Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Battery Chargers?

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Richter, Dec 2, 2013.

  1. Dec 2, 2013 #1
    Richter

    Richter Road Train Member

    4,090
    1,700
    Feb 13, 2012
    Philadelphia Pa
    0
    Hi,

    I now have A/C every night, but things like my lights, fridge etc all drain batts still. Are there any small light weight easy to use chargers that i could use to keep batts topped off when on A/C? Could I wire a cigaret lighter plug on an old laptop charger and back feed the cigaret lighter? I don't need to charge fast, i just want to keep up with the drain. What DC voltage is ideal for chargeing?

    I was thinking a 100 watt laptop charger at 14 volts could be wired to back feed the cigaret lighter at around 7 amps. Not enough to really charge, but enough to keep up with demand. Would that damage anything as long as i kept it under 15 amps or would i have to connect direct to batts?
     
    Richter, Dec 2, 2013
    Richter, Dec 2, 2013
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Dec 2, 2013 #2
    Cetane+

    Cetane+ Road Train Member

    1,304
    882
    Sep 29, 2013
    Albany, NY
    0
    Please dont try to back feed anything. Look for a small 12V charger at Tractor supply or napa (if you ask to use the AITA national account you can get 40%-50% off list) that may fit in your battery box with the plug accessible from the inside. Do you need the fridge on when its cold like it is?

    This is an example, not the best charger on the planet, just for discussion. http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/schumacher-automatic-traditional-charger-with-engine-start-12v It will put out 10A constant, and is automatic so it wont over charge your batts.
     
    Cetane+, Dec 2, 2013
    Cetane+, Dec 2, 2013
    #2
  4. Dec 2, 2013 #3
    leftlanetruckin

    leftlanetruckin Road Train Member

    3,607
    3,163
    Mar 12, 2009
    Mo Via Blackpool,Lancs.
    0
    I run a generator, and use a Sears 50/10/2 amp auto charger when using the generator.
    Make 100% sure to NOT run the truck with the charger connected. Cost me 2 chargers before I figured out that chargers don't like 160 amps going INTO them!

    Martin
     
    leftlanetruckin, Dec 2, 2013
    leftlanetruckin, Dec 2, 2013
    #3
    fortycalglock Thanks this.
  5. Dec 3, 2013 #4
    snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    20,591
    13,309
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    i have the harborfreight auto charger. with cheap generator.

    you can't charge a battery while it's draining. things burn out.

    i had a 400 watt invertor plug. plugged into a socket connected to the batteries. and a charger plugged into invertor. set for 2 amps. the charger hummed. and when i came back in the morning. it wasn't working. that was a company dump truck i got tired of jumping every COLD morning. years back.
     
    snowwy, Dec 3, 2013
    snowwy, Dec 3, 2013
    #4
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.