Brake In A Box Questions

We just bought a 2014 Focus specifically for towing. I asked the service dept if the neg batt cable must be disconnected. The answer was ABSOLUTELY. Even with the key off, power still goes to the tranny. I had a batt disconnect switch installed as part of the deal. I will be asking questions soon about the wiring so as to not get any feedback maybe diodes?

FWIW I tow a 2013 focus and use a RIV2 brake system powered by a J&C660 (jump box). I can go 3 days (or more) before I recharge the J&C. The main Battery ground MUST be disconnected. I installed a Battery Dr. switch to make life better. Makes a good toad. You MUST follow the set up in the manual to tow. After you do it a few times, it becomes no big deal. Use the search box here to give you many ideas about how to skin this cat. PM if I can help.

jim

dramsey1 wrote:
Interesting. I thought of this as I own a jumper rated at 650 cca. Also thought of installing a spare battery in the trunk of the toad and wire to that. So you plug the brake directly into the jumper unit and that works for you?

yep, worked like a charm.
bumpy

Interesting. I thought of this as I own a jumper rated at 650 cca. Also thought of installing a spare battery in the trunk of the toad and wire to that. So you plug the brake directly into the jumper unit and that works for you?

instead of tapping power from the MH I carried a small battery starter/jumper jobby that I wanted to have along anyhow.
bumpy

lafrentz wrote:

WyoTraveler wrote:
Not familar why you need to need to disconnect your battery. Or even why several toads recommend it. Is it because it will discharge the battery? Or other reason? I use the Blue Ox Patriot. It does have a small battery. I also run a charge line through a diode to charge my toad battery while towing. You need to isolate the charge line with a diode. My toad is a Jeep. If you have a charge line not sure why you would need to diconnect your ground.

??? that's what the OP is asking here. can he run a charge line instead of disconnecting the batt cable and of course the answer is most certainly

I've measured my charge line current numerous times. Never measured above 10 amps. I bought a pkg of 6 amp diodes from Radio Shack. If I recall 4 in a pkg for $3. I mounted them in a small plastic Radio Shack box in parallel. Keeps my toad battery charged and the box, diodes, and terminals inside cost about $6. Sure beats charging my toad battery all night in an RV park.

I'm no expert but this is what I think is going on. The toad has an automatic transmission. When you follow the instructions in the owners manual to put the Focus into recreational tow mode you hear what sounds like a clutch kick out somewhere around the transmission and the message center displays "transmission ready". Then you disconnect the negative on the battery. When you reconnect it the clutch sound happens again and when the key is turned on the message center reads "transmission in normal mode". I fear that if the negative is connected in any way while towing it will kick the transmission out of tow mode which will eventually ruin it. Given the costs of everything these days I'm going to follow Ford's instructions to the letter. It sounds like a brake in a box is safer than one that's wired in a little tighter. Tried the Invisibrake but it somehow back fed thru the system and somehow lit up the Focus even with the negative disconnected so I had the installer remove it and never towed the vehicle with it. Roadmaster said disconnect the positive instead and Ford said don't do that.

WyoTraveler wrote:
Not familar why you need to need to disconnect your battery. Or even why several toads recommend it. Is it because it will discharge the battery? Or other reason? I use the Blue Ox Patriot. It does have a small battery. I also run a charge line through a diode to charge my toad battery while towing. You need to isolate the charge line with a diode. My toad is a Jeep. If you have a charge line not sure why you would need to diconnect your ground.

??? that's what the OP is asking here. can he run a charge line instead of disconnecting the batt cable and of course the answer is most certainly

Not familar why you need to need to disconnect your battery. Or even why several toads recommend it. Is it because it will discharge the battery? Or other reason? I use the Blue Ox Patriot. It does have a small battery. I also run a charge line through a diode to charge my toad battery while towing. You need to isolate the charge line with a diode. My toad is a Jeep. If you have a charge line not sure why you would need to diconnect your ground.

Just trying to keep the Patriot powered with the vehicle battery disconnected as the toad lights will run off the coach. I probably will install a cutoff switch instead of removing the battery cable but there's not a lot of room to work with as the battery is partially under the cowling. No real problem just a little tricky. Thanks for your help.