We have recently purchased a camper trailer with an Anderson Plug, as well as the standard flat Plug for the lights and electric brakes..
Previous vans have never had an Anderson Plug.
What us its function?
vanTas said
11:01 PM Jun 11, 2024
It could be to run an an onboard fridge while driving.
It could be to charge an onboard battery while driving.
It may be able to do both.
But without more info as to what electrical gear your camper trailer contains with some detail as to what wires connect to those items, it is hard to be sure.
If you can do a bit of investigation the answer may become evident.
If not, put up what you have found and you may get an answer.
Details of the make/model/year of the unit would help too.
Are We Lost said
12:12 AM Jun 12, 2024
Or it could be to plug a portable solar panel in, as I have.
KJB said
08:49 AM Jun 12, 2024
Follow it back to see what it is connected to.......
gold dandelion said
09:35 PM Jun 12, 2024
Mine is to charge my battery in my van while driving and flattening my battery in the vehicle if I leave it connected and sitting idle too long.
Warren-Pat_01 said
11:10 PM Jun 12, 2024
G'day Cardiel Bob,
If your camper has a 3-way fridge it's safer to run it through the higher current rated (generally 50A) Anderson plugs rather than the so called "heavier duty" pins on a 12 pin plug, socket. You can chance melting the latter.
If you are running a 3way fridge & you make a few stops during the day to reduce the chance of flattening your car's battery, a Fridge Switch (operates on motion) should be fitted.
The plugs come in various sizes but the grey 50A ones are the most widely used.
If you haven't had a look, there is a stack of information stored away in this forum - just do a "Search" or "Advanced Search" - if you can't find it, by all means post a question in the most suitable page but give as much information as possible, perhaps a photo, model number, etc.
There is another forum that I found useful when we had camper trailers - campertrailer.org.au (they have gone to Facebook these days) but there's a lot of good stuff still on the original website.
Whenarewethere said
11:37 PM Jun 12, 2024
I installed a 175amp (280amps cold plugging) Anderson plug next to the starter battery to jump start "all" (far too many) the cars in our street.
Everyone in the suburb seems to know I have jumper leads.
Including one neighbour who urgently needed to get Wifey to hospital to give birth... jump started their car.... 2 years later jump started for second birth.
One just wonders what learning curve is required for people to go through... certainly from life preservation from perspective of Wifey!
DUSTYRHODES said
06:11 PM Jul 31, 2024
To answer the question...
The Anderson plug is a very, heavy duty 12 volt supply to your Van or Camper. To run your 12 volt items while you travel, to charge your 12v
battery while you travel, can be used in conjunction with Solar panels to charge the battery, plus run some 12 v items. Can be used with a portable Generator.. What have I missed..
Dick0 said
10:56 AM Aug 1, 2024
Hi Robert.
As has been suggested here...
The Anderson may have been fitted to run fridge (portable or 3 way) on 12V when traveling or charge aux battery in trailer (if fitted) or both.
Now all you need to do is have Anderson wired and fitted to tug vehicle.
Are We Lost said
11:41 AM Aug 1, 2024
Cardie Bob has not been back since posting the question 6 weeks or so ago.
We have recently purchased a camper trailer with an Anderson Plug, as well as the standard flat Plug for the lights and electric brakes..
Previous vans have never had an Anderson Plug.
What us its function?
It could be to charge an onboard battery while driving.
It may be able to do both.
But without more info as to what electrical gear your camper trailer contains with some detail as to what wires connect to those items, it is hard to be sure.
If you can do a bit of investigation the answer may become evident.
If not, put up what you have found and you may get an answer.
Details of the make/model/year of the unit would help too.
If your camper has a 3-way fridge it's safer to run it through the higher current rated (generally 50A) Anderson plugs rather than the so called "heavier duty" pins on a 12 pin plug, socket. You can chance melting the latter.
If you are running a 3way fridge & you make a few stops during the day to reduce the chance of flattening your car's battery, a Fridge Switch (operates on motion) should be fitted.
The plugs come in various sizes but the grey 50A ones are the most widely used.
If you haven't had a look, there is a stack of information stored away in this forum - just do a "Search" or "Advanced Search" - if you can't find it, by all means post a question in the most suitable page but give as much information as possible, perhaps a photo, model number, etc.
There is another forum that I found useful when we had camper trailers - campertrailer.org.au (they have gone to Facebook these days) but there's a lot of good stuff still on the original website.
I installed a 175amp (280amps cold plugging) Anderson plug next to the starter battery to jump start "all" (far too many) the cars in our street.
Everyone in the suburb seems to know I have jumper leads.
Including one neighbour who urgently needed to get Wifey to hospital to give birth... jump started their car.... 2 years later jump started for second birth.
One just wonders what learning curve is required for people to go through... certainly from life preservation from perspective of Wifey!
Hi Robert.
As has been suggested here...
The Anderson may have been fitted to run fridge (portable or 3 way) on 12V when traveling or charge aux battery in trailer (if fitted) or both.
Now all you need to do is have Anderson wired and fitted to tug vehicle.