I purchased these for use in installing my dash cam.



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Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.

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Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.

Sorry, hit the wrong button.? To continue:? As for AC charging of the li ion battery, I will leave the factory installed WFCO converter until I upgrade it to one of the newer units they offer.? According to WFCO, the current unit should not cause any problems even though it won't charge a li ion battery fully.? Their upgraded converters fit the same space, have the same connections, and will fully charge a li ion battery.
?? I also have a 200 watt solar panel permanently installed with a MPPT controller that will also charge while towing.
??

Based on all your input, the information I received from WFCO and Renogy, and from what I was able to glean from the internet, I will summarize what I have done and will do to convert my 4 pin connector to a seven pin and enable the installation of a liPo4 battery in my Aliner.? Hopefully, this might benefit others while keeping in mind there are other ways of accomplishing the same thing.? First, I have installed a 10 gauge 2 wire cable that runs from the engine compartment to the back of my tow vehicle.? I purchased this cable from eTrailer because the wires are not molded in the cable making them easy to separate much like regular Romex.? One wire is connected to the TV battery by way of a 30 amp circuit breaker.? This hot wire will also have a relay to shut it off when the engine of the TV is not operating. The relay will be switched? by the use of an add-a-circuit fuse tap from the fuse box.? The other 10 gauge wire is connected to the wiring harness for the brake controller.? Both 10 gauge wires in the cable are run through the inside of the tow vehicle to the rear.? There, they are connected to the wiring harness for the Bargman connector along with the 4 pin wires and another wire for backup lights.? Inside the Aliner, I will install a 15 amp DC-DC charger by Victron.? A 15 amp charger should not overload the wires or cause excessive heat, although will take a little longer to charge the battery than a 20 amp would.? This setup should allow for the use of the Aliner factory installed Bargman cable along with regular connectors without the need for any special connectors or wiring.?
?? As for AC charging of the li ion battery, I will leave the factory installed WFCO

Be careful with those fuse taps.? Insert it backwards and you have an unfused wire.

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Don DeRyke
Sunrise, Florida

2009 Classic, 2020 Ford Escape, 2.0 liter EcoBoost, AWD.?
Previous TV 2015 Ford Escape 1.6 ltr EcoBoost engine.

Thank you, Jean-Francois, for the info about the add-a-circuit fuse tap which will make the job of installing the relay a lot easier. I never knew such an "animal" existed, but it sure seems handy.? After doing an internet search for these,? I just ordered a set on Amazon.? But, I do actually stop at a Canadian Tire store occasionally on my trips in Ontario!?
Bob

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On Sun, Mar 3, 2024 at 03:14 PM, BobF wrote:

?Jean-Francois,? I also have a new Highlander, although not a hybrid.? Could you please tell me how you found the ignition no 2 fuse and what type of add a circuit connector you used.? ? I am trying to avoid running another wire thru my firewall if possible.?

Here is the link to the kind of add a fuse I used (and where I purchased it). Yes I get forwarded to Canadian Tire, so you can guess where I am located. Please replace with your local store.?

Note that there are many automotive fuse size:

I don't remember by heart what is the proper size for highlander (mini or low profile mini?). Just take one out and compare with the chart above (note: those are likely millimeters!) Make sure that the engine is OFF when you take out a fuse, otherwise you'll get an engine code and you'll need a OBD2 reader to reset the code! I did the error once. Then you can get a add-a-circuit for that fuse size.

I here is an image from the manual showing the location of the rear fuse box:

I wouldn't know if the non-hybrid version has a fuse box there or not.? On the hybrid, the battery is the back of the vehicle, so the ignition fuse are between the 12V battery and the hybrid battery (under the 3rd row seat).? I have the schematics of the hybrid and some of the schematics for the non-hybrid. Contact me by e-mail so I can send you the link to the schematics if you want to try that.

What I'd do in your place (on top of the information provided above) is to get the owner's manual, look for the fuse box locations in your manual and check for ign fuses. You can check if there is voltage on a fuse by putting a volt-meter on the little metal piece on top of it while it is still installed in the fuse box.? So I'd put the engine in off or accessory and check there is no voltage, then put the engine on and check there is +12V voltage.

?

If your model does not have fuse box in the rear, then it will have a fuse box in the front, on the left of the driver. Ignition would be findable there.
Good luck!
jf

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Hi Gang:

We spotted this VW camper at our local county park.

Carl.

Dave, that behavior is for a lead acid or AGM battery, right?? I believe a Lifepo4 battery, which Bob is thinking of installing, will pull the max 20 amps for the majority of the charging time.

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While looking to see if a bargman connector exists that handles bigger wire, i ran across the following.? It might be better than squeezing a fat w8re into a bargman.

Two comments on that:

A wire smaller than what renogy recommends can handle the current the dc charger encounters.? But when using a smaller wire, the voltage drop is more, so the dc charger has to work harder to bring the voltage back up, and may either overheat or have sub par performance.?

Renody may be a bit conservative on wire sizes for the 20 amp charger.? They say you may need up to a 4 awg wire for a 20 amp charger.? But they say also say 4 awg handles a 60 amp charger.? That seems wrong.? But then again, I'm not an electrician.

?Jean-Francois,? I also have a new Highlander, although not a hybrid.? Could you please tell me how you found the ignition no 2 fuse and what type of add a circuit connector you used.? If you don't mind, maybe you could send it to my email along with pictures, if it is not too much trouble. ? I am trying to avoid running another wire thru my firewall if possible.? Thanks
?? Bob

Steve, you may be right about sticking with a 20 amp charger to be on the safe side. ? But, the interesting thing I have noticed when looking for relays is that even the ones rated for 30-40 amps only come with 12 gauge wires, some with only 14 gauge wire harnesses.? Why they don't use at least 10 gauge, I don't know!? My concern now is still re if connecting the relay to just any circuit when the ignition is on has the possibility of doing damage to sensitive electronics.
???? Bob

The most restrictive requirements are in the dc charger manual.? Search for "renogy dc charger manual" and you'll find the pdf.