DC-DC Charger Connections???

[emesel]

I have a 2019 Lariat with a Victron Orion XS DC-DC charger to charge my trailer batteries. I initially connected the XS to the 7-pin charge wire, but although I have measured up to 20 amps on the charge wire, most of the time it's much less; maybe only a few amps (as many said it would be).

So, now I plan to run cables from the battery back to the rear bumper using Anderson connectors between truck and trailer. I know the positive connection goes directly to the battery and the negative to body/chassis ground. My question is, are the points shown in the attached photo correct for where to actually connect the cables? If anybody has photos of their connections, that would be helpful. I plan to use 6 gauge cable and limit charge to 20 - 25 amps.

Also, if you could share which Anderson connector you used, that would also be helpful. I'd like to use a bulkhead connector; seems like this would make for a simple, neat installation.

Thanks in advance, Mark

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[RangerBill]

I have a 2019 Lariat with a Victron Orion XS DC-DC charger to charge my trailer batteries. I initially connected the XS to the 7-pin charge wire, but although I have measured up to 20 amps on the charge wire, most of the time it's much less; maybe only a few amps (as many said it would be).

So, now I plan to run cables from the battery back to the rear bumper using Anderson connectors between truck and trailer. I know the positive connection goes directly to the battery and the negative to body/chassis ground. My question is, are the points shown in the attached photo correct for where to actually connect the cables? If anybody has photos of their connections, that would be helpful. I plan to use 6 gauge cable and limit charge to 20 - 25 amps.

Also, if you could share which Anderson connector you used, that would also be helpful. I'd like to use a bulkhead connector; seems like this would make for a simple, neat installation.

Thanks in advance, Mark

The battery charging wire in the 7-pin trailer connector is fused at 30 amps (F73 in the BJB) and uses a #10 wire at the 7-pin connector. It starts out at a #6 and ends up as a #10. I would use the right battery + connection as shown in your picture (make sure that it is fused near the battery). The negative lead can go where you show it or use a chassis bolt near the rear of the truck.

The factory 7-pin trailer connector (pin 5) seems to me to be adequate to supply your DC-DC battery charger since it is fused at 30 amps.

 

[emesel]

The battery charging wire in the 7-pin trailer connector is fused at 30 amps (F73 in the BJB) and uses a #10 wire at the 7-pin connector. It starts out at a #6 and ends up as a #10. I would use the right battery + connection as shown in your picture (make sure that it is fused near the battery). The negative lead can go where you show it or use a chassis bolt near the rear of the truck.

The factory 7-pin trailer connector (pin 5) seems to me to be adequate to supply your DC-DC battery charger since it is fused at 30 amps.

Thanks very much for the reply. It makes sense to attach the negative in the back to save some cable cost and time.

I thought the 7-pin charge wire would work for me as well, especially after I did some testing ( 7-Pin Charge Current Data | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com ) and recorded 20 amps off the wire. The problem is I only get a few amps. I think this is because the Ranger BMS doesn't see a battery load on that wire. Whatever the reason, I wasn't getting enough current through it.

Thanks again, Mark

 

[RangerBill]

Thanks very much for the reply. It makes sense to attach the negative in the back to save some cable cost and time.

I thought the 7-pin charge wire would work for me as well, especially after I did some testing ( 7-Pin Charge Current Data | 2019+ Ford Ranger and Raptor Forum (5th Generation) - Ranger5G.com ) and recorded 20 amps off the wire. The problem is I only get a few amps. I think this is because the Ranger BMS doesn't see a battery load on that wire. Whatever the reason, I wasn't getting enough current through it.

Thanks again, Mark

Using the 7-pin wire with the DC-DC charger with a battery attached, what current is the battery being charged at? Also I understand that the truck must be running, and the brake pedal pressed momentarily to activate the power to the trailer connector.

 

[emesel]

Using the 7-pin wire with the DC-DC charger with a battery attached, what current is the battery being charged at? Also I understand that the truck must be running, and the brake pedal pressed momentarily to activate the power to the trailer connector.

Not sure I understand your question. I had the Orion XS set to 18 amps one time and 15 amps another time. The truck was running with me sitting in it; as soon as I got out of the truck, the current in the 7-pin dropped to zero (this was repeated several times). To get the max current, I set my meter to hold the highest current it saw.

 

[RangerBill]

Not sure I understand your question. I had the Orion XS set to 18 amps one time and 15 amps another time. The truck was running with me sitting in it; as soon as I got out of the truck, the current in the 7-pin dropped to zero (this was repeated several times). To get the max current, I set my meter to hold the highest current it saw.

