Breakaway Battery

[bigtiller]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[bigtiller]

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]

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]

Source? I need to service mine.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Source? I need to service mine.

Ebay or Amazon. It's a UB1250

12v 5amp.

Chris

 

[orezok]

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]

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.

 

[civilian]

So what does one do when the trailer with a break away battery on it is used in the winter in N. Michigan and stored in a cold barn? My boat and camper batteries are kept in a warm garage, but they are not used in the winter. Does the break away battery get enough charge to keep it from freezing on short around town trips? Trailer is new this fall, so battery should be good right now. Thanks, Jon

 

[bigtiller]

I charge/maintain mine with this 1.5 amp Schumacher from walmart.

Schumacher XM1-5 Maintainer, 1.5-Amp - Walmart.com

 

[crazyal]

You would think they would make them out of capacitors that get fully charged every time they are connected to a 12v source.

 

[Garandman]

K0UA, solar charger sounds like a great idea.

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.
r.

We've had the MicroStart (first and one of the best) for two or three years. They work great. But they don't like cold or sustained loads.

 

[k0ua]

You would think they would make them out of capacitors that get fully charged every time they are connected to a 12v source.

Those supercaps are kind of expensive, but if we are replacing batteries all the time, it might be a good idea. Something to think about.

 

[wolfpack2]

So what does one do when the trailer with a break away battery on it is used in the winter in N. Michigan and stored in a cold barn? My boat and camper batteries are kept in a warm garage, but they are not used in the winter. Does the break away battery get enough charge to keep it from freezing on short around town trips? Trailer is new this fall, so battery should be good right now. Thanks, Jon

I have 2 trailers and neither of them have had any battery issues over the winter. I don't tow in the winter if avoidable as the amount of salt they use in metro Detroit will eat a trailer in no time. The trailers are stored in a barn and the batteries are left on the trailer with no issues this far. The oldest one is currently 7 years old and it still holds a charge all winter and has never frozen. I typically charge the batteries at the beginning of the winter and again before I pout them back into service in the spring.