Boreal wrote:m.colley wrote:Alot of people including myself swear by the Progressive Dynamics PD4045 for a combo converter/charger and power distribution box. It makes the wiring of these little trailers pretty foolproof but is overkill on some designs, depending on your needs.
Alright, Martin, your forbearance please.
Here's the unit (I think) you're referring to.
What exactly does this do (and here's where I tread on very very thin ice as regards DC wiring)?
Here's what I think I need:
- hook up to my batteries (two deep cycles in parallel)
- keep my batteries from being worn down to zero volts?
- provide DC circuit protection
- master cut off switch
- allow (with the proper 9 pin connection) for charging by my car's alternator while moving
- an AC outlet or two (GFI protected, of course)
Will this be the only major piece of gadgetry that I need? The price is fine, even if it is a bit overkill for my eight or ten DC circuits.
Yes your link is to the unit I spoke of. Be careful though when buying from some sources, there are quite a few counterfeits out there, especially on Ebay and Amazon. Make sure your buying from a authorized supplier.
The PD4045 will fulfill your list with one exception, the master cut off switch. With a hook-up to shore power or a generator it will keep your batteries charged correctly, and with the appropriate solar equipment you can charge your batteries from a solar panel, it will provide act as both a AC & DC distribution panel, and with the needed transfer switch or relays you can charge your batteries from your tow vehicle while driving.
I like it mainly because it eases the electrical installation for the average person. It supplies the proper type battery charger to keep your batteries in shape, and it converts AC voltage into DC voltage to use for your LED lights and DC based appliances all in one neat little package. Yes for some installations it is overkill because not everyone need the number of circuits it offers, some builders use a simple DC fuse block, a battery charger and a small 30-60A household type breaker box from your DIY store wired to a multi outlet type power strip and have no issues. For me I like the neat little package..
Martin