I don't believe that the trailer connector will always supply voltage (and current) if certain conditions are not met. When you get out of the truck, is it still running, and has the brake pedal been pressed momentarily while it is running? The truck won't supply current all the time and only under certain conditions to keep from discharging the truck battery. It should supply current to your battery charger during normal driving conditions. If you connect directly to the truck battery, how are you planning to prevent the truck battery from running down? Using the trailer connector power, the truck prevents this from happening automatically (discharged truck battery).

 

[emesel]

I don't believe that the trailer connector will always supply voltage (and current) if certain conditions are not met. When you get out of the truck, is it still running, and has the brake pedal been pressed momentarily while it is running? The truck won't supply current all the time and only under certain conditions to keep from discharging the truck battery. It should supply current to your battery charger during normal driving conditions. If you connect directly to the truck battery, how are you planning to prevent the truck battery from running down? Using the trailer connector power, the truck prevents this from happening automatically (discharged truck battery).

Yes, the truck was running when I got out, and brake pedal had been depressed (several times).

The Victron Orion XS has software that can be configured so it detects the operation of the engine and will not draw current when the truck is not running.

Using the Victron app, I watched the charging of the trailer battery while I was driving; it was usually 1 - 3 amps. After several hours of driving, it usually only added 20 - 30 watts of power.

I'm pretty sure the Ranger BMS just won't allow more than a few amps when the charge wire is connected to the Orion XS. I know it did prior to my installation of the lithium batteries and the Orion XS. I had 2 AGM batteries, and I would run my trailer fridge on "battery" (draws 10 amps max) while travelling and during stops. When I arrived at my destination 6 - 7 hours later, the batteries were always fully charged. Not so with the lithium batteries being charged by the Orion XS connected via the 7-pin.

 

[Drew Toner]

Your victron DC DC charger recognizes the lifepo4 batteries, and switches into float mode at 80% charge. It's all in the victron settings as I'm trying to optimise mine system as well!!

 

[emesel]

Your victron DC DC charger recognizes the lifepo4 batteries, and switches into float mode at 80% charge. It's all in the victron settings as I'm trying to optimise mine system as well!!

Yes, I know. I'm just going to re-install mine with separate wiring from the battery to get more amps when charging.

 

[Frenchy]

Something to remember is to make sure the DC-DC Charger is able to work with Variable Voltage. If it is, make sure you hook up the signal wire for the DC-DC Charger to know it is using Voltage as low as 12.5 volts for input(but make sure it is a switched signal).

 

[emesel]

Something to remember is to make sure the DC-DC Charger is able to work with Variable Voltage. If it is, make sure you hook up the signal wire for the DC-DC Charger to know it is using Voltage as low as 12.5 volts for input(but make sure it is a switched signal).

Thanks for the reply.

The Orion XS states it operates between 9 and 17 volts.

If the "engine running" detection option in the XS doesn't work, could I use the 7-pin charge wire as a signal wire? What do others use for a signal wire (other than a manual switch)?

Mark

 

[Jamie Jack]

I use a 20a DC to DC charger to recharge my 12VDC 80AH fishing battery. I connected it to the 20a box power wire located in the rear left wiring harness on all Rangers. My battery is fully recharged by the time I get home. Been doing this for 2 years with no problems.

 

[emesel]

I use a 20a DC to DC charger to recharge my 12VDC 80AH fishing battery. I connected it to the 20a box power wire located in the rear left wiring harness on all Rangers. My battery is fully recharged by the time I get home. Been doing this for 2 years with no problems.

Thanks for the message. Can you give me some specifics regarding where this wire/connection is located?

 

[RangerBill]

Thanks for the message. Can you give me some specifics regarding where this wire/connection is located?

Cargo box power point connector C423. The cargo box power point was optional, but C423 is probably present. A 12 volt power jack (C474) was optional in the bed and plugged into C423..

 

[airline tech]

Cargo Bed Power - Location

Power Operation Notes:
This is powered off of the Power Point Relay #2 and operates (Times Out) on the same timing as the Front Power Points after the engine is shut off, there is not a separate setting for each power point - they work together.
They are factory set to (75 Minutes) and can be altered.
All trims I think has this (Connector) Harness with a dummy plug and you tap in your own connector.
Wolfhaus has a connector that is prewired (Plug & Play) with whatever you want to use or just get the connector separately.

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