[p]This is a new thread to keep the discussion separate from dave's main topic about battery size. Here is what I wrote on that thread:[/p][p]
[/p][p]"The subject of the trailer brake battery was discussed on another thread. Apparently it is not wired to be charged from any source- a big mistake by LL. There are several solutions: 1a) recharge it once each season with an external charger or 1b)jumper it to the main battery while plugged into shore power overnight to recharge from the converter 2) install a relay system to do the same as 1b automatically 3) install an diode isolator to keep it charged but not allow it to be discharged with the house battery 4) Remove it and wire the emergency battery switch to the main battery- my choice. The latter is what most trailer manufacturer's do, but some states may require a separate battery, so maybe 3 is the best choice."[/p][p]
[/p][p]Paul asked where the battery is located and he thought that it was wired like 4 above. [/p][p]
[/p][p]It is located on the side of the tongue just in front of the box and behind the LPG tank on my 16TBS. It is smaller than a motorcycle battery so maybe a 5 AH AGM. So, I do have a separate brake battery. I can't say for sure whether it has a diode isolator, but I don't think so. I will bring the trailer home from storage for winterizing in a few weeks and check out that question.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Tinkeringtechie reported that his emergency brakes are wired directly to the house battery. That is probably what I will do for mine, whether or not state law requires a separate battery- anyone know???? The concern about doing this is two fold: maybe the main trailer battery has been fully discharged so you won't have any emergency brakes when you need them. And secondly if you do need them, you will burn out your brake magnets with the big battery pumping juice into them over a long period.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Well, the second concern isn't worth talking about and I won't ever go anywhere with a fully discharged battery. I try to keep mine at least 50% full for best life and always recharge fully when I can.[/p][p]
[/p][p]David
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I think Paul asked where the brake battery was located. On mine it is a black box on the exterior passanger side of the hitch frame next to where my propane bottle holder is very near where the breakaway cable plugs in. Mine was zip tied closed. Inside is a small sealed lead-acid battery similar to what you find in UPS systems, emergency exit light fixures, or those 12v kids ride on toys. I'll try and post a picture later.
PS I did check mine and it did need a charge as stated by others in the other thread. I do recommend checking it if you have one.
[quote source="/post/3737/thread" timestamp="1411420482" author="@david"][p][span style="font-size:10pt;"] The concern about doing this is two fold: maybe the main trailer battery has been fully discharged so you won't have any emergency brakes when you need them. And secondly if you do need them, you will burn out your brake magnets with the big battery pumping juice into them over a long period.[/span]
[/p][/quote]If the emergency brake battery isn't charged by the tow vehicle (or the trailer's converter/charger) then I think it's much more likely it will be dead due to being ignored compared to the main battery. I wouldn't worry about the brake magnets burning out, the drums act as giant heatsinks.
[font size="3"]So I'll toss in my two cents worth. My brake battery is not charged from either the converter or TV. It will run down by itself if not charged, but when I checked mine at 6 months it was still essentially fully charged. The simplest way to maintain the charge is to manually connect an external charger or jump it to the main trailer battery periodically. However this does require good memory or a check list. Diode isolation doesn't work because it requires adding diodes in series with both batteries, which will greatly reduce the charging capability of both the converter and the TV. Not a desirable condition. Relays could be used, but the implementation becomes complex. Probably the best option is to connect a single low current diode between the two batteries; anode to the trailer battery and cathode to the brake battery. This would provide an automatic trickle charge to the brake battery from either the converter or the TV but the trailer load would not be able to discharge the brake battery. It might be possible to size the diode (or add a low current fuse) such that it would support charging, but would burn up if the trailer disconnected and drained the brake battery. Then again, as has been suggested, burned up brake magnets may be the least concern if the trailer gets loose.
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Thank you David for taking the time to awnser me and do a thread about it. I am not sure yet if I have that battery or not, I will have to check tonight. Thank you tlbones for taking the time to take a picture this will help to locate it if I have one.
In the interest of science and general curiosity here's the setup on my 2013 13QBB
The brake battery is separate and based on the fact that there is only one wire I'm going to conclude that it is in no way connected to a recharging source.
