Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 09, 2025 ...

Redneck fix for batteries hookup

November 25, 2021, 05:51:27 pm

OK, here is what I have:
100A up on the roof of the coach just for keeping a battery charged.
Controller at the top of the short wall for the entry steps.
Engine start batteries and coach battery (8D) under the steps.

Here is what I wanted and didn't have.
Easy and quick switchover from one battery to the other without using wrenches.

So here is what I did, keeping in mind my redneck mentality.
Ran the positive and negative wires from the controller down thru the floor and onto the backside of the steps, leaving enough slack so I could raise the steps. Terminated the wires into a "flat four" female trailer connector I had and fastened it to the wood on the back of the steps.
Then I ran positive and negative wires from each battery and terminated them into a "flat four" male trailer connector I had.

Result? Quick changeover when I want to. Didn't buy anything to accomplish this. Works without relying on some high tech device.

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #1 – November 25, 2021, 05:57:41 pm

Norm,

That will work fine for low-amp "thru-put". But, for higher amp currents, likely excessive resistance.

Another alternative would be a marine Off-1-Both-2 switch for the positive leads.

Or a switch to merely "combine batteries" would be a simple marine ON-OFF switch.  And for this you could use any ON-OFF switch as long as it is rated for well more than the amp load (so minimal resistance).

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #2 – November 25, 2021, 08:19:10 pm

It is like I said. I did it with what I had on hand and recycled "stuff".
100A ain't much but I don't have any plans at the current time to increase A.

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #3 – November 26, 2021, 07:41:35 am

I was in a bit of a hurry yesterday, what with it being TG, and things going on.
Brett, you are correct, but some things I did I passed over at the time because I wasn't quite clear as to how to phrase it. But now I will try.
I used the "flat fours" to make "flat twos". (Does that make sense?) In other words, I soldered the wires from the ground connector/wire and the connector/wire next to it together to the (-)Negative wire coming down from the controller.
I combined the two remaining connectors/wires together to the (+)Positive wire coming down from the controller.
I did the same combining wires to the two "flat fours" that go to the batteries.
In effect, this gave me heavier gauge wires than the supply wires coming from the controller and the solar panels.
Works, huh? Redneck solution. (Rube Goldberg was my idol)

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #4 – November 26, 2021, 11:44:15 am

Assuming you mean 100 watts on the roof. Flat connector should be fine.

Pierce

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #5 – November 26, 2021, 12:09:01 pm

Ya, 100 watts, no problem.

100 amps is a LOT of solar and would require larger gauge wiring.

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #6 – November 26, 2021, 01:47:49 pm

Yup, it's dat dere 100W package from Harbor Freight for $189 but we got it on a redneck sale for $129 and also got the better controller after talking to my 'leckricul ingunear redneck neighbor down the street.

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #7 – November 26, 2021, 01:48:52 pm

Norm,

You are GOOD TO GO!

Only one question-- how much of the wiring did Rocket do?

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #8 – November 26, 2021, 08:40:45 pm

Not a whole lot of it. His cataracts are starting to affect his vision, and he doesn't spell or type very well.
But he can sure walk all over what I was trying to sketch.
But I will tell him you asked about him. (He is walking back and forth in front of me right now)

Quote Selected

Re: Redneck fix for batteries hookup

Reply #9 – November 27, 2021, 07:13:01 am

Pierce, glad you cleared up the 100A and 100W difference. I was a bit concerned about using the "flat four" connector for 100 amps. 😳

Always best to read the WHOLE post before commenting. 😎

Quote Selected