Installing Hopkins Engager Trailer Breakaway System Without Power From Tow Vehicle

Question:

I am finishing up an install on my tow dolly with an Engager Break Away. I would prefer not to have the charger and its connecting wire fed from the motorhome. Id prefer to regularly charge the Engager battery independently from a battery charger.Will the system work by simply attaching a battery charger to the black wire regularly to top off the battery rather than connecting to the battery feed off the motorhome?

asked by: Joe M

Expert Reply:

Due to the extreme importance of having a functional trailer breakaway braking system, I can't recommend installing it in any other way than what's recommended by Hopkins. When you're not running down the road, you can certainly use a charger like the CTEK # CTEK56353 to keep the battery maintained, but it really needs to be installed by the book when you're towing.

If your fear is that the draw of the battery charging circuit will deplete the tow vehicle battery, the charger on the breakaway battery shuts down when the battery is fully charged. There are also steps you can take to avoid the motorhome battery from being depleted, beginning with simply unplugging the trailer when you shut the tow vehicle off for more than a few minutes and ending with installing a battery isolating solenoid like part # PK5231201. The isolating solenoid will shut off the 12-volt accessory circuit when the motorhome ignition is shut off, with no worries of the motorhome battery running down or forgetting to plug the trailer back in.

expert reply by: Mike L