Parts Needed When Using Tekonsha Prodigy RF On a Trailer With Lithium Battery

Question:

I am installing a trailer-mounted Tekonsha Prodigy RF brake controller #902502. The trailer has a lithium battery and I’ve been told that there might be an issue that when the battery is fully charged it can discharged back to the Tow Vehicle battery causing issues. I’ve also been told that the Prodigy has internal controls that prevent that issue. This has come up because I am rewiring my tow vehicle from 4 pin to 7 pin. One solution suggested was to not connect the blue wire. Any info you have would be helpful.

asked by: Philip H

Expert Reply:

With your trailer having a lithium battery it is best to use a Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger # RED96FR. This charger ensures the charging system from your vehicle does not damage the lithium battery on your trailer. It is able to prevent damage to batteries from voltage spikes and overheating. The Tekonsha Prodigy RF Wireless Brake Controller # TK94FR.

As far as the power back-feeding from the trailer to the vehicle the Redarc above will prevent that. Otherwise the power from the trailer could be drained by the vehicle if it continued to pull power and was not connected with a relay on the vehicle to an ignition source. Since you are using the Tekonsha RF which doesn't require the blue wire on the vehicle there is no reason to connect it to anything.

expert reply by: Bud M