How To Wire and Install On-Board Auxiliary Trailer Battery to Power Lights
Question:
I have an enclosed snowmobile trailer, I want to add an auxiliary battery to power interior led lights, also add a battery tender, Im looking a wiring diagram to do this with an isolater, so I dont drain the breakaway battery, or back feed from or to the vehicle? Can you help me
asked by: David H
Expert Reply:
In order to charge an on-board trailer battery you'd need to have a seven way connection on both the vehicle and trailer, this would contain the necessary circuits to pass a charge from the vehicle battery to the trailer battery. If you don't already have one on the trailer you can use the Junction Box # 3375601101 and 7-Way Connector # H20046. If you don't already have one on the vehicle we'd need the year, make, and model to inform of options. The seven way would then contain a circuit called the "battery charge line" or twelve volt power" which would be used to provide a small trickle charge to an on-board trailer auxiliary or breakaway battery.
In all honesty, if you were simply using the on-board battery for some lights inside the trailer you probably wouldn't even need to worry about draining the vehicle's battery assuming there wasn't any sort of backfeed protection built into the vehicle's trailer wiring circuits. That said, I understand wanting to be safe and not sorry so in which case I recommend the Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger part # RED96FR which does a few different things. It will not only make sure there is no backfeed but it will also ensure your trailer battery is fully topped off at all times. It will only pull power from the vehicle battery when it's receiving a charge from the alternator. The "battery charge line" or twelve volt power" circuits from the vehicle only provide a trickle charge whereas this unit will provide a full charge. I like this option for you as it opens the door for you to power other accessories from the battery without having to worry about a dead battery.
I have attached a wiring diagram below.
Products Referenced in This Question
Trailer Wiring Junction Box - 7 Color Coded Terminals - ABS
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Wiring
- Junction Box
- Buyers Products
more information >
Hopkins 7-Way RV Style Connector with Molded Cable - Trailer End - 8' Long - RV Standard
- Trailer Wiring
- Trailer Connectors
- Trailer End Connector
- 6 - 10 Feet Long
- Plug and Lead
- 7 Round - Blade
- Hopkins
more information >
Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Trailer Battery Charger - Single Input - DC to DC - 12V/24V - 12 Amp
- Battery Charger
- Battery Charger
- RV/Camper
- Trailer
- Charges Only
- 12V
- 24V
- Vehicle Battery to Auxiliary Battery
- Redarc
more information >
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Trailer Wiring Junction Box - 7 Color Coded Terminals - ABS
- Accessories and Parts
- Trailer Wiring
- Junction Box
- Buyers Products
more information >
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