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Adding Interior Lights to Trailer and Keep Battery Charged  

Updated 02/19/2020 | Published 02/15/2020



Question:

Could you give a a step by step on the wire hookup? . I’m assuming that I will the wires about 12 inches back from the plug that goes to the back of my truck and hook up one wire to each prong on the junction box. So at this point I will have 2 wires on each prong one from the trailer to the junction box and one from the Jbox to the plug that goes to the truck. Ok so if that’s right so far now I would have to run some wire from the Knox to the new battery then to the switch then to the light then back to the battery. Could you just gone me the hook up instructions thanks

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Expert Reply:

The best way to get interior lights in your trailer is to have a dedicated 12 volt battery, and battery box like # 329-HM318BKS mounted to the trailer. This gives you the power needed while you're not hooked to your truck.

For lights I recommend LEDs because they require much less power, and last longer than incandescent bulbs. Which lights I recommend depends on how many you want to add and the way you want to mount them. You'll need wire # 12-1-1 and ring terminals # 44-5310A for each light. For a switch you can use Pollak Heavy-Duty Toggle Switch # PK34571.

The new battery can be hooked into the 7 way on your trailer using a junction box # 38656, and then when you're hooked up it will provide a maintenance charge. This however will not completely charge a dead battery. If you plan on being unhooked for an extended period, or your trailer battery is depleted I recommend using a battery charger like CTEK MULTI US 7002 12-Volt Universal Battery Charger # CTEK56353.

I linked the parts mentioned above, a few videos as well as our selection of LED interior trailer lights for you to check out.

expert reply by:
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Robert C
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George D. profile picture

George D.

1/1/0001

Could you give a a step by step on the wire hookup? . I’m assuming that I will the wires about 12 inches back from the plug that goes to the back of my truck and hook up one wire to each prong on the junction box. So at this point I will have 2 wires on each prong one from the trailer to the junction box and one from the Jbox to the plug that goes to the truck. Ok so if that’s right so far now I would have to run some wire from the Knox to the new battery then to the switch then to the light then back to the battery. Could you just gone me the hook up instructions thanks

Robert C. profile picture

Robert C.

2/19/2020

I can definitely help you out with the wiring. There isn't a set of instructions since there are numerous ways to install the lights and battery and routing will be different on each trailer. You are correct, you mount your junction box towards the front of the trailer with 1 set of wires going to the plug (that hooks into your truck). The other set of wires (connected in the junction box) would go out to the corresponding lights, and brakes. Then you run a wire from the 12V pin in the junction box to the positive post on the new battery. The lights can be mounted and grounded to the trailer, and the power wire runs to the switch, and then from the switch to the 12V post in the junction box. I attached a photo of a trailer wiring diagram for you to reference.
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