Does 12V Power Wire Have to be Connected on Curt T-Connector for 2020 Toyota Prius Prime

Updated 04/27/2020 | Published 04/24/2020

Question:

You mention that the C56371 has a power wire that runs to the battery because some wiring systems wont handle the additional load of trailer lights. I have a trailer that uses LED lights, which draw less current than the incandescent lights used on many trailers. Does the power wire have to be hooked up to power the circuit board, and if not, what is the maximum current that the C5671 will provide without the power wire being hooked up?

asked by: Matthew T

Helpful Expert Reply:

Wiring harnesses that connect to the vehicle battery for power, like the Curt T-Connector # C56371 for your 2020 Toyota Prius Prime, are designed to protect your OEM vehicle wiring so they are built around using the battery to power the lights.

On a system like this you essentially won't have any power to your trailer lighting no matter how small the amount of draw. The parts that tee in behind your tail lights are basically like triggers that tell the converter box when to send the power.

When you install this be sure to install it directly to the battery as well. Another common question about this type of wiring system is about connecting the power to any 12V power source like an outlet, and that defeats the entire purpose of the converter box and how it's designed. The best practice is to go ahead and install it exactly like how the instructions say to so that we avoid any malfunctions.

I have attached an installation video of this on a 2017 Prius Prime that you can check out.

expert reply by: Jon G