Do I need power at pin 4 on my tow vehicle?
I think y'all think I be dumb. I know I need to plug that big black rubber thing on my trailer into my truck (what else will keep the trailer from falling off the ball ;)) This year we're going to...
Forum Discussion
When driving, your 7 pin plug needs to be plugged in all the time. That plug is needed for your trailer turn signals and brake lights, as well as a power line for tow vehicle battery to the DC volt system in the trailer.
Once at your campsite, or when parked, you unplug the 7 pin connection.
You do not need a battery kill switch on your camper. It's not necessary. Kill switches are used for just that ... to kill any battery draw or parasitic draw your camper does on your battery when you are not plugged into shore power. When plugged into shore power, the converter in your camper will power all the 12 volt systems and keep the battery charged. Flipping the batter kills switch disconnects the battery and will not charge. But the converter inside the camper will still run your 12 volt items. Still, it's better to keep your battery active (not disconnected) so all 12 volt items draw power from the battery and the converter.
The only exception here is, may be your slides. The converter by itself is usually not enough power to move the slides. They need the battery. If your battery kill switch is in kill position, your slides and maybe your power awning will not operate.
And by the way ... if your battery is on your camper in the winter, and your camper is plugged into power, the trailer converter will keep the battery charging all winter. Like in your automobile, as long as the battery is charged, it won't freeze or get damaged, unless it gets like, a million degrees below zero or something.
Once at your campsite, or when parked, you unplug the 7 pin connection.
You do not need a battery kill switch on your camper. It's not necessary. Kill switches are used for just that ... to kill any battery draw or parasitic draw your camper does on your battery when you are not plugged into shore power. When plugged into shore power, the converter in your camper will power all the 12 volt systems and keep the battery charged. Flipping the batter kills switch disconnects the battery and will not charge. But the converter inside the camper will still run your 12 volt items. Still, it's better to keep your battery active (not disconnected) so all 12 volt items draw power from the battery and the converter.
The only exception here is, may be your slides. The converter by itself is usually not enough power to move the slides. They need the battery. If your battery kill switch is in kill position, your slides and maybe your power awning will not operate.
And by the way ... if your battery is on your camper in the winter, and your camper is plugged into power, the trailer converter will keep the battery charging all winter. Like in your automobile, as long as the battery is charged, it won't freeze or get damaged, unless it gets like, a million degrees below zero or something.
