Breakaway Battery

bigtiller · Nov 19, 2015

How often do you replace yours? Mine is a 12v 5.0ah battery that gets towed about 30 times during the spring and summer. I try to remember to replace it every 2 years.

k0ua · Nov 19, 2015

bigtiller said:
How often do you replace yours? Mine is a 12v 5.0ah battery that gets towed about 30 times during the spring and summer. I try to remember to replace it every 2 years.

I don't have a trailer of course, but i wonder if you have ever put one of those little 1.5 watt solar chargers on it, to make it last much longer. I think I would. I used to have to replace my little JD lawn tractors batterys every 2 or 3 years. It has been several years now on this last one since I put the solar charger on

Diamondpilot · Nov 19, 2015

When need. The DOT rules state it must hold the trailer brakes locked for 15 minutes.

I check mine from time to time.

Chris

timswi · Nov 19, 2015

Its part of the state inspection around these parts...My neighbors lasted about 8 years with limited use--Your mileage may vary.

bigtiller · Nov 19, 2015

The lid to the battery box flops around so I tie it down with a zip tie, which makes it a hassle to charge it. Besides, I think the truck juices it up a little when it is running. I bring the battery into the heated garage for the winter and put a 1.5 amp charger on it at the beginning and end of winter.

I don't have any way of checking to determine if it is in good shape or not so I just replace it.

Diamondpilot · Nov 20, 2015

bigtiller said:
The lid to the battery box flops around so I tie it down with a zip tie, which makes it a hassle to charge it. Besides, I think the truck juices it up a little when it is running. I bring the battery into the heated garage for the winter and put a 1.5 amp charger on it at the beginning and end of winter. I don't have any way of checking to determine if it is in good shape or not so I just replace it.

They are cheap. I order them to my door for under $15

Chris

Aquamoose · Dec 4, 2015

Source? I need to service mine.

Diamondpilot · Dec 5, 2015

Aquamoose said:
Source? I need to service mine.

Ebay or Amazon. It's a UB1250

12v 5amp.

Chris

orezok · Dec 7, 2015

I tow my equipment trailer over the road only a couple of times a year. Mostly used onsite. Rather than trying to maintain break away batteries on a little used trailer, I made a small cradle on the tongue and use my starter pack and clamp it to permanently mounted breakaway terminals. It takes about 10 seconds to drop the pack in the cradle and hook the clamps to the terminals. Since I always keep the pack charged it's a no fail no brainer.

dfkrug · Dec 7, 2015

orezok said:
Rather than trying to maintain break away batteries on a little used trailer, I made a small
cradle on the tongue and use my starter pack and clamp it to permanently mounted breakaway terminals.

Good idea, OREZOK. Just lock it so it does not go missing when you stop somewhere for lunch.

Anyone use those new Lithium-Ion starter packs? They have come way down in price and are small and light.

I also get the above batteries for only $15 each total, tho I go for the 1280s, which are 7.5 A-hr.