This isn't boating related, but it is another big tin!! I can't seem to get any electrical minded folks to get me answers on my snowmobile forum, so I'm seeing if you guys can help. I am a completely inept when it comes to electrical. My online searches don't seem to be coming up with anything.
My fishing addiction actually was started by ice fishing. I got addicted to ice fishing first and it actually got me into snowmobiles. Fast forward 20 years and I'm fully involved in snowmobile touring and fish a whole bunch using my sleds to get me and my gear out there.
Anyway... I have an enclosed trailer to carry my sleds and ice fishing gear. It's got interior LED lights that only work when the trailer is hooked to the vehicle and the headlights are on. I want to add a small battery just to run the two LED dome lights when it's not hooked to the vehicle. I would like it to work seamlessly if possible, I'd rather not add extra wall switches or have to hook up the battery each time I use the lights, but maybe that isn't possible. So here is what I have... this is the trailer:
The plug from the vehicle comes in and goes directly to a distribution panel. Then it goes to all the brake, turn, marker lights... also the trailer has electric brakes and there is a small box with a battery that is designed to operate the brakes in the event of a breakaway trailer. There is a switch on the tongue of the trailer that has a tether that will activate the brakes. The box that houses the battery also has a small inline charger. So here is a picture of the distribution panel:
This seems to be a wiring diagram on top of the breakaway battery, but interestingly doesn't show anything about the interior lights:
So in my fumbling around, I simply turned the wall switch on for the dome lights and was able to power them up by hooking up what appears to be the hot and the ground from the vehicle. It's a huge gauge white wire (gotta be ground) and what I assume is the hot from the vehicle (red wire). I am able to power the other lights and whatnot by keeping the negative on the white wire and moving the positive to the other terminals on the distribution panel. This is what I did temporarily to power the interior lights:
So I have no idea if this is a bad idea to have hooked up while the power is coming from the vehicle? I don't want to overpower the small battery, and I certainly don't want to compromise the breakaway battery. I also don't want to feed power back to my truck, I don't think. So that is a lot to digest... anyone have some insight for me? My online searches seem to make this simple, but I am nervous about burning something up.
My fishing addiction actually was started by ice fishing. I got addicted to ice fishing first and it actually got me into snowmobiles. Fast forward 20 years and I'm fully involved in snowmobile touring and fish a whole bunch using my sleds to get me and my gear out there.
Anyway... I have an enclosed trailer to carry my sleds and ice fishing gear. It's got interior LED lights that only work when the trailer is hooked to the vehicle and the headlights are on. I want to add a small battery just to run the two LED dome lights when it's not hooked to the vehicle. I would like it to work seamlessly if possible, I'd rather not add extra wall switches or have to hook up the battery each time I use the lights, but maybe that isn't possible. So here is what I have... this is the trailer:
The plug from the vehicle comes in and goes directly to a distribution panel. Then it goes to all the brake, turn, marker lights... also the trailer has electric brakes and there is a small box with a battery that is designed to operate the brakes in the event of a breakaway trailer. There is a switch on the tongue of the trailer that has a tether that will activate the brakes. The box that houses the battery also has a small inline charger. So here is a picture of the distribution panel:
This seems to be a wiring diagram on top of the breakaway battery, but interestingly doesn't show anything about the interior lights:
So in my fumbling around, I simply turned the wall switch on for the dome lights and was able to power them up by hooking up what appears to be the hot and the ground from the vehicle. It's a huge gauge white wire (gotta be ground) and what I assume is the hot from the vehicle (red wire). I am able to power the other lights and whatnot by keeping the negative on the white wire and moving the positive to the other terminals on the distribution panel. This is what I did temporarily to power the interior lights:
So I have no idea if this is a bad idea to have hooked up while the power is coming from the vehicle? I don't want to overpower the small battery, and I certainly don't want to compromise the breakaway battery. I also don't want to feed power back to my truck, I don't think. So that is a lot to digest... anyone have some insight for me? My online searches seem to make this simple, but I am nervous about burning something up.