Alternator charging question.

[Artie]

Good sleuthing.

What size Anderson plug and what size wire on the trailer side? Does look like potentially some resistance there? Does anything feel warm/hot to the touch? Plug or wire? That's where most of the resistance will be. Anderson pins are usually self cleaning and pretty robust unless tweaked. I would possibly suspect the wire behind that - either termination on the anderson pins or on the trailer panel side.

In regards to the inverter ground change, that doesn't sound like a problem as that's how they're typically hooked up, including in my own setup.

No hot wire that I can tell but the plugs are in those environmental boot things so I can’t get a hand on them.

Anderson plugs are the grey sb50’s and the pins look totally fine.

I’ve been running anderson plugs for years now trouble free. Other than debris on the pins I guess a crimp could go bad but I don’t see stuff getting behind the plug causing an issue while at camp.

If I take the plugs apart I’ll unhook the positive from the battery on the car side but on the camper side, do you see any risk of pins touching while wiring is intact on manager 30 or should I disconnect there as well?

 

[TeCKis300]

Not likely any risks on the camper side as that's the input to the manager 30 and not a current source.

Regarding Anderson and environmental boots, I've heard anecdotal comments that they can create more issues than they solve as Andersons weren't designed for them from the ground up. Either way, check for any corrosion on the anderson to anderson mating surface.

 

[Artie]

Not likely any risks on the camper side as that's the input to the manager 30 and not a current source.

Regarding Anderson and environmental boots, I've heard anecdotal comments that they can create more issues than they solve as Andersons weren't designed for them from the ground up. Either way, check for any corrosion on the anderson to anderson mating surface.

I hear you on the boots and didn’t use them until I had to dig out dried up caked up Georgia red clay from one. I put the boots on after that but only close them up if I’m running through potential problematic conditions.

Since it’s charging at the moment I may just wait until I get back home to tear into the plugs. Some charging is better than zero and I can’t fix a crimp in the field anyway.

If anyone on this forum runs into me in real life feel free to collect on the beer or lunch I owe for all the great advice I’ve gotten here.

I’ll update my findings.

 

[mep1811]

It’s a 2021.

I have not changed any of that stuff but will be looking to now. What exactly does this task entail?

Pull one fuse and replace it with the booster fuse. Looks exactly the same

 

[Sandroad]

So far, most evidence points to a wimpy crimp at the Anderson connector, that is failing or corroded. Since it was working before and is now flaky, check those first when you get home.