 | Home > Maintenance & Modifications > Power to a camping trailer |
 
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| d j hutton Member Since: 30 Jul 2009 Location: Dorset Posts: 1044   
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Why not just use the power via the normal trailer connector? I have a 110hr battery in the tin tent that charges that way no problem. I think you might need a 12 pin socket for that though (although not an expert
 ) easily fitted to existing wiring by the looks of it . I got someone to fit that for me but there are a few posts on here about the conversion. - kits available to do it.
Dj 1989 200tdi 90 csw 2011 110 usw Orkney grey Buy British 🇬🇧 Defender Clothing Designs available at http://www.rangesports.com/acatalog/Defender-Stuff.html |
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13th May 2013 12:02am |
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| BigRuss Member Since: 15 May 2010 Location: Norfolk Posts: 2785  
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anderson connectors? Russell
2011MY 110 XS USW Black |
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13th May 2013 2:21am |
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| Splitpin Member Since: 07 May 2013 Location: Midlands Posts: 100
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If it was me I would use the standard caravan charge output.
I personally like to charge a slow rates and a thin long supply cable will regulate this well. I would add some solar panels on the top of the trailer if possible as on a good day they work very well, but for me the key thing is, even if the trailer is left unused for sometime the battery will be topped up and it will last longer if kept in that condition. |
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13th May 2013 6:38am |
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| jasong4110 Member Since: 18 Oct 2009 Location: Henley On Thames Posts: 268 
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When I built my trailor I used a 12s charger it also had the advantage of giving me a reverse light. The genuine 12 s kits are available on eBay for around 50 .
http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=49598 I fitted the electrics from a caravan and boat and kept it all 12v except fo a 800w inverter, I find this wastes less energy as you are not converting things both ways. I also added a 240v hookup with a caravan charger/power supply when we are at home on a camp site this allows us to charge the batteries prior to our trips and run the fridge up to temp without having to worry about battery drain. Jason |
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13th May 2013 6:59am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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Another vote for using a standard caravan charging set-up - either 7 pin 12s or later 13 pin socket. Even the Desert Wolf trailer that I used to have, with two 110amp batteries on board, worked perfectly like this. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia Last edited by LandRoverAnorak on 13th May 2013 3:23pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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13th May 2013 7:23am |
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| ericvv Member Since: 02 Jun 2011 Location: Near the Jet d'Eau Posts: 5816  
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I just added a 12S 7-pin socket in addition to the standard 12N 7-pin trailer socket. The 12S gives permanent connection to the truck's battery, and also gives the flexibility to easily connect a Ctek charger to the main battery without having to take out the seat bottom. If you use the site's search engine with "Ctek" you will get a recent started thread about this with pictures of how it all looks in the back.
 You never actually own a Defender. You merely look after it for the next generation.
http://youtu.be/yVRlSsJwD0o https://youtu.be/vmPr3oTHndg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GtzTT9Pdl0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABqKPz28e6A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLZ49Jce_n0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvAsz_ilQYU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8tMHiX9lSw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dxwjPuHIV7I https://vimeo.com/201482507 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSixqL0iyHw |
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13th May 2013 1:47pm |
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| pjh Member Since: 22 Nov 2010 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 126
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Thanks everyone!
Eric that's a very neat solution. My problem is that I installed a standard 12N socket in the cross-member recess and then had an additional fuel tank installed in the rear wing, so access to the connectors is very difficult if not impossible. Otherwise I probably would go down the 12S (auxiliary) socket route. I might install a higher rated feed with a voltage sensitive relay in the trailer - I don't want to drain the truck battery when on the Santander ferry! Anyone know how the purpose built off-road trailers solve this problem - esp those with fridge/freezers? Many thanks, Peter Defender 11MY USW |
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15th May 2013 4:41pm |
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| chopcat Member Since: 11 Sep 2012 Location: Pembrokeshire Posts: 412  
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run cables from a relay (use the winch relay if you have one) to the rear and make it switchable both on an ignition feed and switch.
That way you can never leave them connected with the engine off and you can select when to join if you have low battery on the truck when starting off. You dont need fancy voltage sensitive controllers. Take all that to an anderson plug at the back and off you go. Time for coffee! CC [URL=]  Click image to enlarge[/URL] Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  |
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15th May 2013 5:14pm |
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| pjh Member Since: 22 Nov 2010 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 126
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Chopcat, thanks for the advice, much appreciated.
That's a very nice set-up. Just don't let Kiwi Girl see that!! 
All the best, Peter Defender 11MY USW |
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15th May 2013 5:34pm |
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| K9F Member Since: 12 Nov 2009 Location: Bournemouth Posts: 9610 
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I work on Condor Ferries and anyone in that position with an auxillary single phase 230v/32amp (blue) or indeed in some cases 3 phase 415v/63amp (red) connector can request to be connected to the vessel's 'Reefer Supply' with a trailing lead supplied by the vessel thereby still run everything whilst under sail. If you go through life with your head in the sand....all people will see is an ar5e!! Treat every day as if it is your last....one day you will be right!! |
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15th May 2013 5:54pm |
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| pjh Member Since: 22 Nov 2010 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 126
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K9F - many thanks, I'd no idea that was possible
All the best, Peter Defender 11MY USW |
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17th May 2013 11:37am |
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| udderlyoffroad Member Since: 18 Jul 2011 Location: Bristol Posts: 124
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In your position I'd think seriously about replacing the 12n socket in your rear cross-member with a the new 13-pin style connection. When wired properly this will power your aux batteries with the ignition on and not flatten your main battery whilst on the ferry.
In addition, the 13-pin style connection is, iMHO, an improvement on the previous 12N/S sockets with better mechanical lock. What I would definitely NOT do is run an Anderson connector wired permanently to the trailer. Although the design of the Anderson is good, is not designed for permanent connection in an exposed environment and I would worry about a dunking shorting the connection out (even with a protective boot+front cover). Real trucks don't have spark plugs |
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17th May 2013 10:06pm |
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| me@td5.org Member Since: 16 Jan 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 856 
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If it's dry I will be fitting my 13pin socket although I haven't picked up a voltage sensitive relay yet so the ignition on feed will have to wait. The permanent live and reverse wires are already on the standard plug.
I'm hoping to re-use the original cable from the sankey with a new 13pin plug. www.td5.org |
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18th May 2013 9:58pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I've done this twice now with a 13 pin plug. On my first Wide Track I grafted the plug onto the end of the existing cable, which was a bit of a challenge frankly, due to the thickness of the cable. I made it work by cutting off all of the really unnecessary wires to just get the lights working.
On my current Wide Track I've taken a different approach and created a junction box that's bolted to the A frame, using the mountings for the original plug 'keep'. This makes it much easier to sort out the wiring conversion and allows a more sensible cable size to be used with the new 13 pin plug. Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Eventually, i'll be re-wiring my trailer anyway, as I plan to change the lights and add some camping-orientated extras. These will make full use of the 13 pin plug in the same way that a caravan does. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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19th May 2013 8:44am |
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