Charging Trailer batteries from Truck, how to prevent overload?

[ndemge]

Will be mounting a winch on our flatbed trailer.<br />Trailer will have 2 6volt batteries onboard.<br /><br />We want to hookup the charge circuit from the truck to the trailer, but when we go to use a winch, we don't want that much current draw going from the tow vehicle small 10gauge wire.<br /><br />I don't want to take the chance of having to always remember to unplug the cable before using the winch. I own the trailer with 3 of my brothers, and the same person will not always be using it.<br /><br />Thoughts?

 

[dolluper]

Re: Charging Trailer batteries from Truck, how to prevent overload?

How are you planning to hook it into the trucks chargeing circuit?? and why 6volts??

 

[ndemge]

Re: Charging Trailer batteries from Truck, how to prevent overload?

2 6 Volt Deep Cycle's to make 12 Volt<br /><br />Center plug of 7pin trailer plug. This will only be 10 gauge wire, then a 40 amp fuse, and then to the battery.<br /><br />Basically need something to limit no more than 40 amp pull from the tow vehicle to the trailer, without blowing a fuse.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Charging Trailer batteries from Truck, how to prevent overload?

Might want to think about an isolator doing it that way,or a circuit breaker between plug and batteries

 

[Bondo]

Re: Charging Trailer batteries from Truck, how to prevent overload?

As Somebody around here said before,......"Electricity is Lazy".........<br /><br />The Power Draw will Never get beyond the 2 6 volt batteries,........<br /><br />If the Batteries were Dead,.... The Draw would be as High as your circuit would Allow,.....<br />And,... This would happen when the Whip was plugged In,.. Not when you use the Winch........<br /><br />But,.... If there was Any life at all in the Batteries,.... That's where All the Draw will come From..............<br /><br />I Think,........................................

 

[islandboat]

Re: Charging Trailer batteries from Truck, how to prevent overload?

We've used 30 or 40 amp circut breakers with 10/32 studs for the wire lugs instead of fuses on circuts like this. If the breaker trips, it will reset in a minute or two. Napa or any parts store will carry these small breakers.<br />We've also found that small solar chargers mounted on the trailer will keep the battery reasonably charged and a charge wire may not be necasary on each tow vehicle. <br />If the trailer is big enough, it should have brakes and the "break-away" system usually supplies the charing circut for a battery.