Does the Brake Output Wire Get Attached to a 12 Volt Trailer Battery

Question

Question:

I just bought a tandem axle trailer with brakes on the front axle only. I am rewiring the trailer because the wiring was ground off because of the previous owner. I have run my wiring for my lights and back up lights but I am not sure what I need to do to be able to wire my trailer brakes. I understand that one of the wires from the trailer brake goes to ground and one to positive, but do I need a 12v power source for the magnet to work or does that come from the truck when you hit the brakes? Do I need a battery for them to work? I will be using a 7 pin connector. This is my first time doing this so I need as much help as I can get! Thanks!

asked by: Bryce D

0

Expert Reply:

In order to rewire your trailer, I strongly recommend you use the Trailer Wiring 7-Way Upgrade Kit part # HS381-9000 with the Bonded 4 Wire part # 16-4B-1. This is going to ensure you have all the correct wire gauge and the junction box makes for a clean install as well as an easy way to troubleshoot if you ever have issues. In regards to the brake output wire part # 10-1-1, this will receive power from the tow vehicle's brake controller via the 7-way, not a battery during normal braking. However, by law you will also need to have a breakaway system, the Curt Soft Trac II Trailer Breakaway Kit part # C52026 which will energize the trailer brakes if the trailer becomes disconnected from the tow vehicle.

I have attached a generic breakaway install photo for you.

expert reply by: Conner L

0

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Cecil H.

8/12/2020

I have a 2015 Chevy Silverado 1500 when I hook my trailer up I start driving how do I get the message comes up trailer disconnected I've changed the plugin truck and trailer

Reply

Jon G.

8/26/2020

Does your trailer have LED lights? Sometimes the truck doesn't recognize that a trailer is connected because the LED lights don't draw enough power for the truck to "see" that it's there - especially if it's a smaller trailer. To remedy this you can add the Lamp-Out Sensor # 20142 which adds more of a load, but I'd double check all your wiring and maybe test your trailer with another vehicle and your vehicle with another trailer before sinking any more money into it.

Reply

Answer 1

You are correct in your description of how to wire in a new auxiliary battery in your enclosed trailer. You will take the 7-Way's 12V power feed and route this to the positive terminal on the auxiliary battery, and you will ground the second…

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Answer 2

The most popular trailer breakaway kit we offer is the Hopkins Engager part #20099. This comes with a charger and a battery, plus a display on the box to let you know exactly what condition the battery is in. I attached an install video for you to…

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Answer 3

Breakaway batteries shouldn't power other accessories even if the battery is larger. You really need the breakaway battery to be topped off at all times in case you need it. If you were to power other accessories you run risk of it being…

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Answer 4

You can reset the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit #20099 simply by putting the pin all the way back into the switch. The only time the system would have to be replaced would be if something was wrong with it and even then the…

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Answer 5

Yes, the breakaway battery must have a charge in order to send power to the trailer brakes and lock them up in the event of the trailer detaching from the tow vehicle. If the charge wire which is usually the 12 volt pin on the 7-way becomes…

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Answer 6

Trailer batteries (breakaway or auxiliary) do not have to be charged for the brakes to work with a brake controller when connected to a tow vehicle. You have two isolated problems possibility. A breakaway battery that won't hold it's charge…

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Answer 7

Yes. The only thing the switch does in a breakaway system such as #20099 is complete the circuit from the breakaway battery to the brake magnets when the pin is pulled from the switch. By inserting the pin back into the switch it separates the metal…

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Answer 8

You will likely have several different grounds on any given trailer. The breakaway battery can ground by itself to the frame and to the trailer connector's ground if you want. But at the very least ground the battery to the frame. The brake…

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Answer 9

If you are installing a trailer breakaway kit like #C52041, then you can use the 12-volt auxiliary power wire to help provide a maintenance charge on your breakaway kit's battery. A breakaway kit that does not have an onboard charger will have to…

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Answer 10

The clamp of the Curt Breakaway kit part #C52026 that you referenced is 3 inches wide and 1-1/2 inches tall. It would work well on a 2 inch wide frame rail.

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Answer 11

I am not entirely sure I understand your question. In regards to a breakaway system, the switch needs to have a separate battery for power according to most state regulations. You will need to check with your state's DOT but it is safe to assume…

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Answer 12

No you should not have constant power on the brake output pin, the blue wire should only have power with the brake pedal depressed in the vehicle or the brake controller manual override is activated. If the blue wire has a constant 12V then it is an…

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Does the Brake Output Wire Get Attached to a 12 Volt Trailer Battery

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