Spent some long overdue time cleaning up and updating the electrical in the tongue box. The previous set up was 100% functional but did not allow for expansion or a way to isolate the battery from the system if need be. All loads were directly connected to the battery with inline fuses and there was not a fixed provision for charging from shore power.
Rather than plywood, I used ¾” poly cutting boards on the inside of the box to mount the components and to support the added shelf. The poly boards will never rot, completely water proof and are great insulators. The shelf is ¾ birch ply, liberally treated with boiled linseed oil, because it is pretty. The NOCO charger is secured to the aft board and the plug port adapter now occupies an enlarged outlet on the starboard side of the box. The charger is directly connected to the battery.
4 GA wire connects the battery to the main disconnect (mounted to the shelf), the circuit breaker and the fuse box. The fuse box is grounded to the battery. Circuit breaker and fuse box are screwed to the fore poly board. Currently the fusebox powers two sets of usb charging ports, one on the outside and the second inside the box for secure charging, the rear work lamp, and the parking light circuit.
It has always been a bit of a puzzle how the trailer is wired and I didn’t “mess” with it yet, just cleaned everything up and put components on individual circuits. The trailer battery is trickle charged through the 7 pin plug, and there is a plug in the bed for a fridge. The worklight on the rear seems to have been an afterthought, but it is matched with a second that comes on with the reverse lights, obviously a separate circuit. The heavy ga black and white wires isolated to the right side of the fuse box enter the tongue box through a gland fitting on the front of the box. That is the 7 pin charging circuit, but is also interconnected with the parking lights. There is a junction box on the hitch that I need to tackle at some point.
Parts list:
Blue Sea Systems 9003E e-Series Battery Switch, On/Off, Red
Blue Sea Systems 7184 285 Series Circuit Breaker, Surface Mount, 60 Amp
Blue Sea Systems 1016 Dual USB Charger Socket Two USB Ports with LED
Blue Sea Systems 6 Circuit Blade Fuse Block With Negative Bus
NOCO Genius GEN5X1, 1-Bank, 5A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger
NOCO GCP1 15A AC Port Plug 125V Power Inlet Socket
12V USB Outlet 2 Pack, Dual Quick Charge 3.0, Socket Waterproof Aluminum Charger with LED Voltmeter and Power Switch
Winco CBH-1824 Cutting Board, 18-Inch by 24-Inch by 3/4-Inch
Next up is adding solar charging, likely a Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 75V 15 amp 12/24-Volt Solar Charge Controller. That should be more than adequate for my needs, though I have also been scoping out the Renogy 12V 50A DC to DC Battery Charger with MPPT. I like the idea of one box, but also like the efficiency reviews on the Victron units. Anyone have experiences either way?