Should Power Wire of Trailer Harness for 2016 Mazda CX-5 Run to Battery

Updated 11/12/2016 | Published 11/11/2016

Question:

Hi, 2016 CX-5 has a 12V 10A cigarette lighter connector in the trunk. Can that connector be used to power the trailer lights instead of routing it all the way to the battery?

asked by: JJ

Expert Reply:

On some vehicles like your 2016 Mazda CX-5 it has been determined that the electrical system cannot or should not handle the load from its own tail lights and the trailer lights as well so they need a powered converter. These converters like the Tow Ready Wiring harness part # C56310 get power for the trailer lights primarily from the vehicle battery. This protects the vehicle electronics. They only use your vehicle taillights as signal wires. If you ran the wire to the power source you mentioned you would potentially bypass the circuit protection.

I attached an FAQ on routing the power wire for converters as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C