Powering Interior Trailer Lights Independently From The Tow Vehicle

Question:

Hello- I would like to wire interior LED lights to my trailer that operate independently of the vehicle. I read a lot of your answers concerning wiring and components but did not see a battery recommendation. Do you have a battery recommendation and can the recommended battery be charged while the vehicle is running. Thanks

asked by: Jeffrey M

Expert Reply:

Interior lights can be wired directly to the battery in your trailer to run independently of the vehicle. You'll just want an in-line fuse/switch like # 37212515 to cut the power when not in use.

You can charge the trailer battery with your vehicle's battery by installing a charger like the Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger # 331-BCDC1225D. This DC-to-DC battery charger draws power from your vehicle to provide power to an auxiliary battery on your trailer or RV and has a solar option as well, which can help keep your battery charged while the vehicle isn't running. I've included some videos below that offer some additional information and go over installation of this charger.

As for the battery, that is really going to depend on your needs. If you have an enclosed trailer and just plan on running a few interior lights then you wouldn't need that large of a battery and could use a standard 12v Group 24 battery like the Bright Way Deep Cycle RV or Marine Battery # BRW34FR that has a 75amp hour rating. If you plan on running multiple items off of the battery then you'll need to know what the amp draw of each item would be to choose the right sized battery bank.

I've attached a video that offers a ton of information on battery sizes as well as one of our Help Articles on solar power that can help you determine the amount of power you're going to be drawing to so that you can choose the correct battery for your needs.

If you have any other questions please feel free to reach out.