Is using a 40A DC-to-DC Battery Charger on a 1500 RAM battery and alternator SAFE?

[COTTERSAY]

I want to replace our heavy, bulky 3500W gas generator with a Renogy 40A DC-to-DC Battery Charger (for charging our RV's Lithium Battery bank). But, will this damage our 2017 5.7L Hemi RAM 1500 truck's alternator?

 

[chopperman1]

Your 3500w gen is AC voltage and is used to power various things in your RV such as air conditioning, heating, microwave, TV's, the internal inverter etc. If your RV has a full size "house style" it too is AC. There are very few things in an RV that actually run off 12vdc, typically ceiling lighting.

 

[Dean2]

You already have another thread where these questions were answered. At this point you know the risks and costs, up to you what you decide to do now.

 

[COTTERSAY]

You already have another thread where these questions were answered. At this point you know the risks and costs, up to you what you decide to do now.

I do? Where is that? On this forum?

 

[COTTERSAY]

Your 3500w gen is AC voltage and is used to power various things in your RV such as air conditioning, heating, microwave, TV's, the internal inverter etc. If your RV has a full size "house style" it too is AC. There are very few things in an RV that actually run off 12vdc, typically ceiling lighting.

Thanks, but I know all that (retired engineer).

 

[Dean2]

Delete.

 

[COTTERSAY]

Delete.

"Delete"? I'm seriously confused...

 

[Wild one]

"Delete"? I'm seriously confused...

I think if you do a search,you'll come across another very similiar thread,Dean probably thought it was your thread.Mistakes happen,that's why you should do a search before starting a thread,as there might already be a similiar thread,that'll answer most of your questions,if not,it's usually better to jump on the similiar thread then start another one.
Somewhere on here there's already another thread about DC to DC chargers if you go hunting

 

[COTTERSAY]

I think if you do a search,you'll come across another very similiar thread,Dean probably thought it was your thread.Mistakes happen,that's why you should do a search before starting a thread,as there might already be a similiar thread,that'll answer most of your questions,if not,it's usually better to jump on the similiar thread then start another one

Thanks Wild One.

 

[Dean2]

I think if you do a search,you'll come across another very similiar thread,Dean probably thought it was your thread.Mistakes happen,that's why you should do a search before starting a thread,as there might already be a similiar thread,that'll answer most of your questions,if not,it's usually better to jump on the similiar thread then start another one

I wasnt confused. The other thread is definitely his. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/at...onsumption-per-hour-for-the-5-7l-hemi.211552/

I just decided i can't be bothered trying to help someone who clearly doesnt want help and already knows it all. Thus I deleted my comment.

 

[Wild one]

I wasnt confused. The other thread is definitely his. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/at...onsumption-per-hour-for-the-5-7l-hemi.211552/

I just decided i can't be bothered trying to help someone who clearly doesnt want help and already knows it all. Thus I deleted my comment.

Thanks Dean,i'd totally missed his thread . Yea Cottersay,you don't want to idle a Hemi anymore then needed.
Somewhere on here there is a thread about using a DC to DC charger on a trailer though,if you go looking

 

[COTTERSAY]

I wasnt confused. The other thread is definitely his. https://www.ramforum.com/threads/at...onsumption-per-hour-for-the-5-7l-hemi.211552/

I just decided i can't be bothered trying to help someone who clearly doesnt want help and already knows it all. Thus I deleted my comment.

So, my thread, "At idle, what is the gas consumption per/hour for the 5.7L Hemi?" is the same as this thread, "Is using a 40A DC-to-DC Battery Charger on a 1500 RAM battery and alternator SAFE?"?? Are you being serious?

 

[COTTERSAY]

Thanks Dean,i'd totally missed his thread . Yea Cottersay,you don't want to idle a Hemi anymore then needed.
Somewhere on here there is a thread about using a DC to DC charger on a trailer though,if you go looking

Honest question: I'm curious, Wild One, do you think the two threads are the same too? Because if so, I must be totally and completely confused about how forums work?!?

 

[Wild one]

Honest question: I'm curious, Wild One, do you think the two threads are the same too? Because if so, I must be totally and completely confused about how forums work?!?

I'm not gonna comment on that,but i agree with Dean,you did get the answer that means the most on your other thread,and that is "don't idle a Hemi" you'll kill the cam and lifters in short order if you do,so that basically should of answered your question,negating any reason to start another thread.

 

[Dean2]

Whether a solution is a bad idea for one reason, or 6 it is still a bad idea. High fuel consumption, inefficient way to charge the relatively low amp lithium battery, a motor that is not happy idling due the roller and cam design that can create a multi thousand dollar fix, aren't enough reasons not to do it?. The longjevity of the alternator, a $200 part, is in some whay still material? You have been provided with 2 much better ways to accomplish your goal.

I would at this point ask if you are really serious.

 

[COTTERSAY]

I'm not gonna comment on that,but i agree with Dean,you did get the answer that means the most on your other thread,and that is "don't idle a Hemi" you'll kill the cam and lifters in short order if you do,so that basically should of answered your question,negating any reason to start another thread.

Wow. Just, wow.

 

[dstock]

I stumbled onto this thread as I run a Renogy 50amp DC-DC charger on my 21 Classic with the 5.7 Hemi and have been for a couple of years. The title of this thread is very misleading as there is no issue running a DC-DC charger with the Hemi and it's alternator. Sitting and idling for long periods of time is a potential issue for the Hemi. Using a DC-DC charger while you are cruising down the road is not a problem.

The OP would be much better off throwing a few hundred watts of solar on the roof of the RV to keep the batteries up, granted it's unlikely to keep up with an AC unit but it beats the crap out of running a noisy generator. That's one of the reasons we don't camp in campgrounds if we can help it.

 

[COTTERSAY]

Hi Dstock,

Thanks for the great response! I have 1200W of solar and a 3500W generator for the RV. The problem is when I camp at 10,000 feet during the summer months in the Southwest; the clouds and the altitude both collude to lower their charging outputs to the 300 amp/hours of Lithium batteries quite drastically. And since you've actually been running the Renogy 50 amp DC-DC charger on your 5.7 Hemi for years with no problems, I'm inclined to take that chance too, since the alternative of sitting in a cold, dark RV with no power doesn't sound very fun to me...

Here's the Renogy unit I'm looking at:

 

[dstock]

That's a lot of solar and a decent battery bank. My 2 cents, you might want to increase the size of your battery bank to extend your battery range.

I run the Renogy 50amp dc-dc with the built in MPPT solar controller (which won't work for you do to the limit on it's solar input), but I do not sit and idle to charge the battery and based on all the above posts it seems ill advised to do so due to low oil flow issues at idle with the hemi.

 

[RamDiver]

One approach I've never heard discussed here is the battery capacity and any possibility of beefing up that capacity.

We've spent pages if you count both threads, trying to supply a charging solution but nobody has mentioned anything about adding to the battery capacity to reduce the charging requirements.

I wrote this but am trapped on the phone with a chatty relative.

.