Adding a Battery to an Enclosed Trailer with a Breakaway Battery Already Installed

Updated 09/07/2017 | Published 09/05/2017

Products Featured in This Question

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

(96)

$199.99

10 Gauge Wire - Blue Primary - Per Foot

(104)

$1.78

Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger - Dual Input - DC to DC - 12V/24V - 40 Amp

(87)

$620.00

Roadmaster Single Park Light Diode

(123)

$21.34

Solar Power Kit for TorkLift PowerArmor Battery Box - 10 Watt Panel

(4)

$233.23

Question:

I have 26 foot enclosed trailer that didnt come with a battery lights powered by tow vehicle. It has a Bright Way Group breakaway kit #2342 and Id like to add a battery to power a winch as well as have it charged by my truck when connected. Is it just a matter of splicing in to the red + from the breakaway kit?

asked by: Michael

Expert Reply:

To charge a battery for use in your trailer you will need to either use the CTEK MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Universal Battery Charger w/ Pulse Maintenance # CTEK56353 when you have your trailer parked, or use the Dual Battery Charger # 331-BCDC1240D. The second option will allow you to provide a maintenance charge from your tow vehicle and add a Solar Panel # TLA7713 (see attached picture). This will trickle charge your battery which will not be as quick as the first option but will allow it to still charge in remote places.

No matter which charger you install you can still draw a maintenance charge off of the 12V power from your tow vehicle. This will not actually charge the battery - only keep it from depleting which is why you will need to use a separate charger.

Since you want your breakaway battery to be fully charged at all times for emergency situations you will want to wire your battery for the winch to the 12V power pin on your trailer 7-Way connector separately. This will be the pin in the 11 O'clock position (see attached photo). You will also need to a diode to keep the larger battery from draining the smaller battery since they are both connected to the same power source. You can use 10 Gauge Wire # 10-1-1 and the Roadmaster Single Park Light Diode # RM-690 to accomplish this.