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Cruiser
Posts: 232
| Ok here goes, WE pull a camper trailer with the vision can we put a battery in the camper and have it charging with the system on the bike as we are going down the road? |
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Tourer
Posts: 416
Prairie City, IA United States | You pose an interesting question. I would think you could as long as your load didn't exceed the alternator capacity. You probably would want to use an isolator block so you don't drain your main battery when sitting. You might go out to the Delphi forum for trailers and ask this question. They might have a lot more experience on this topic. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | thats a very interesting question i will be following this thread! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 232
| lstayner - 2012-05-14 12:57 PM
You pose an interesting question. I would think you could as long as your load didn't exceed the alternator capacity. You probably would want to use an isolator block so you don't drain your main battery when sitting. You might go out to the Delphi forum for trailers and ask this question. They might have a lot more experience on this topic.What is this Delphi you speak of? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| Why not put a 40-60 watt solar panel on the camper?
The problem I see is load. You need to install something to limit the load put on the Vision's charging system, are you may very well overload the Visions charging system.
The Vision Stator isn't the largest, and although Victory did upsize the stators for the touring bikes, its still pretty small.
It would be easier to just make the trailers electrical 12V goodies independent from the Visions.
I also just bought a camper trailer. I am getting ready to restore it and am considering power options. Right now, leaving heavily toward solar. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 232
| Kelvininin - 2012-05-14 1:58 PM
Why not put a 40-60 watt solar panel on the camper?
The problem I see is load. You need to install something to limit the load put on the Vision's charging system, are you may very well overload the Visions charging system.
The Vision Stator isn't the largest, and although Victory did upsize the stators for the touring bikes, its still pretty small.
It would be easier to just make the trailers electrical 12V goodies independent from the Visions.
I also just bought a camper trailer. I am getting ready to restore it and am considering power options. Right now, leaving heavily toward solar.Thought of that but dismissed it ,the weight, the cost,the upkeep and the panel are to easy to break from rocks and debris going down the road. Have solar in warehouse to keep things charged but it not moving. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 232
| What would the difference be between hooking up another battery or plugging something up in the trunk to be charged? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 249
Phenix City AL. | I am almost done with my camper, its a kompact kamp, I did some mods waiting for my trailer luggage rack to get back from powder coat. Any way I am going to hook up my isolator, I am going to run the tail and break lights together, so I can use a 4 pin set up, I have the tail light and break lights wired together at the lights, so I have a ground, LH signal, RH signal, and run/ break, the question is, do I tie the run and break together comming out of the isiolator? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| TRELL - 2012-05-14 1:18 PM
What would the difference be between hooking up another battery or plugging something up in the trunk to be charged?
There is a big difference between a cell phone and a second battery. If you let it, a second battery will pull a lot of power. The Visions charging system was setup for one battery. Most likely, a majority of time it won't matter. But if you get into a situation where both batteries are low and pulling full power, you will overload the charging system. IF you're lucky, nothing will happen or you will just blow a fues, unlucky you may cook your voltage regulator or burn up your stator.
The solar setups I was looking it were easily out weighed by the battery, as far as damage is concerned, I was going to point it on top of my camper facing up, so damage should be minimal. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| What do you want to power in the camper that would need a separate battery? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 935
Rockford, IL | Consider a small quite generator? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 763
Anderson, IN (48mi NE of downtown Indianapolis) | I have a Honda Super Quiet generator. One of the best purchases I ever made. Extremely quiet, very fuel efficient, compact and powers anything I need. I own a EU3000iS and regularly rent an EU1000i. I used the 3000 watt one to run AC in an RV. I don't have the RV anymore so I rarely use the bigger generator. I rent the 1000 watt size most of the time now. I will probably sell the bigger one and buy an EU1000i. Both are very quiet, but the 1000 is remarkable for its size. No one even knows I have a generator running in the camp it is so quiet (1000 or 3000). The crickets are louder. I run the 1000 for 8 hrs on a constant 400 watt load on a half gallon of gas. It is light and has a handy carrying handle on top.
This type of generator is way less fuss than battery charging. Plus it allows the use of many other electrical items that a battery will not run. If you decide to go the route of EU1000i, you will not be dissappointed.
http://powerequipment.honda.com/generators/recreational-generators
Edited by victoryvisiontour 2012-05-15 10:30 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 208
Wichita, Kansas | Presuming that you don't need serious battery recharge and that it's a small (not a full size car) battery, then the Vision could pull light charge on it while running. You would probably be safe at 4 or 5 amps, but any more would require a REAL load analysis. You could possibly double that while parked with EVERYTHING turned off except the trailer. One of the biggest limitations is that the lights are always on pulling 10 - 15 amps, plus the load on the ECU, the engine and other essential electronics.
There is a design for a limiter that would protect the main system at that level on this web site. If you plan on putting heavier loads on it, go with the generator. Do all you can in the camper to lighten the load, such as converting all lighting to LEDs, etc.
http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk/ronj/add-on.html
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| KansasGuardsman - 2012-05-15 8:31 AM
You could possibly double that while parked with EVERYTHING turned off except the trailer. One of the biggest limitations is that the lights are always on pulling 10 - 15 amps, plus the load on the ECU, the engine and other essential electronics.
