I am rewiring my 16 foot car hauler trailer and am wondering about the break-away wiring. In particular do I need a charger of some sort. It did not come with one just a battery and a switch. I am guessing that I can just hook the acc (12v hot line) to the battery and charge it that way. I can always just unhook the trailer plug when I get to where I am going to save the vehicle batteries. Any opinions.

If I need one where is a good place to get it cheap. I actually need a new switch and battery as well.

 

The breakaway battery should be connected to the tow vehicles electrical circuit (12V +) so it can receive a charge from the alternator.

 

Just a warning, on my breakaway kit, the instructions says the battery must be charged at 1 amp or lower rating. I bought one of these, and I don't have mine hooked to the truck 12v source. I check the charge on it every 3 monthes, still full when i plug in the battery tender. Bought mine on Ebay, had the best deal new versus a brick store or other online stores.

http://www.batterytender.com/

 

Tekonsha makes a charger that goes with their break away batteries:

2024


DC-to-DC Heavy Duty Quick / Maintenance (Two Stage) Charger
Designed to fit securely into the Shur Set IIITM Breakaway Battery Cases. Patented temperature compensated design provides continuous recharge for all 12v battery systems with 4-amp (minimum) output. Provides maintenance-free assurance that breakaway batteries are always fully charged. Automatic shut-off feature will not permit battery to overcharge

 

I will never hook one to the 12v on my truck again. On my other truck, towing my trailer loader, my breakaway break shorted out. I had a blown fuse to my brake lights, which also goes to the trailer brakes. Thats how Dodge sets the harness up under the dash. Anyway, its no fun trying to stop with no trailer breaks when your doing 70 MPH.

 

This what I thought - it works with our trailers at work. We connect nothing extra.

 

Get one of the battery maintainer solar pannels , $20-30 , that way even if you park the trailer for a long time it will still be charged , and you can use it many other uses .

 

I had to buy a new breakaway kit when I bought my trailer, and it came with the charger. The charger is wired to the 12v circuit coming off the trailer plug and charges the battery as necessary when connected to the truck. Hever gave it a second though. Tests fine every year for inspection, so I guess it's doing its job.
This is the best way to do it, as the wire going back to the trailer plug is not heavy enough to pull the amps that the battery *could* try to pull from the harness if it shorted out. You'd surely blow a fuse.

Chris