Can 12V Feed For Powered Taillight Converter Be Attached to Power Source Other Than the Battery

Question:

What else can you hook the power wire to? Besides the battery

asked by: Philip E

Expert Reply:

When installing a powered taillight converter like # C89KR, Curt doesn't recommend attaching that 12V power feed to anything other than the positive battery terminal, so I can't recommend anything that would contradict the manufacturer's advice.

Drawing the power directly from the battery serves to isolate the tow vehicle's sensitive electronics from any short circuits that might occur in the trailer wiring. Connecting the converter's power feed anywhere other than the battery or where the converter's manufacturer recommends can leave your vehicle's electrical system exposed to possible damage.

Routing the power feed from the rear of the vehicle to the battery seems like a daunting endeavor, but it's honestly not too difficult. The easiest way to do this would be to follow an existing wiring harness, being sure to avoid anything hot like exhaust components or anything moving like the driveline and the steering and suspension components.

I've linked to an install video, as well as to a help article that explains more about routing the power wire.

expert reply by: Mike L