Can 7-Way Operate Powered Trailer Tongue Jack if Trailer Battery is Dead

Updated 07/28/2015 | Published 07/26/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Stromberg Carlson Electric A-Frame Tongue Jack - 18" Lift - 2,500 lbs

(884)

$215.47

CTEK MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Universal Battery Charger w/ Pulse Maintenance and Backup Power

(98)

$199.99

Question:

Will the electric Jacks work of the battery is dead but the camper is plugged in? Or do they run solely off of the camper battery?

asked by: Jacob

Expert Reply:

A powered trailer tongue jack like the Stromberg Carlson Camper Jack # JET-2500 is best wired to a dedicated battery on the trailer. If the battery is dead then the trailer's 7-way connector won't be able to deliver enough current to operate the jack. A 7-way 12V circuit is intended to deliver a small maintenance charge to a trailer battery that is in good shape or to pass enough juice for a camper dome light for example, but not to power a trailer jack. The vehicle's 12V feed on the 7-way will struggle to deliver the current required by a power jack.

You'll want to charge the trailer battery with an AC-powered charger like # CTEK56353 and then the 7-way charging circuit will maintain it.

expert reply by: Adam R