Can Stromberg Carlson Electric Trailer Jack JET-5000 Be Powered by Trailer Breakaway Battery

Updated 03/31/2015 | Published 03/29/2015

Question:

Can the jack be wired to the trailers electric brake breakaway switch battery?

asked by: Matt

Expert Reply:

Breakaway batteries typically carry a modest Ah (amp-hour) rating of around 5 to 9 amps. This is enough to engage your trailer's electric brakes for the required 15-minutes in the event of a disconnect.

A powered trailer jack like the Stromberg Carlson Electric Trailer Jack # JET-5000 will draw 30 amps at its rated load capacity, which is far in excess of what a breakaway battery can provide. Even if it had the capacity for the jack, using it in this way could mean that it would not have enough power left for an emergency situation.

A better option is to install a new trailer battery to operate the jack. You'll want to choose one with enough current capacity to handle the jack's maximum load rating. Since the Husky jack grounds through its mounting plate, you'll need make only one wired connection to the trailer battery's positive terminal. Another option is to use the 12V trailer power circuit from your tow vehicle.

You can refer to the linked video for illustration of the installation process.

expert reply by: Adam R