Brakeaway battery charger

[Diamondpilot]

Really not needed. If you use the trailer a couple times a year and the tow vehicle is wired properly along with the trailer its all you need.

Chris

 

[Ken45101]

Really not needed. If you use the trailer a couple times a year and the tow vehicle is wired properly along with the trailer its all you need.

That is NOT a safe answer. Some trailers are wired to recharge the breakaway battery, many are not. Assuming that the battery gets recharged while in use is a very dangerous assumption.

Furthermore, if the trailer sits for a while (such as over winter) and becomes discharged, it will take a long time (hours) for it to get recharged. In the meanwhile, one would be towing without a proper safety system.

Ken

 

[Diamondpilot]

That is NOT a safe answer. Some trailers are wired to recharge the breakaway battery, many are not. Assuming that the battery gets recharged while in use is a very dangerous assumption.

Furthermore, if the trailer sits for a while (such as over winter) and becomes discharged, it will take a long time (hours) for it to get recharged. In the meanwhile, one would be towing without a proper safety system.

Ken[/QUOTE

I clearly stated that if the tow vehicle and trailer were wired properly. I sell trailers and check each one I sell with a multi-meter and never had one below 11 volts even after setting a year. The only way you would have a issue is a bad battery or one that is improperly wired and no charger is going to do any good.



Chris

 

[Ken45101]

I clearly stated that if the tow vehicle and trailer were wired properly. I sell trailers and check each one I sell with a multi-meter and never had one below 11 volts even after setting a year. The only way you would have a issue is a bad battery or one that is improperly wired and no charger is going to do any good.

Chris,

I'll quibble that it wasn't clearly stated about the trailer wiring. I assume that all new trailers are properly wired from the factory, unless there is a mistake. Many are not designed to charge the battery.

11 volts does NOT indicate a fully charged battery, not one that will properly stop and hold the trailer if it breaks away. Add another year to that trailer without charging it, and it very likely will not have enough charge to do it's job. Actually even as you sell them, I doubt that 11 volts is adequate. 11 volts does not indicate a defective battery, it just indicates one that needs to be charged!

Which reminds me, I should check the battery on the gooseneck equipment hauler I have....as well as the horse trailer. I know for sure the horse trailers do not charge the breakaway battery. Thanks for reminding me!

Ken

 

[Diamondpilot]

The law states that the brake-away must hold the brakes for a minimum of 15 minutes. Go out, jack up your trailer, pull the brake-away, and come back 15 minutest later and try to turn the wheels. On a properly adjusted trailer (brakes), even at 11 volts you will not be able to do it for hours.

Also just for kicks the next time you hook up your trailer and go though your brake adjustment procedure get out your multi-meter and measure the voltage at the brakes. Depending on where you have your controller set you may see 5 volts or so. Heavier loads will require higher voltage.

Look. At the end of the day we can both agree that a fully charged battery is the best. Reality is these batteries take forever to discharge if properly installed and a battery at less than full charged will hold the brakes.

Chris

 

[Bedlam]

wondering would a simple float charger overcharge it these are made to cut out or drop voltage .
Seal-All Contact and Sealant Adhesive 1109

 

[Ken45101]

The law states that the brake-away must hold the brakes for a minimum of 15 minutes. Go out, jack up your trailer, pull the brake-away, and come back 15 minutest later and try to turn the wheels. On a properly adjusted trailer (brakes), even at 11 volts you will not be able to do it for hours.

...
Reality is these batteries take forever to discharge if properly installed and a battery at less than full charged will hold the brakes.

Chris

What **I** can turn is quite different than what is needed to hold a break away trailer on a hill.

A friend of ours had his hitch drop down (rusted frame) when he was hauling a car. No big deal at the time, he was doing slow on a back road at slow speed on a slight downhill grade.

However, in another two miles, he would have been going up a long steep hill on US 68. I have my doubts that a partially discharged (e.g. 11 volt) battery would have held the trailer on that hill.

And no, those batteries will NOT "take forever to discharge". They need to be charged every 6-12 months. In my personal experience, I have not seen any that get charged from the tow vehicle although some probably are. Direct connection to a 12v line from the tow vehicle may provide excessive current (and damage the battery) which may be why it's unusual for them to be charged that way. Too heavy of a charge will damage the battery. I know on the 4wheeler battery I just replaced, they stated no more than 2 amps to charge it. Direct connect to a 12 volt line will provide a lot more than 2 amps.

Ken

 

[jwstewar]

My 2003 Bison stock trailer is wired with a little battery charger wired in. So is my 2008 Gatormade utility trailer. Every trailer I've every seen has been wired to charge the battery - if it has one a lot haven't had it.

Only thing I will disagree with Chris on, I like how GM has wired my trucks so that they charge the battery anytime the trailer is plugged in. This gives me a little more charge time when I tow my trailer - usually short trips to town to get something. If I'm going to leave it hooked up for several days and I'm afraid of running my truck battery dead, I could unplug it. So far, I've kept my trailers plugged in up to a week at a time w/o any noticable side affects.

 

[Kaliburz]

How about solar charger???? Or did I miss it being mentioned...... I've seen kits being sold (small dry cell battery and mounting case w/ a panel on top). Might be too small for a multi axle trailer....

Most of the trailers I see are still wired using the 6 wire small round plug. Some use the 7 way semi truck type plug. Granted, most are over 10 years old, probably closer to 15-20.....

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do not know what to day. I have never seen or sold a trailer that was not wired to charge. To me 6 months is a long time.

Just have to agree to disagree.

Chris