Will the Hopkins Engager Trailer Breakaway Kit Keep Charging the Battery with the Truck Turned Off
Updated 08/13/2013 | Published 08/12/2013
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Question:
My 2004 Toyota Tundra with factory tow package has the 12 volt aux at the 1 oclock position on the 7 pin connector. It is not relayed to the ignition. That is to say, with the truck off and key out, there is still 12 volts at the pin. So my concern is leaving the trailer connected to the truck when its off. Will the Hopkins 20099 stop drawing current from the truck when the breakaway battery is fully charged? I would prefer if the truck had that pin on a relay and didnt supply power when the truck is off because the way it is now, the trailer could discharge the starting battery in the truck.
asked by: Travis
Expert Reply:
First it is important to know that the battery on the Engager break away kit # 20099 will only be charging as long as the 12 volt circuit is providing power. If you shut off the vehicle and disconnect the trailer it will not be charging.
When there is power it will continue to provide a maintenance charger to the battery to keep it at or near full power. You would want to disconnect the trailer from the vehicle if you do not want it to draw power from the vehicle battery when the truck is not running.
The other thing you can do is install a battery isolator on the 12 volt circuit on the truck side, # PK5231201. The easiest way to do this is to remove the factory 12 volt wire from the back of the 7-Way, attach some # 12-1-1 wire (sold in 1 foot increments) in its place and run it under the truck to the battery avoiding areas that will pinch or burn the wire.
Under the hood attach a 40 amp circuit breaker, # PK54540, to the metal of the engine compartment. The wire you ran will go to the AUX post. Then attach some left over wire to the BAT post. That wire will go to the output side of the isolator. And then run wire from the input side of the isolator to the battery. The isolator will ground to the metal of the engine compartment.
The center post on the isolator will need to be wired to a 12 volt ignition source. This is a 12 volt source that is only hot when the vehicle is on. That will prevent the trailer from drawing power from the truck battery when the truck is off.
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