Wires Get Hot and Smell Wired to 12v Battery to Power Interior Light in Enclosed Trailer

Updated 04/10/2019 | Published 04/09/2019

Question:

Im trying to add a 12V battery to my enclosed trailer to run interior light when not connected to truck. Im trying to do this with out tapping into my existing wiring harness. Ive got it to work bu the wires are getting hot and smelling. Is this a grounding issue? Should I run the negative wire from battery to metal framing?

asked by: Jim S

Expert Reply:

Yes you want to ground the 12v battery to a clean bare metal surface on the trailer frame when using a spare battery to power an interior light. You want to make sure the battery is good and all of your spliced connections are connected properly. Check any of the wiring for damaged or frayed wiring. If you are using a smaller gauge wire, I recommend a 12 gauge wire like part # 12-1-1 if you are powering a lot of lights or the lights draw a lot of power.

expert reply by: Heather A