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Charles Coushaine, Punta Gorda, Florida
RV Emergency Electrical Hookup – Boondocking Backup Plan!
2022 Ford F-550
2012 Chalet DS116RB
I installed a new SAE electrical connector to the outside of my camper to allow access to the camper batteries in emergency situations, especially when boondocking where you may be camping all by yourself in a deserted area.
This not only allows for connecting the camper to truck batteries together but also allows for putting your camper jacks up in an emergency.
The ability to combine my camper house batteries with my truck batteries has been needed several times in my boondocking adventures. Once a dome light was left on in the truck and the batteries died enough that I needed a jump to start the truck.
Another time our camper house batteries were drawn down after several days of rain, enough so that the low voltage did not allow my Onan generator to latch on. In both situations having the ability to combine batteries would have gotten us out of our predicament.
Since my battery compartment is under the cabover, and not accessible when the camper is on the truck, I needed to provide an external hookup to the camper batteries when they are hooked together.
To achieve this, I first drilled a hole through the battery door and fitted a female SAE 10 AWG connector with leads that connected to the batteries.
This provided the external power connection that was needed.
Next, I constructed a 30-foot extension cable by attaching an SAE 10 AWG connector to each end of the cable using solder and shrink wrap for robustness. This completes the build of the necessary components to make this mod ready for testing.
The usefulness of this mod is varied and very beneficial as noted below:
1. I can hook up the 30 foot cable from the camper to the truck if the truck batteries are low on power. They can also benefit from the camper solar power charging the truck batteries as well.
2. I can hook up the 30 foot cable from the camper to the truck if the camper batteries are low to allow the generator to start and latch on, or to enable my slides to go in–always a worry.
3. I can run the 30 foot cable to each of the Rieco-Titan jack motors if the controller is having any problems thus eliminating the need to hand ratchet them up or down.
All these benefits make this camper mod one that has been long overdue.
The purpose is to have a fallback plan for boondocking situations where you are very isolated and need to fix a bad power situation. It is not to jump a fully dead battery since the cable is not heavy enough. Instead, it supplies just enough power by combining all batteries to get you on your way. Highly recommended!
Materials Used:
SAE Polarity Reverse Adapter Connectors
10 AWG SAE Power Socket Sidewall Port
5-Pack 12″ 10 Gauge 2 Pin Quick Disconnect
10 Gauge Wire SAE to Alligator Clips
10 AWG 10/2 Gauge Electrical Wire 30 feet
GE Silicone II Sealant, 2.8 oz Tube, White
Solder Seal Wire Connectors – Heat Shrink Solder Butt Connectors – Yellow 12-10 AWG
It took me eight hours to complete this modification and cost me $120. In my opinion, the skill level of this modification is medium.
Disclaimer: The modifications above are submitted by Truck Camper Magazine readers. It is your responsibility to make sure that any do-it-yourself modification project you undertake is safe, effective, and legal for your situation.
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