Any reason I can't trickle charge through the trailer socket?

[skotl]

I did buy one of these (also Noco) and it's fantastic. I don't believe, of course, the 1500A rating but it starts the car when the battery is so dead that the central locking won't work.

So that's my fallback - might be creating more work for myself than I need given that it does work.

 

[gaz1]

recovery vehicles use this from inside there van for jump starting or for other applications

you need male and female connectors

SBE80CMPLT16 | Anderson Power Products, SBE80 Series Female to Male Battery Connector, 30A, 150 V | RS

uk.rs-online.com

 

[knighty]

Ambulances are left plugged in to keep everything charged, the socket on the van has a solenoid plunger in it so when you turn the ignition on the solenoid pushes the plug out

They come up on eBay now and again

Meant to get one for my camper, but then got rid of the camper first

 

[Kram]

If you use trailer socket you can wire it on a very short cable to something like a cig lighter plug that goes into a cig socket for your charger. That will pull out easily with no damage if you forget it.

 

[JamieL]

recovery vehicles use this from inside there van for jump starting or for other applications

you need male and female connectors

SBE80CMPLT16 | Anderson Power Products, SBE80 Series Female to Male Battery Connector, 30A, 150 V | RS

uk.rs-online.com

If you're only charging (not jump starting) you can use the smaller 15A Anderson connectors.

I've fitted them into my big charger, trickle charger, solar controller and to the cars and caravan leisure battery.

I can now connect any permutation as needed, depending on the type of charge I need. Being hermaphroditic it's possible (but dumb) to connect two chargers together, but it is useful when I want to use the car to keep the caravan charged (I have an outlet on the car via a split charger so it only goes live when the engine is running).

They pull apart easily so meet the OP's need for idiot-proofing!

 

[OJCar]

Ambulances are left plugged in to keep everything charged, the socket on the van has a solenoid plunger in it so when you turn the ignition on the solenoid pushes the plug out

@skotl Do you remember these at A&E the old Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Lauriston Place ?


Bedford CF ASC 940W,Scottish Ambulance Service-ERI 'Medic One',old Edinburgh Royal Infirmary circa 1983 by Alan McConnell, on Flickr

Leyland Sherpa V8 F470 FNS,Scottish Ambulance Service-ERI 'Medic 1', A&E Dept. old Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, circa 1990 by Alan McConnell, on Flickr

Often used to go off on a shout with the cable trailing along behind them!

 

[not done it yet]

I'm not sure how long I would want to leave a modern (switched mode) charger running unattended; their reliability concerns me.

Modern float chargers generally only charge for a limited time (days not several weeks).

First question is whether the cigar lighter/power outlet is live with the ignition off. If it is, use it. If not, fit one that is fed from a live fuse (piggy-back fuse holders that simply occupy the usual space). Back to the battery is an alternative wiring option.

 

[MoreWellie]

when I forget it's connected and just drive off

My son had this problem so I suggested he put a hivis vest on the steering wheel when he plugs it in. System works, so far....

 

[Robotstar5]

Ambulances are left plugged in to keep everything charged, the socket on the van has a solenoid plunger in it so when you turn the ignition on the solenoid pushes the plug out

They come up on eBay now and again

Meant to get one for my camper, but then got rid of the camper first

But they don't always work

 

[northwest]

OK - sounds like a plan. In terms of "quick release plug and socket" for when I drive off and forget it's plugged in, this seems like a reasonable option right?

View attachment 411007

I'd follow the opposite-the-norm approach and have the 12V supply on the plug pins and the socket connected to the car, so there was never any danger of someone plugging a 230V lead into the car! (over-thinking it, I know...)

Identical plugs were fitted to Flymo garden equipment (still might be for all I know) and the idiot of that ex-brother of mine nearly killed me one day with one, the incompetent wired the pronged part of the socket to the extension lead so when I ran my hand down the cable (in the garden, in wet grass) looking for the end, I found it and promptly electrocuted myself with it. Still remember the event quite vividly.

 

[ukracer]

I'm not sure if those orange plugs are keyed?
Check one first as you'll do some damage if it gets plugged in reverse polarity.

Have you got a 3d printer?
I've seen a free stl for a quick release Power connector that just uses magnets to hold together.

Where did you see that? I can't find anything even similar using "quick release Power connector"

 

[hotponyshoes]

Where did you see that? I can't find anything even similar using "quick release Power connector"

stlfinder.com I expect

 

[sako243]

I'm not sure if those orange plugs are keyed?

There are 3 pin versions which have the middle pin offset

 

[Hopefuldave]

We don't use our car much so, if it's had a series of starts and very short journeys, the battery often drains (modern car syndrome, where the car is never truly "off").

