithium battery at all? And most importantly, would the alternator and/or wiring from it be damaged by trying to charge the lithium house battery? If the 7 point only provides a trickle charge, what do you recommend to add to charge the house lithium while driving? I have not changed out the WFCO WF-8725-P power center in the truck camper or installed the lithium battery yet. Portable solar panels will be used while parked. Thank you in advance for your time.

asked by: Sandra M

Expert Reply:

The 7-Way 12V power only provides a trickle charge to the tow vehicle battery. This is due to the distance between the truck battery bank and the camper battery bank. In order to charge your camper battery bank you need a "booster/maintainer" that is able to get the charge to where it needs to be to properly charge your camper battery, and for this I like to recommend the Redarc BCDC:

- 25 Amp Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger # 331-BCDC1225D
- Trailer Installation Kit # e79ZR

The BCDC will grab enough charge from your truck battery bank and then monitor and adjust the charge as-needed to get your camper battery to where it needs to be. This also has a connection for solar power and can pull power from the solar system and the truck battery during transit. The installation kit comes with the necessary fuses and wiring connections to handle the higher power being pushed through the wiring.

expert reply by: Jon G