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Old 03-18-2007, 11:09 AM   #1
markwick
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Battery charging from Chevy Silverado

I have a 2005 2500 Chevy Silverado with the heavy duty towing package. As we have been doing some dry camping lately, the Monty's batteries don't seem to be charging as we are traveling down the highway. When I am plugged in the battery does not show 'charging' on the inside monitor panel.
Do I have to do something under the hood? eg hook up to an isolator and the alternator - Any ideas,
 
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Old 03-18-2007, 11:57 AM   #2
ashlandcpa
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Some other postings have mentioned a fuse not installed from the factory in the truck fuse panel. Only a thought. Good luck.
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Old 03-18-2007, 01:55 PM   #3
flstf
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Open the hood - as you look at the engine on the right side you see the fuse box on the right near the hinge. Pop the cover and make sure there is a "real" fuse on stud A....not a green plastic block. GM provided the fuse with your brake controller wiring harness and details this in the owners manual. This circuit provides the 12 volts to charge trailer batteries.
take care,
Joe
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Old 03-18-2007, 02:24 PM   #4
Cat320
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by flstf

Open the hood - as you look at the engine on the right side you see the fuse box on the right near the hinge. Pop the cover and make sure there is a "real" fuse on stud A....not a green plastic block. GM provided the fuse with your brake controller wiring harness and details this in the owners manual. This circuit provides the 12 volts to charge trailer batteries.
take care,
Joe
Just to clarify, the fuse box is against the fender, driver's side. You stand in front of the left front tire, facing the engine, to access it.
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Old 03-19-2007, 03:51 AM   #5
Bill and Ann
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Make sure you use at least a 40 amp. fuse as a 30 amp will blow.
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Old 03-20-2007, 02:12 PM   #6
Cat320
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Bill and Ann

Make sure you use at least a 40 amp. fuse as a 30 amp will blow.
Right...mine came with a 40 amp fuse. It has blown once...trying to use the landing gear on the Montana without the battery installed. Put in a new fuse, tried again and worked okay...go figure.
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Old 03-26-2007, 10:17 AM   #7
markwick
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Thanks everyone. I looked in the fuse box and lo and behold there was a blank fuse in position 1 - I put a 40 amp in there and hooked up the montana but the battery monitor still does not show 'Battery Charging'
I am still in the resort and will be able to check for sure next week when I leave Palm Springs and head back to BC. I will be overnighting at a casino 1st night out so should be able to see the next day if battery is charging.
When I picked up my Silverado no-one told me about the extra fuse required. Does Chevrolet 'hide' it somewhere??
Again thanks for all the replies. What a great site with with tons of knowledge and experience.
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Old 03-26-2007, 12:04 PM   #8
Cat320
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The fuse comes wrapped up with the wire bundle that comes as part of the tow package...nobody knows why they don't just put it in! What monitor shows that the battery is not being charged? I don't think I have anything like that in either the truck or the trailer.
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Old 03-26-2007, 05:01 PM   #9
dsprik
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Do you have an add-on charging meter? Our inside monitors are just LED lights on our tank sensor panel... As Bert mentioned, we would never be able to tell if the Montana battery is currently being charged just by that monitor.
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Old 03-26-2007, 05:58 PM   #10
jhamlin164
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Hi Guys,

Does the 2006 F-350 have this "battery-charging feature" built into it's Tow-Boss package? I was just wondering if I needed to check for the presence of a fuse the way it has been described for the Chevy Silverado.........

Thanks,
Jerry
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Old 03-27-2007, 02:13 AM   #11
Bill and Ann
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Other than the monitor in the coach I don't know of any other monitor to show if battery is charging. One way to tell is put a test light on the plug at the back of the truck and see if it is live when the truck isn't running. The battery charging pin will be live.
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Old 03-27-2007, 04:36 AM   #12
sreigle
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jhamlin164

Hi Guys,

Does the 2006 F-350 have this "battery-charging feature" built into it's Tow-Boss package? I was just wondering if I needed to check for the presence of a fuse the way it has been described for the Chevy Silverado.........

