Crazy idea?

[Jeffsst2]

Hello everyone, I have learned a lot from this site! Now for my first question. I have a flat 4 trailer connector, I believe that the 2 brown wires are the power wires. Could I tap into both on the trailer side and create 1 larger wire to then charge my house battery while driving? I will fuse with a 30 amp inline fuse before the house battery and disconnect while camped.

Thanks, Jeff

[coop74]

use a volt meter to determine which is power. On some wiring harnesses brown is ground (german ones for sure).

You really dont need a huge wire to slow feed your battery juice to keep it topped off by the way.

my two cents.

[Jeffsst2]

Would it be better tap both power lines?

[alaska teardrop]

Here is an explanation of the standard trailer wiring layout: http://www.etrailer.com/faq-wiring.aspx

The brown wire is intended for the tail lights. Connecting a battery to it would light up the trailer & car lights full time and may cause damage.

Fred

[Dale M.]

Generally if you want to charge while towing, you ruin a separate wire from source on tow vehicle (fused power from battery) to the battery in TC through its own separate pin on connector... Usually this requires changing out a flat 4 connector to a 5 or 6 or 7 pin connector...

The e-trailer link about wiring posted by someone else is pretty good... Also see "sticky" about "Charging While Towing"...

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=28620

Dale