Can a Breakaway Battery Be Used to Power an Interior Light

Published 11/28/2018

Products Featured in This Question

2.5-Watt Solar Battery Charger

(119)

$42.25

Optronics 12V LED RV Dome Light - Double - 10-5/16" Long x 4-3/16" Wide - White Housing

(1719)

$25.44

Question:

Hello, I have an enclosed trailer. It currently has a breakaway kit similar to this item. It also has a simple light inside. This light has a switch on it on/off. It only operates when the trailer is plugged in. Can I leave the existing breakaway kit alone, and add this kit to make the lights work when the trailer is not connected. Like this... black hot from truck 7 pin to ... 1. to existing black for breakaway kit 2. to new kit used for lighting using the blue wire to run the lights. either switched at the fixtures or adding a switch in line before lights -

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

Yes, you can use a breakaway battery to power the interior light on your enclosed trailer. However, these batteries typically only have a 5 amp hour rating so that is something to make note of. If you were to use an LED interior light like the Optronics LED RV Interior Light with Switch part # RVILL34 then you would not have any issues as it only draws .6 amps of power.

With that being said, you will not need the Tekonsha Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger part # 50-85-313. You can simply purchase just the battery, part # TK2023 and box, part # TK2051. In order to charge the battery I recommend using the 2.5-Watt Solar Battery Charger part # PTW2997 as the 12 volt power wire you have would be best left with the responsibility of solely charging the actual breakaway battery.

expert reply by: Conner L