[attachment id="374" thumbnail="1"]
Here is the battery itself
[attachment id="375" thumbnail="1"]
Finally here is the current voltage. I have never looked at it before and I've had the camper for 18 months now so it looks like it holds a charge pretty well. I'll probably take it out this winter and throw it on a charger to top it off and condition it.
[attachment id="376" thumbnail="1"]
Thank you for sharing Mitch, I don't have that battery on my 2015 13QBB it's wired directly to the main battery, but still interesting info for me
Like I posted on the other thread, here are pics of my emergency brake battery. My LL originated in Indiana. Don't know if that had any bearing on why the separate battery.
DUH...just thought it out. The original purchaser of my LL ordered it wired for a battery hookup and did not opt for a house battery. LL had no choice but to provide a separate battery.
We asked the technicians at the dealer about the breakaway break battery. We were thinking about just connecting to the house batteries and be done with it.
Their answer was that the battery and the breakaway cable were designed to lock up the brakes. If we used the house batteries, power would still be going to the brakes. They said the breakaway battery should be checked annually and replaced as necessary.
[quote source="/post/4318/thread" timestamp="1413809570" author="@leslie"]We asked the technicians at the dealer about the breakaway break battery. We were thinking about just connecting to the house batteries and be done with it.
Their answer was that the battery and the breakaway cable were designed to lock up the brakes. If we used the house batteries, power would still be going to the brakes. They said the breakaway battery should be checked annually and replaced as necessary.[/quote][font size="3"]Leslie,
I don't quite understand your Tech's answer. Did he imply the power would always be going to the brakes, or that the power would continue to flow after the break away switch was activated? If the first, he's wrong until the switch is activated. If the second, he's right until the house battery is discharged. The latter is my concern since it may burn up the brake magnets but as has been pointed out, that may be a minor concern if the trailer breaks away.
I'll await your answer before posting the question in the Questions to LL section.
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As I understood his answer, the tech said that power would continue to flow after the breakaway switch was activated. Wednesday, I am taking my Camplite back to the dealer because there are several latches that are not functioning. I will ask the tech for further clarification.
If I understand the system correctly, we want power to flow after the switch is activated. In other words if the trailer is uncoupled the battery causes the magnets to engage and the brakes are activated. If this is the case then it shouldn't matter whether there is a separate battery or not.
[quote source="/post/4328/thread" timestamp="1413833250" author="@mitch"]If I understand the system correctly, we want power to flow after the switch is activated. In other words if the trailer is uncoupled the battery causes the magnets to engage and the brakes are activated. If this is the case then it shouldn't matter whether there is a separate battery or not. [/quote][font size="3"]You are correct in that current should flow after the TT disconnects and activates the switch. The question has always been why LL installed the second battery and why it has no means of being charged from the main converter or TV. That leaves the possibility that the brake battery will be uncharged when needed. Most other campers simply use the house battery. Several of us are looking at alternatives, but it would be nice to know what LL was thinking when they installed the second battery.
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Some folks only camp where they have hookups and forgo the house battery entirely. Hence the need for a separate brake-away battery.
The dealership we purchased the CampLite from removed the small brake battery and wired emergency brakes to the house battery. The tech said he did not care for the separate emergency brake battery
In a hurry setting the TT up one night for camping, accidentally left the emergency brake cable (non electric) connected to the TV when I pulled forward energizing the emergency brakes. Reconnected everything and headed out the next morning. Did not use trailer electric brakes too much until checking to see if the brakes had released properly, using pickup hand brakes mostly (like trying to stop a loaded 100 car coal train). The left trailer brake drum was hot (135F max temp I can hold my finger on something) and the right drum was cool. Rechecked emergency brake switch insertion, then disconnected the TT house battery and reconnected. Rechecked both trailer drum brakes 5 miles down the road (finger on the drum test) everything was cool. Never do the finger on the drum test after using heavy brake applications :(. I have a digital laser thermometer, but it was at home 1500 miles away. Another tool to keep in my camping travel tool kit :)!
In case someone here has not seen magnetic drum brakes on a CampLite TT:
[a href="http://s657.photobucket.com/user/vstromklr/media/2013/2014/IMG_3800_zpsa54979e5.jpg.html"]
(http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/vstromklr/2013/2014/IMG_3800_zpsa54979e5.jpg)
(http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu299/vstromklr/2013/2014/IMG_3798_zps4e419fb9.jpg)