Trailer Electrical Set up

[bryan01601]

I just purchased a 6'x12' trailer and want to put some sort of system in to charge my planes. I know there have been alot of threads on setting up the interior with shelves etc. What I am looking for is a good way to have my chargers etc set up. What I would like to do is plug all the chargers in at the field etc. And then plug the trailer into an electrical source when I get home. Any Ideas/ Pictures... I may also go with a battery and inverter but I am unsure how to wire the battery so it charges from my vhicle when it is running.

Thanks Bryan

[Pro1Foam]

what kind of trailer light plug do you have to go into? the 7 pin round or the 5 pin flat?

I just did what you are wanting minus the inverter.

[Pro1Foam]

If you do not want to pull current from you trailer when starting your vehicle you will need to put a high current diode between your vehicles power and the shown 10 amp fuse.

I am getting my power from a ALWAYS hot wire in my round 7 pin trailer plug-in. That output on my trucks trailer plug has its own 20 amp fuse.

Diagram....

[Propstriker]

I plan on installing a 15 watt solar panel to keep my 12v battery always charged, which already branches off to three 12 volt sources....one for the stereo system and two banana jack ports for my Triton chargers. There is no hook-up for 115 volt as I hav`nt needed it.

[Pro1Foam]

my setup works also to charge my 12v field box battery. I just plug it into one of the female bannana plug outlets.

I learned this the hard way but be sure you put a breaker or fuse (30AMP) on the positive side of your field box battery. I was high current charging one time and my power wire got hot, melted, and shorted to ground. I was like I had a smoke system on my field box. LOL

[Michael Glavin]

I purchased a used power distribution center removed form a motor home from a local RV wrecking yard for $50.00. Incorporated is 120v power distribution with circuit breakers, 12V automatic battery charger and power supply with 12V power distribution and circuit breakers. Very tidy small unit with a shore power pigtail its all good. I also have a solar panel on the roof of the trailer to help as the day progresses. Whenever you plug in the power supply charges the battery and provides power for chargers and lighting. A few strategically placed 120V receptacles and you’re good to go.

Make you use an insulated two conductor, copper stranded 10 gage wire designed for automotive/marine/RV use. RV stores sale this stuff, kinda of looks like Romax wire for homes, but is decidedly different stuff. Make the connection to the battery directly or to a solenoid that is directly coupled to the tow vehicles battery. Directly after this connection purchase a 30A fuse or better yet RV stores sale a auto-resetting circuit breaker for this very purpose. And a device known as an ISOLATOR that isolates the trailer batter from the tow vehicle battery is a worthy consideration to prevent you from deleting the tow vehicles battery.

[Pro1Foam]

Mike

What do you mean by "ISOLATOR"? Transformer maybe?

[Michael Glavin]

	Quote: Originally Posted by thaflyer
	Mike What do you mean by "ISOLATOR"? Transformer maybe?

I think its primarily a diode that prevents the trailer from drawing down the tow vehicle battery, It allows the alternator to push power or charge the trailer battery. Its kind of like a one way device, power can travel to the trailer battery only.

[Pro1Foam]

Ok got ya. The only thing the diode does is prevents the truck from pulling from the trailer. The problem that I am trying to figure out now is that anytime the trailer voltage gets .7 volts lower than the truck then the trailer pulls current from the truck. Could still drain my truck battery.

I guess I could set the truck power wire (12v charge) to where it is only on if the key is on. ACC driven relay or ACC wire.


Andrew

[jimo]

Thaflyer you could use a continous duty solenoid between your truck and trailer,these look like ford starter solenoids.It can be wired to close while vehicle is running thus charging trailer battery.I worked
for a starter and alternator rebuilder for many years and this setup works quite well.

[Pro1Foam]

Thanks "jimo"

I am running off the always hot wire in my trailer plug. Now just tring to figure out a way to do a clean instalation of the solenoid/relay system. I like my stuff to look NICEEEE...

Andrew

[Michael Glavin]

Yep. the solenoid is a great idea and pretty common in RV's too. You may want to isolate the trailer battery from the tow vehicle anyway.