There is a design for a limiter that would protect the main system at that level on this web site. If you plan on putting heavier loads on it, go with the generator. Do all you can in the camper to lighten the load, such as converting all lighting to LEDs, etc.
http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk/ronj/add-on.html
The Vision's Stator barely produces enough power to run the on board electronics and lights at idle, yet alone charge its own battery. In fact extended periods of idle may even drain the battery. I suppose if you could shut everything off, lights and all, at idle you might produce enough juice to slowly recharge a battery. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773
Pittsburgh, PA | Kelvininin - 2012-05-15 12:28 PM
KansasGuardsman - 2012-05-15 8:31 AM
You could possibly double that while parked with EVERYTHING turned off except the trailer. One of the biggest limitations is that the lights are always on pulling 10 - 15 amps, plus the load on the ECU, the engine and other essential electronics.
There is a design for a limiter that would protect the main system at that level on this web site. If you plan on putting heavier loads on it, go with the generator. Do all you can in the camper to lighten the load, such as converting all lighting to LEDs, etc.
http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk/ronj/add-on.html
The Vision's Stator barely produces enough power to run the on board electronics and lights at idle, yet alone charge its own battery. In fact extended periods of idle may even drain the battery. I suppose if you could shut everything off, lights and all, at idle you might produce enough juice to slowly recharge a battery.
thats true ONLY on early model visions... the later ones 2011- (im not sure about 2010) they give full charge off of idle now. =) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 188
| Arkainzeye - 2012-05-15 1:00 PM
Kelvininin - 2012-05-15 12:28 PM
KansasGuardsman - 2012-05-15 8:31 AM
You could possibly double that while parked with EVERYTHING turned off except the trailer. One of the biggest limitations is that the lights are always on pulling 10 - 15 amps, plus the load on the ECU, the engine and other essential electronics.
There is a design for a limiter that would protect the main system at that level on this web site. If you plan on putting heavier loads on it, go with the generator. Do all you can in the camper to lighten the load, such as converting all lighting to LEDs, etc.
http://www.zen22142.zen.co.uk/ronj/add-on.html
The Vision's Stator barely produces enough power to run the on board electronics and lights at idle, yet alone charge its own battery. In fact extended periods of idle may even drain the battery. I suppose if you could shut everything off, lights and all, at idle you might produce enough juice to slowly recharge a battery.
thats true ONLY on early model visions... the later ones 2011- (im not sure about 2010) they give full charge off of idle now. =)
Are you sure? How did they pull that off? Bigger stator? This isn't unique to Victory, many over the road products suffer the same fate due to low idle RPMs
Edited by Kelvininin 2012-05-16 11:55 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | He asked about having it charge while going down the road, not at idle. Why is everyone concerned about what the alternator will do at idle?
My thought is that since my bike easily handles two complete sets of heated riding gear (296 watts total) along with heated seats and heated grips, along with all the lights the bike came with, that it could handle charging another small battery while going down the road if the other loads were turned off or limited. My heated gear pulls 20 amps nominally, but is cycled on/off with controllers. Even at a 50% duty cycle, it's still drawing 10 amps.
I say try it and see. I think it would work. Once the battery is charged, it won't be pulling anything from the alternator anyway.
Ronnie |
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Cruiser
Posts: 232
| We only use the battery in the camper for lights and small app. after we set up and disconnected from bike . |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Now I don't know much about electric but if run jumper wires from your bike battery to your trailer battery and then put a meter on the bike battery and then putt the meter on the trailer battery and see what you get. Now after a few minuets both should read the same. The trailer battery can be low like as if you used it. Keep in mind your going to have to find out what size wire to use to carry the electric.
Why not check out a goldwing site for guys that pull a trailer. Even stop by a battery store and see if they can give you information. |
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Tourer
Posts: 401
| rdbudd - 2012-05-16 12:10 PM
He asked about having it charge while going down the road, not at idle. Why is everyone concerned about what the alternator will do at idle?
My thought is that since my bike easily handles two complete sets of heated riding gear (296 watts total) along with heated seats and heated grips, along with all the lights the bike came with, that it could handle charging another small battery while going down the road if the other loads were turned off or limited. My heated gear pulls 20 amps nominally, but is cycled on/off with controllers. Even at a 50% duty cycle, it's still drawing 10 amps.
I say try it and see. I think it would work. Once the battery is charged, it won't be pulling anything from the alternator anyway.
Ronnie
Agreed, but I would add that you limit the charging rate to 5 amps, and don't get a HUGE battery. I also would keep the trailer battery and the system that would use it separate from the tail lights. Tap into one of the accessory lines that are shut off with the ignition, and run a line to the charger/battery on the trailer (splitting it with a connector).
If you use the same connectors that "Batterytenders" use you will be able to use their charger when you have access to power, and you can also use the new solar panel they are about to release (http://batterytender.com/solar.html). This will give you 3 different options to charge your trailer. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1632
Jasper, MO | Good points Steven.
If I were going to do it, I would install a switch somewhere, maybe in the blank slot in the console. I would have this switch wired to a source controlled by the ignition key so it wouldn't receive power when the bike is off. I would use the new switch to control a relay that would be wired directly to the bike's battery via an inline fuse. Run a wire from the relay to the trailer hitch. The idea is to be able to turn the charging circuit on and off at will, but make it so that you can't accidentally leave it on when the bike isn't running. Wiring to the battery via a relay eliminates putting any load on any of the bike's existing circuitry. In effect, you would have a switched jumper cable to the trailer battery. When your voltmeter indicates your bike battery is recharged after starting, flip the switch and charge your trailer battery. If you have to stop and idle, turn the charge circuit off.
Ronnie |
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Question on electric on trailer