Recommended Trailer Battery Charge for 2016 Ram 2500 Turbo Diesel

Updated 02/28/2018 | Published 02/27/2018

Products Featured in This Question

Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger - Dual Input - DC to DC - 12V/24V - 25 Amp

(88)

$484.59

10 Gauge Wire - Blue Primary - Per Foot

(108)

$1.61

40 Amp In-Line Circuit Breaker - Perpendicular Mount Bracket

(98)

$9.89

Question:

Is the 30 amp trailer recepticle fuse the fuse for the battery feed? Trying to figure out what level of voltage/amparage I can expect to trailer for charging the trailer or powering inverter while driving. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

asked by: Zak

Expert Reply:

The trailer receptacle fuse is most likely the 12V Aux power that is sent to your trailer connection. What you will have if you use the manufacturer 12V connection for charging is a very small amperage when driving. The amperage sent to your trailer battery will only be what is not used by your vehicle when running. This is typically only about 2-4 amps generated from your alternator that is not consumed by your tow vehicle.

To increase this, you can run a wire # 10-1-1 from your battery, through a 40 amp circuit breaker # 9510, and to that 1 o'clock position on your vehicle side 7-way. This will allow about 15 amps max to be fed to your trailer battery which will give it a trickle charge or maintenance charge. That amperage will not charge a depleted battery and will limit the charge to 80%.

If you want to charge your battery as you drive, I recommend the Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger # 331-BCDC1225D. This will boost that amperage to 25 amps and give you the ability to charge and maintain your trailer battery and will give you the ability to charge your battery to 100%. I've attached a video to further assist.

Let me know if you have more questions.

expert reply by: Jason S