Hello fellow wiring enthusiasts!
I'm looking for some advice on charging my new e-bike in the boonies too. I found a 25% discount on a new Specialized Turbo Levo and made the plunge this week, just in time for winter camping season.
What I'm thinking is to use an inverter, powered by the truck while driving/idling to provide AC current to the charger.
Here's the specs: (Gurus please check my math, I'm a hacker and usually learn just enough to be dangerous)
TRUCK
RAM 2021 truck has dual alternators rated at 380 amps. 6.4L gas engine
Starter battery is 730 amp, 12v. There's a factory 115v / 150 watt outlet in the cab and truck bed.
I also have a set of auxiliary switches (factory option) with up to 40 amp (28A continuous) ratings, I've used them for fog lights, front camera and freshly installed ARB compressor under the hood. Pretty slick.
I had Zero Declination install a DC/DC Victron Orion 12/12 - 30 charger with #4 welding wire, with 80 amp circuit protector near the starter battery. Wiring terminates at the Victron shunt in the camper battery box. It's great to roll into camp with 100% SOC every time!
CAMPER
Camper battery is a 100 amp Renogy LiPo. Victron monitor reports 28-30 amps flowing to the battery while we're driving. We also have 130 watts of solar on the roof and a MPPT controller. We have a compressor fridge and usually after three days of camping are in the 80% SOC level.
I'm thinking I can mount a 1000 watt pure-sine inverter near the battery inside the camper, either directly off the battery (fused of course) or possibly from the Iota-30, which is on the opposite side of the camper.
But I could really use some advice on this. I see the benefit of having an accessible 120v outlet inside the camper, although we use all 12v/5v chargers for our electronics, AND running an "extension cord" to the front of the truck routed along the passenger side truck frame. I haven't sized what gauge wire that run should be. I wonder if a heavy gauge extension cord would work.
BIKE
700 wh / 42 v battery = 16.66 amp/hours
Charger 42v / 4 amp = 168 watts Charger is intended to plug into AC at home, so has a dual bladed plug on the input side. I probably wouldn't want to charge the bike under wet conditions. I hope I have the wattage correct here.
BIKE MOUNT
I installed a front receiver hitch and have a 1Up rack for two bikes that is rock solid. I want to run a 110v outlet to somewhere behind the front bumper so I can plug the charger in while we're traveling. Note: if temps are below 32F, I will remove the battery and bring it inside to stay warm.
I'm open to other ideas, and haven't bought the inverter yet. I thought about mounting the inverter under the hood, but by most reports that's a bad idea due to moisture, heat and dust.
Here's what I sketched up at lunch yesterday. I hope it's not too hard to read. "B" is the truck battery.
That's my bike on the front of the truck with the camper shown below.
Thanks!
Andy