Trailer off alternator?

[dakota123]

I'm currently building a trailer and want to get the wiring figured out in my head now so when the time comes i can just get to it.

I was planning on running a battery box on the front of the trailer....Shore plug, battery, and an inverter.
I will be running:
-Aux lighting
-Water pump
-(fridge in the future)
-usb charger


My plan was to run a wire from the alternator on my jeep back to to the battery to charge it.(I don't know much about electrical so I'm not even sure if that is possible.) Also planned on having a way to charge it via solar panel

Those of you that have done it. How did you do it?

This trailer is going to be taken on a month long trip across the country with little to no access to shore chargers so i won't have a chance to just recharge the battery at home or at a campsite.

Any part numbers you could give me or the best type of battery i need would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Tazman]

I'm currently building a trailer and want to get the wiring figured out in my head now so when the time comes i can just get to it.

I was planning on running a battery box on the front of the trailer....Shore plug, battery, and an inverter.
I will be running:
-Aux lighting
-Water pump
-(fridge in the future)
-usb charger


My plan was to run a wire from the alternator on my jeep back to to the battery to charge it.(I don't know much about electrical so I'm not even sure if that is possible.) Also planned on having a way to charge it via solar panel

Those of you that have done it. How did you do it?

This trailer is going to be taken on a month long trip across the country with little to no access to shore chargers so i won't have a chance to just recharge the battery at home or at a campsite.

Any part numbers you could give me or the best type of battery i need would be greatly appreciated.

I just wired up a plug for the same reason. I was planning on up to 40 amps from my alternator to help charge my 500 ah of Lithium batteries. I ran a 6 awg wire from the point where my alternator attaches to the battery wiring. That feeds to a 50 amp breaker, then to a battery isolator, then to the back of my truck where I have an 50 amp Anderson Plug. Make sure that your wire is sized properly and you fuse it properly.

 

[Tazman]

Here is a picture of the Anderson plug.

http://andersonconnect.com.au/store..._id=40&zenid=486f34ad39a544334ac7f3c00893689b

They are really popular in Austrailia but not in the US for some reason. I used a breaker instead of a fuse so I could turn off the power to the plug easily.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1QGSSX9MGC0076XXGZBE

Isolator

http://www.carid.com/bargman/bargman-accessories-3724805.html?gclid=CPj1nbzp48kCFVKEfgod3LgEbw

I used a similar isolator. Not fancy but functional.

Use a proper wire crimped, heat shrink tube, and proper wire lugs. ACE hardware had most of this. Amazon and Ebay for the rest. Good luck.

 

[dakota123]

Awesome! Thanks for the links you're the man!

 

[Tazman]

Good luck. I found a ton of video on YouTube to help give me confidence. YouTube is amazing.

 

[VanIsle_Greg]

I had a 7 pin plug wired in years ago for my Travel Trailer, which also gets charged by the vehicle while driving. When I built my offroad trailer, I used a 7 pin cable and a junction box. I wired it all up, lights etc and am ready for the electric brakes when I get off my ******** and install them. I also set up the trailer to charge off the Jeep using the appropriate wire from the 7 pin (forget now, possibly the black wire)??

E-Trailer has some excellent information on wiring your trailer systems up, that is a good place to start.

https://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

 

[XJINTX]

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Question... If I use a 7 blade connector how necessary is the isolator and or even manual breaker? Does an isolator prevent draining the car battery if trailer plugged in?

 

[TwinStick]

Subscribed

Question... If I use a 7 blade connector how necessary is the isolator and or even manual breaker? Does an isolator prevent draining the car battery if trailer plugged in?

Yes, a fuse is an important safety feature. The beauty of the Anderson Power connectors are: when you need it, you plug it in. When you don't, you just unplug it. NOTHING TO FAIL, which is important when you are in the middle of BFE. lol

I have a 270 amp DC Power alternator in our Power Wagon. I used 2/0 Ga welding cable to run + & - to my bed for my 2nd battery. I used 2, 350 amp Anderson plugs to connect about 20" away from bed battery. I use mine plugged in when winching---makes a HUGE difference. I have not had any issues. I have also used it to jump start myself once.