Thanks,
Jerry
If you have the tow package then it charges the battery when the engine is running. Your Ford has the fuse already installed. It is strange GM provides the fuse but doesn't install it. There must be a reason. But I don't know what it is.
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Old 03-27-2007, 05:12 AM   #13
Connorsmom
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What about the Ram's? Do I have a fuse for that also, or does Dodge do something else? Any feedback would sure be appreciated!

Jan
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Old 03-27-2007, 10:56 AM   #14
markwick
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I'm just checking it at the inside monitor panel. When I am hooked into shore power all 4 LED's are lit. The top LED is on when charging - the other 3 LED's are, Full, Fair and low. - I do have a hand held meter so will check at the truck outlet to see if 12v is there,
Again - thanks for all your info and advice
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Old 03-27-2007, 11:52 AM   #15
c5racer
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Jan, you should have a fuse under the hood for your Dodge in the Fuse and Relay Center. It should be on the drivers side, take the cover off and on the underside it will tell you what each fuse is for.
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Old 03-27-2007, 12:53 PM   #16
dsprik
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What??? So the top LED only indicates whether or not the onboard battery(ies) are being charged??? Learn something new almost every day! Don't tell my wife... she thinks I already know everything...



*On Edit~ Sure enough, Markwick is right. And everyone else says, "Yes, Dave, we all knew that..."

My concern is that I have my Interstate 75 amp hr battery that my dealer gave me. It has done a great job to date. However, when I was fooling around with this panel just now, I shut off my converter breaker to watch this. I noticed that my gauge dropped from "G" (Good?) to "F" (Fair?) in less than 30 sec. I had my kitchen ceiling lights on and both sets of my BR ceiling lights on. That's it.

It did stay there for the next 5 minutes - then I switched the converter back on.

My question is: Is that normal for that to drop that fast to "F"??? I know these gauges are far from "top-of-the -line" technological wonders (I think?), but that made me a little nervous. I check my water in the battery regularly.

We have been living in this FT since last July. How long can this battery last being charged every day?
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Old 03-27-2007, 02:05 PM   #17
sreigle
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Ya know, I didn't know that either. C G F L. I never saw that before. We've been hooked up to 110v for almost two weeks so mine is showing G with the C not lit. Thanks for the tip.
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Old 03-27-2007, 03:18 PM   #18
jhamlin164
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sreigle,

Hey, thank you guys so much! This forum is such a blessing to everyone! As I continue to actively pursue this fairly new hobby of ours, I sincerely hope that I can be a blessing to others the way you guys have been to me

With Warm Regards,

Jerry
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Old 03-27-2007, 04:56 PM   #19
Bill and Lisa
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Wait a minute....up until Sunday I was on board with the "C" meaning charging but not any more.....

I was checking out my Silverado and using a multi meter I was recently given I could not get a reading on the pins in the bargman with the engine off or running. I figured once I broke camp, before I pulled away I would be ready to roll and jump out, go inside and see if the "C" light was light when I was only connected to the truck. Then I would start the engine and see if it made a difference. Well for some reason, maybe the scientist in me I decided I should note the "beginning" state before plugging in the trailer in case there was a change induced just plugging it in with the engine off.
So there I was, disconnected from CG power, AND not plugged into the truck yet but when I went inside all four lights read lite when I pushed the battery button....So much for my theory of "C" being lit indicating the battery was being charged. I just picked up the 40AMP fuse to put in the post 1 position tongiht and will test soon with a multimeter to see if I now can charge from the truck and if there is an isolator when the truck is off. My Chevy dealer says there is but he will not be the one with a dead battery if he is misinformed.

Bill
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Old 03-27-2007, 05:19 PM   #20
sreigle
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Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Bill, the truck is providing 12v to the converter in your Montana. That converter contains the actual battery charger. It will send juice to charge the battery only if the battery needs charging. If the battery is full, or full to some predetermined level, then it's not going to charge the battery because it doesn't need charging. If it's not charging, the light should not be lit. Right so far?

I would think if you'd maybe disconnect from 110v the night before, then maybe you'd see it charging? I have never checked this out since I didn't know about the C light so I'm just speculating here.
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