Has anyone installed wiring for trailer DC-DC charger

[KmG]

I’m looking to install separate wiring to an Anderson connector at the bumper to connect to my trailer DC-DC charger. I’m not sure where to connect, at the battery terminal or the buss bar on the side of under hood fuse box. Are any of the buss bar connections rated for 50 amps?

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[SurfRanger]

I’m looking to install separate wiring to an Anderson connector at the bumper to connect to my trailer DC-DC charger. I’m not sure where to connect, at the battery terminal or the buss bar on the side of under hood fuse box. Are any of the buss bar connections rated for 50 amps?

Put positive on one of the positive battery studs (under red + cover) with a fuse right there near it and you can ground it to the chassis close by near the A pillar in the engine bay.

this is how i did my wiring for dcdc charger (50A) and its been great for probably 8 months or so now.

 

[db79467]

I'm about to do this in the next few weeks. Curious how you are mounting the Anderson connector and where you're running the wires? I'm thinking of a cutout in the rear bumper like the 7 and 4 pins.

To be clear I haven't even started to plan this so the wire routing may be obvious, but curious as to how this goes for you (or how it went for SurfRanger).

 

[SurfRanger]

I'm about to do this in the next few weeks. Curious how you are mounting the Anderson connector and where you're running the wires? I'm thinking of a cutout in the rear bumper like the 7 and 4 pins.

To be clear I haven't even started to plan this so the wire routing may be obvious, but curious as to how this goes for you (or how it went for SurfRanger).

Running the wires should be fairly simple. You can just follow the factory wiring harness down the drivers side of the truck underneath and zip tie to it. Getting around the rear shock mounts can be a little funny if i remember correctly so a wire snake can be handy to have around.

 

[db79467]

That’s how I ran the wires. There’s a spot next to the 7 pin that has room for a flush mount Anderson plug and still be attached to the metal backing plate. It’s a little tight but it works. I can send photos if you’d like.

 

[superj]

what do you use that plug for? to charge a different battery in an rv besides the small 12v car size battery?

 

[John E Davies]

FYI it is possible to install this kit, which is limited to 12 amps dc, withOUT running heavy gauge wires under the truck, it should work with the Ranger factory trailer charge circuit. I used their previous version on a trailer with 200 amp hours of Battleborne LiFePO4 batteries, off a 20 amp circuit on a Land Cruiser 200, and it worked perfectly. That trailer had 360 watts of rooftop solar, so the relatively low charge rate was completely acceptable to me.

https://www.redarcelectronics.com/us/trailer-power-kit-na

If you want more dc to dc amps than that, then yes , you will be forced to run those big cables, including a ground cable all the way to the truck battery, preferably 2 AWG. Be sure to add an appropriate fuse at the battery, I like the terminal block style.

If you do have solar and a good mppt controller already, you can buy just the charger part of this kit for $260…

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

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