? for DC electric guru's

Eric in IL · Aug 18, 2012

I bought a new gooseneck grain trailer.

It has an automotive battery to run the hoist, jack, and breakaway trailer brakes.

The trailer came wired with two plugs. One to do lights and brakes and the other to maintain charge in the battery.

I don't want to run two new #4 gauge wires to the truck charging system unless I absolutely have to. The truck is wired to charge through the regular 7 pin trailer plug.

Here is the question:
Truck has about 12 feet of #12 ga. from battery to bumper plug. Then the wire in trailer harness drops down to #14 ga. for another 12 feet or so to the trailer battery.

Will those size wires in that length keep the battery charged ?

Red Dave · Aug 18, 2012

The size and length of the wires are entirely sufficient to charge the battery at a 10-12 amp rate. Besides, the battery should not require that level of charge rate constantly, only intermittently.

Yes, that is sufficient to keep the battery charged, assuming that all the connections are correctly made and all other factors have been accounted for.

Janicholson · Aug 18, 2012

No. If the battery gets low, it can draw dramatic current. I believe #8 wire front to hitch, and from there to trailer battery. A 40 amp circuit breaker is also wise. Jim.

jm. · Aug 18, 2012

We have several set up with hydrauli lift on the trailer. Will work fine the trick is put a Cicuit breaker IN the LINE that will go open and NOT allow the vehicle battery to do any of the work. We use 20 am metal cased soon as you try using the winch or lift on the trailer the breaker drops, you work off the trailer battery (we use heavy duty 4dlts) for the duration of the lift then on the way back to the shop the breaker resets and battery is recharged

Mike Kork · Aug 18, 2012

Charging the battery you are OK, it"s when you work the outfit that you will run in to problems, I agree with self resetting circuit breaker.

the tractor vet · Aug 18, 2012

Learned a long time ago on gooseneck grain trailers For the hoist battery run #2 back with a fork lift charger plug Then you will have enough it does not take long to suck the hoist battery down when lifting a big load BTDT.

JDseller · Aug 18, 2012

They will easily keep the battery charged. They will not run the hoist or jack. You can do like some have suggested and install a circuit breaker in the wire. I just unplug the trailer plug when I use the hydraulics. I have a tilt trailer and it works fine the way I am doing it. If I forget to unplug it it blows the fuse on the charge wire.

Eric in IL · Aug 18, 2012

Thanks for the replies.

I am going to install self resetting circuit breakers at both batteries. That way the wire on the trailer should be protected from the plug back when unplugged.

I will also carry an extra charged battery and a set of jumper cables for insurance this first season.

Again, thanks to all.

? for DC electric guru's

Eric in IL

Well-known Member

Red Dave

Well-known Member

Janicholson

Well-known Member

jm.

Well-known Member

Mike Kork

Member

the tractor vet

Well-known Member

JDseller

Well-known Member

Eric in IL

Well-known Member

Similar threads