Charging Batteries Via Anderson Plug

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aus86inch

Why do you need a battery charger if you have a traxide system? I have a traxide with sc80 but was under the impression that the alternator did the charging of both batteries😕

---

It does.
I use a charger to top mine up as I dont do alot of KM,many others do too.
Just turned 22000km today for a aug 2014 delivered vehicle.
Andrew

Also handy if your on a two week bush trip with no solar panels but you know you will have a couple of stops where you have access to power. You can plug your charger in and give both batteries a good top up over night if you havn't done a lot of driving.

And also if you do too many short drives in the city like me. My battery has been good so far and helped by the Traxide but I'm taking the advice regarding getting some regular time fully charged to float mode overnight.

Scott

Is it possible to plug a solar panel I nto anderson plug to charge the batteries? If so what size and type would i need? Sorry about all the questions😊

Hi aus and yes you can plug a solar panel into the Anderson plug at the rear and you will charge both batteries, PROVIDING the SC80 is still cut-in ( batteries are still above 12.0v )

For maintaining the batteries, you can use up to a10w solar panel with out a solar regulator, but anything above a 10w solar panel must have a solar regulator or you will cook the batteries.

Regards, Tim Sanderson, Traxide-RV

Thanks Tim,, I'm in the process now of putting a flexible 10w panel permanently on the roof. At a total cost of around $70 bucks its cheap insurance.

How have you guys modified your Ctek's? It would be handy to have both an anderson and 7pin connector option straight onto the Ctek 'comfort connectors'.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ben_Vapid

It would be handy to have both an anderson and 7pin connector option straight onto the Ctek 'comfort connectors'.

---

I've just made an adapter over Easter, 12S to Ctek.
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...016/06/721.jpg
I had a Ctek cord with eyelets and simply cut off the eyelets.
You can buy similar ones from Disco3 or Ebay.

I also have a Ctek cord with alligator clamps.
That will be converted to an Anderson plug version soon.

And I have one permanently under the bonnet:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...2016/03/47.jpg


I guess the new ones for the rear would be useful if the vehicle was so flat I couldn't open doors to pop bonnet. Or if there was some other reason that bonnet opening was inconvenient.
But I'm mainly just aiming for flexibility of options.

Cheers,
Scott

You can buy the C-Tek connectors at Ashdown Ingram. ;)

I haven't bothered with an adapter to the 12S socket, but I have modified both my C-Tek and portable 80W solar panel output cables so that I can connect either direct to battery using alligator clips, or plug into Anderson plug at the back of the vehicle.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...2016/03/35.jpg https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...2016/03/36.jpg

I have a Traxide system with three batteries in the vehicle, and I charge them all through the Anderson plug, either with the C-Tek when I'm at home, or with the solar panel when on camping trips.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi Scott, because the auxiliary battery is an optima, you can use either the AGM or Calcium setting because the Optima will tolerate 15.1v while charging.

NOTE, this is assuming your cranking battery is NOT an AGM.

---

Hi Tim, for this to happen (i.e. charge both batteries through the rear mounted Anderson plug) does the in Cab Control Module need to have a particular switch position? FWIW mine is pointing to the LED.

I am following another thread on main cranking battery charging etc. - because I think its low/labouring when staring... but no warnings at all.

PS I lost the email you sent me on the position settings... can I PM you and get re sent? or is it on line?