Looking for anyone who has installed an electric over hydraulic actuator... I am finishing up my disc brake conversion but have a question about the actuator wiring..I have a Hydrastar actuator with 4 wires ---yellow wire goes to cold side of breakaway switchwhite to groundblue to brake controllerand black is 12v power for the electric pumpNow, instructions require a 25-40amp 12v source for the black wire... my F350, however, is only fused at 20amps for the trailer plug. I talked with the folks at etrailer and they were surprised to have never heard this issue before.... especially considering I have a very common truck. Anyone used this set-up without a problem? I am guessing my only other options would be to replace the truck wiring or add a second 12v wire fused higher and run back to my trailer....

I think the charge wire coming from your truck is fused at 40A. The lighting circuits are fused at 15~20 amps.You can wire the pump to the on-board battery and since the pump doesn't take that much power all the time, the trucks charge wire will keep the trailer battery happy.

Correct, the trailer battery(s) has to be in the circuit. The power from the truck is only to trickle charge the battery, if the breakaway switch is operated, the power to either drive the hydraulic pump or engage the electric brakes comes from the battery.You do have a battery on the trailer, right? I would think the breakaway switch wiring would be wired into the battery today and would stay that way.

The 'trailer battery charge' circuit in my truck panel is fused at 20. I attached the HBA16 wiring diagram. It shows connecting to a "25-40amp circuit from tow vehicle". I understand what you are saying, and the trailer battery is part of the circuit for the breakaway switch, but I wouldn't want to rely on the trailer battery for the brakes on a regular basis. Don't trust a trickle charge to keep up with the use of my braking... I believe it has to be powered from the truck alternator via my 7-pin plug.

My actuator was installed in the front compartment of my 5th wheel and 2 feet from my trailer deep cycle battery. I ran the main power wire directly to this battery.

You are not really going to get much better than 20 amps through that 7 way plug- if you really insist on that, you need a separate 2 pole plug, like a 75 amp power pole connector.Personally, I believe the trailer battery/stock charging circuit will be plenty, and that the brakes themselves would give out before you run out of 12 volt power.

Electric over hydraulic actuator | Good Sam Community

houstonstroker
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
My actuator was installed in the front compartment of my 5th wheel and 2 feet from my trailer deep cycle battery. I ran the main power wire directly to this battery.
pennstaterv
Explorer
Apr 15, 2015
The 'trailer battery charge' circuit in my truck panel is fused at 20.

I attached the HBA16 wiring diagram. It shows connecting to a "25-40amp circuit from tow vehicle". I understand what you are saying, and the trailer battery is part of the circuit for the breakaway switch, but I wouldn't want to rely on the trailer battery for the brakes on a regular basis. Don't trust a trickle charge to keep up with the use of my braking... I believe it has to be powered from the truck alternator via my 7-pin plug.
BurbMan
Explorer II
Apr 15, 2015
Correct, the trailer battery(s) has to be in the circuit. The power from the truck is only to trickle charge the battery, if the breakaway switch is operated, the power to either drive the hydraulic pump or engage the electric brakes comes from the battery.

You do have a battery on the trailer, right? I would think the breakaway switch wiring would be wired into the battery today and would stay that way.
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 15, 2015
I think the charge wire coming from your truck is fused at 40A.
The lighting circuits are fused at 15~20 amps.
You can wire the pump to the on-board battery and since the pump doesn't take that much power all the time, the trucks charge wire will keep the trailer battery happy.

Forum Discussion

Electric over hydraulic actuator

About DIY Maintenance

Related Content

Electric over hydraulic brakes

Hydraulic vs Electric Landing Gear

Question on Dexter hydraulic brake actuator

Electric Drum vs Hydraulic Disc Brakes

Electric verses Hydraulic levelers