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Tarheel_2's avatar
Tarheel_2
Explorer
Jul 09, 2017

2016 Ford F150 12V Receptacle Timing Out

I'm towing a 2016 Ford F150 for the first time. First time I checked my Brake Buddy, it was off. Reset everything and same thing happened when I checked it again, discovered the all 3 12V receptacles time out after about an hour. I assume that is the way it is programmed. Has anyone else had this issue?
  • Just returned from my trip with a whole lot of knowledge on the Ford F150 electrical system. According to Ford, all 3 of the receptacles time out after 13 minutes. I stopped at two different dealers on my trip and neither knew that the receptacles timed out. Finally one of them contacted Ford. I then took J-D's advice and contacted Brake Buddy. They sent me the same fused wiring kit to the campground I was staying free of charge. I connected it directly to the battery terminals and just ran the cord through the door molding until I could get home and make it a permanent installation. Ford advised against converting one of the computer controlled receptacles to a direct battery connect. The new F150s are a great tow vehicle.
  • I am curious see what the solution is. I am debating whether to set up my 2015 F 150 and will also be using the BB for brakes.

    Not to hijack the thread but what are you using for taillights on the F150? factory lights or do you use auxiliary?
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Or, call Brake Buddy and tell them your outlet isn't powering your brake unit. They'll send you a kit to add a metal socket, wire to go to the battery, terminals, and a fuse holder. 20A or 30A, I forget which. Free. This has been an issue for BB ever since "cigarette lighters." Those things were always live, and they were fused 15A or so. Had wire size to back that up. Now, the "power outlets" are 10A with skinny wire and BB had complaints, burnt wiring and failed units. Their fix is the Wiring Kit.
  • This thread on the F150 Forum is 946 pages long and tells you how to change about a gazillion things. I have used this to turn of the dad-blamed Auto Stop/Start that I hate. One of the things you can do is change the timeout period for the cutoff.

    A lower tech answer is to find the fuse that powers the 12v plug you are interested in. Pull the fuse and jumper it (with a fused wire) to an empty hot spot in the fuse box that is not switched or timed out. That is also addressed in the 946 pages of the link I gave you.
  • enblethen wrote:
    Sounds like an auto-resetting circuit breaker is tripping.
    I would locate it and check size.

    Thanks. Got a PM from another owner who is having the same issue. He said he was told by someone that Ford can change something in the computer to eliminate the problem. I have determined that the receptacle is staying hot for just a little over an hour. I'm going to locate a Ford dealer on my route tomorrow and see what they say. If that is the way it is, I'll have a hot fused receptacle installed.
  • Sounds like an auto-resetting circuit breaker is tripping.
    I would locate it and check size.

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