How Can I Charge an Auxiliary Battery from the Factory 7-Way in My Ford Truck Bed?

Question

Question:

I need a 7 pin connector so as to charge an auxiliary battery in truck bed while driving. Ford tow package 7 pin in bed of truck now.

asked by: Ron D

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Expert Reply:

Hello Ron,

Thanks for writing in.

If your Ford already has the factory 7-way in the truck bed, you can use the 12 volt auxiliary power circuit to help maintain an auxiliary battery while you're driving. To do that, you'll need a trailer-end connector like the TowSmart 7-Pole RV-Style Trailer Connector # TS82ZR. From there, run 10 gauge wire # 10-1-1 (sold by the foot) from the 12 volt auxiliary terminal on the connector to the positive terminal of your auxiliary battery. I also recommend installing a 30 Amp In-Line Circuit Breaker # 38630 as close to the battery as possible to protect the wiring, along with Ring Terminals # 44-5356A to make the battery connections.

Keep in mind that the factory 7-way charge circuit is intended to maintain or lightly charge a battery while you're driving. If the battery is heavily discharged or you're trying to recharge a large battery on a regular basis, the factory 7-way won't provide the charging current needed to recharge it quickly.

If your goal is to fully recharge the auxiliary battery while you're driving, a dedicated DC-to-DC charger wired directly between your truck's starting battery and the auxiliary battery is the better solution. It will charge the battery much more efficiently than the factory 7-way circuit. For that, I recommend the Victron Orion-Tr RV Converter, Isolated, DC to DC, 12V/12V, 18 Amp # VN75ZR. It's designed specifically for charging an auxiliary battery from your vehicle's charging system and is a much better choice if you'll be regularly drawing the battery down between trips.

Can you tell me what type of battery you're planning to use in the truck bed and what you'll be powering with it? That will help determine whether the factory 7-way will meet your needs or if a DC-to-DC charger would be the better option.

expert reply by: Kate F

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How Can I Charge an Auxiliary Battery from the Factory 7-Way in My Ford Truck Bed?

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