Can I Connect the Redarc Battery Charger to My Breakaway Battery and Trailer Battery?

Updated 01/29/2023 | Published 01/24/2023

Question:

Based on all the answers I have reviewed for the product, I plan on installing the RED96FR DC to DC Charger in my enclosed car hauler that has both a breakaway battery and an auxiliary battery. The auxiliary battery powers a winch and the electric tongue jack. I also plan on powering the RED96FR with the 7-pin auxiliary power pin on the vehicle/trailer as authorized in the device information and instructions without running a second wire to the front of the tow vehicle. One of the many reasons for this method is to be able to use the trailer as equipped with different tow vehicles without re-wiring at every tow vehicle change. In the applicable answers, etrailer professionals say that the breakaway battery must remain. Therefore, my question is: How is the breakaway battery charged and electrical circuit wired when the RED96FR is added to the trailers electrical system to charge the auxiliary battery?inch I can see various ways. One is to splitinch or splice into the 7-pin auxiliary power and sendinch one wire to the breakaway battery and one wire to the RED96FR. Another way would be to power wire the breakaway battery directly to the auxiliary battery. A third may be to connect both batteries to the RED96FR. In any case, I havent seen a direct answer to what is required to be safe, efficient, and legal. Further, currently the breakaway battery does not have a chargerinch and is directly connected to the 7-pin power wire. Would I need to install a separate breakaway battery charger for any of the methods you recommend/require when adding the RED96FR to charge the auxiliary battery? Thank you!

asked by: Richard P

Expert Reply:

In order to use the Redarc In-Vehicle BCDC Battery Charger item # RED96FR with your two batteries you would need to connect the batteries. It would work but isn't allowed by law because the breakaway battery needs to be completely separate. You will need to wire in your breakaway battery from the power wire on your 7-way and splice it to power the Redarc Battery Charger item # RED96FR.

expert reply by: Jerred H