The dealer recommends leaving it on trickle charge but I don't want to be plugging in under the bonnet or in the boot (where the actual battery lives).

Any reason I couldn't connect a trickle charger to the trailer socket, which has a permanent 12V on pin 9? Electrically, that is going to end up at the same +ve post on the battery...

I was thinking of rigging up a quick release plug & socket to a trailer plug for the inevitable time when I forget it's connected and just drive off.

Thoughts?

I have a 12v "lighter socket" fitted on my Kawasaki bike, direct (via fuse) from the battery so I can use that for charging (using a modular float charger by RS - salvaged from the World's Best Skip many moons ago) - and also blowing up my airbed (I'm too old and lumpy to sleep on the ground!) at bike rallies etc - excellent way to meet people and drink their spirits while they blow theirs up, too! 12v inflator highly recommended!

 

[not done it yet]

I have a 12v "lighter socket" fitted on my Kawasaki bike, direct (via fuse) from the battery so I can use that for charging (using a modular float charger by RS - salvaged from the World's Best Skip many moons ago) - and also blowing up my airbed (I'm too old and lumpy to sleep on the ground!) at bike rallies etc - excellent way to meet people and drink their spirits while they blow theirs up, too! 12v inflator highly recommended!

See my post #27? But I like your idea for getting free drinks.

 

[Can'tWeld]

Got this problem too, but on one car I am using one of these battery isolation switches https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334971820021?hash=item4dfde057f5:g:-YkAAOSwL8ZkIuQq&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAA8MCrHrO9gXQ9T76ePvNQA8pE3dzZ84GWqLjrtalMKKkMei2i4XiOk66MHduZiF2dtfSbliCKjduJlnXNFFniQRmEfj0BHZ/D9l7225+QrF8rdkaG/NzLfCB058nz1lMjWAhpc6t6/mPjXgGeegsuNf9boI3T60BYLgNyATPwPhlm1n8GHxkG6QQUjcFafbNVw7VzcuMNBTHEeB+/uuY0ISOwt23z9mti6zsut+RheRFlZpSbmJVf1TPp8uQz8tdQCR+xhJee7o43LEDzlDsXtAONoomT+a1KxILF+lQEsk7awsfPjx1PBni9WzGaRdbUdw==|tkp:Bk9SR7jW7_q3Yg and it works very well indeed.

The only drawback is that some car radios lose the station memories when the battery is isolated.

Be careful about this on French cars. Once accidentally disconnected the battery on my partner's Berlingo and the engine wouldn't start for an hour. I assume i didn't follow the correct shutdown procedure and the immobiliser got confused or something. Eventually tried the other key and that must have put it back in sync as once it started it worked with the other one too. I have also heard horror stories of early 2000s HDI Peugeots and citroens never starting again after a battery replacement or at least needing a locksmith to come and reprogram it. Can't lie, the idea of a car that might brick itself if the battery ever goes flat isn't particularly appealing.

 

[not done it yet]

I did buy one of these (also Noco) and it's fantastic. I don't believe, of course, the 1500A rating but it starts the car when the battery is so dead that the central locking won't work.


View attachment 411041


So that's my fallback - might be creating more work for myself than I need given that it does work.

Far too late, if you need these. Only good as a rescue from a discharged battery. Automotive lead acid batteries should be kept fully charged - they only withstand relatively few charge/discharge cycles - so relying on starting after running the battery low on charge will seriously shorten its life.

Be careful about this on French cars. Once accidentally disconnected the battery on my partner's Berlingo and the engine wouldn't start for an hour.

Our Peugeot 607 was very explicit re battery disconnection - the owner’s manual instruction was to allow at least 90 seconds (or was it two minutes?) after re-connection of the battery, for the ECU to boot up, before attempting to start the engine. Any attempt which reduced the voltage excessively would lead to a non-start - even though the engine could be cranked by the starter motor. Poor jump lead connection(s) could extend the time for achieving a restart. Attempting to start also likely interfered with the ECU recovery, within that waiting period, too?

 

[skotl]

Far too late, if you need these. Only good as a rescue from a discharged battery. Automotive lead acid batteries should be kept fully charged - they only withstand relatively few charge/discharge cycles - so relying on starting after running the battery low on charge will seriously shorten its life.

Hence, Plan A, delivered over the weekend from Amazon!

 

[OJCar]

Wot no String !

 

[skotl]

First test completed successfully and, to the original question posed:

"Can I trickle charge through the trailer socket?" the answer would appear to be yes!