Four Wheel Camper Electrical Basics and Switching to Lithium!

[lonepinetech]

For comparison, I have a National Luna DC Powerpack with a 100ah Battleborn. The DCDC charger is rated at 25 amps. NL provides a 20 foot 6mm (between 5 and 6 awg) cable to run from the starter battery into the box where the DCDC lives. To which I added another 6 feet of 6awg due to my run distance. I have a Victron smart shunt on the battery and can see that it does get the full 25 amps. No heating of the cable. 4 awg would certainly be great, though heavier and more expensive. 6 awg would likely be just fine and easier to work with. Of course, depends on your setup and the distances. YMMV!

You have to make sure the plug is also rated for the increase in amps.

 

[dstefan]

You have to make sure the plug is also rated for the increase in amps.

Quite true. The NL DC pack has 50amp Anderson plugs for input and output and I use 50 amp plugs everywhere in my charging and output to the camper switchbox with the exception of the smaller 15/30/45 amp plug for direct wiring into the battery (with inline fuse and bypassing all of NL’s electrics) using ARB’s 10 awg fridge loom and locking plug so my fridge is always wired in and the power can’t be inadvertently disconnected unless I physically disconnect the wiring at the Anderson plug (which is also pinned together).

 

[Papa Whiskey]

Question on the factory bed plug from FWC - If you upgrade to 6awg from the truck battery do you need to change out the bed plug and or the male plug from the camper into the bed plug?

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Question on the factory bed plug from FWC - If you upgrade to 6awg from the truck battery do you need to change out the bed plug and or the male plug from the camper into the bed plug?

Yes, both everything needs to be sized correctly.

 

[Papa Whiskey]

Questions for you if you're still paying any attention to this thread -
1. When ugrading the wiring from the truck battery to 6awg, are you somehow upgarding the wiring in the camper itself as well?
2. Can you use the original plugs, relay and fuse for the truck from 4WC or does that all need to be upgraded too?

Thank you!

 

[Papa Whiskey]

Sorry, missed your earlier reply somehow. Only remaining question is whether or not the wiring into the camper has to be changed as well? If so, how difficult is that?

 

[Papa Whiskey]

Sorry for all the questions, I'm getting ready to wire a different truck for the camper (4WC Hawk)
If using a DCDC charger is the Blue Sea relay still needed.

This is a great thread and greatly appreciate the detailed info you've been providing.

 

[Papa Whiskey]

Getting to the point of annoying now most likely, but... What is you're recommended plug connector for the truck bed to camper connection when using the 6awg?

 

[HBMEGA]

Truck side and Camper side if you are eliminating the factory Atwood Plug on the camper side

Anderson SB 50