What Does Trailer Battery Circuit Breaker Really Do for Trailer Wiring

Updated 04/16/2020 | Published 08/19/2016

Question:

I have a new deep cycle battery installed. I attached pos/neg wiring to terminals and theres no power. I have isolated the problem to the In-Line Circuit Breaker - Perpendicular Mount Bracket. That part is completely corroded very old. My question is - why do I even have that part in the wiring? Cant I just cut it out and wire positive straight to battery? PS: I do not use my car battery to power interior trailer lights.

asked by: Chris Z

Expert Reply:

Circuit breakers are a great way to shut down a circuit if there happened to be an overdraw that would otherwise get the wiring so hot that it would melt or even worse catch fire. They also would save any accessories attached to the circuit from getting damaged as well. For the short term you could bypass the breaker if you need to get the trailer back on the road ASAP but I would recommend replacing the breaker as early as possible. For a 40 amp breaker we have the # 9510.

expert reply by: Jameson C

Cindy

4/15/2020

My mom has a travel trailer that has a slide out.. the thing is we have it plugged in for the lights n we turned off all the other power switches so the water heater doesnt run n so forth.. but theres something under the sink that turns on n it looks like the amp converter I think.. but it hums wen it comes on n it leaves a smell like burnt water or like something needs water.. how can I run the interior lights without that coming on.. Im concerned cuz I feel like its gona cause a fire or blow something out.. please let me no wat i can do to avoid this all.. we dont haul it anywhere its just posted on her property n I stay in it from time to time.. n I dont use the frig the stove or the water in it.. I only need the lights..

Chris R.

4/16/2020

Unfortunately there's not a way for me to know what exactly that is under the sink, but just going by the smell you described, I can tell you it's not doing what it's supposed to. Other than literally cutting the power wire going into it, I wouldn't know how to actually turn it off so that it doesn't power on with the lights. I HIGHLY recommend that you have an electrician come out and take a look at it as soon as possible. I think what you're smelling is the actual circuitry getting too hot, which means your concerns about a potential fire are valid.