Invisibrake not charging tow vehicle.

[superrayzor]

Dealer installed an Invisibrake. I am towing a 2007 Honda Odyssey following the procedure outlined on this forum. I make sure EVERYTHING is turned off before I tow it.

I repeat the procedure and let the engine run about every 2-3 hours. At the end of the day I have a little trouble getting the engine to turn over. So far haven't had it die completely, but it's getting close.

I have the 2016 F53 chassis. Is there something special I need to be doing to get the tow vehicle battery to charge with the Invisibrake? There is a red wire running to the battery on the Odyssey which I assume is meant to charge it.

[Bobbo]

dons2346 wrote:
Roadmaster installed my Invisibrake and wired the charge line into the tail lights. I have to turn on the tail lights to get power to the charge line.

I think this is your problem. The tail light wires are way too light to carry enough amps to keep the battery charged.

You would be better served to have a real charge wire run from the tow vehicle battery to the umbilical, fused, and switched with the ignition. Then run a real charge line on the towed vehicle from the umbilical to the battery, fused. Don't rely on the wimpy charging from the braking system.

[CA_Traveler]

If I recall the manual says up to 2A charging. With the typical long runs to the MH rear lights and small wiring for the lights that is not intended to charge a battery plus the additional wire to the toad just how much charging would you get?

Some cars don't have any drain when towed. But others in the Aux ignition switch position have various draws some of which pulling a fuse is recommended. Adequate Invsibrake charging for some cars and not others.

[CA_Traveler]

Yes the manual does say that but they show a 4 wire light connection from the MH to the Toad. Sure if you turn on the lights it MAY provide a small charge to the toad battery. And it's likely enough to support the Invisibrake.

But adequate charging for the normal towing drain of many cars/trucks is unlikely to happen with the lights on.

I view their statement as correct but perhaps misleading and more along the line of marketing speak.

I did upgrade from the 4 wire cable to the 6 wire cable which provides a heavier gauge charge line and an extra wire for the MH cab monitor light.

[superrayzor]

dons2346 wrote:
Go here to see how to wire up an invisibrake. http://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/braking/invisibrake/index.html

I read this for some light reading this morning already. Went out and verified what I could of how it is wired up and everything looks correct. Also verified there is no 'auto shutdown feature' either which I was worried about.

[superrayzor]

CA Traveler wrote:
Wow there is an incredible amount of issues here. First the Invisbrake does not charge the battery.

Next the charge line does not supply power to the Invisbrake it supplies power to the battery, from which the Invisbrake draws its power.

Roadmaster installed my Invisibrake and wired the charge line into the tail lights. I have to turn on the tail lights to get power to the charge line.

You should be all over Roadmaster management for this – just unbelievable. Tail lights are not a charge line. A charge line starts at the MH battery and ends at the toad battery.

Invisibrake is a load or drain on the toad battery. A charge line is unrelated and it’s what charges the battery.

Most brakes including the Invisbrake draw very little power for the toad battery unless of course you are on the MH brakes a LOT. If there is a significant battery drain while towing with no charge line it is likely a toad related drain.

Thanks CA Traveler, got your PM. I planned on going and purchasing a Voltmeter tomorrow anyway to see if there is a load. Was also thinking of getting a multimeter and seeing what is drawing power at the fuse box.

However, just from what you said, there is a misunderstanding or wrong statement as Roadmaster clearly states that it charges the battery (not via a charge cable either):

http://roadmasterinc.com/products/braking/invisibrake/index.html

• Charges your battery while towing — InvisiBrake connects directly to the towed vehicle’s battery and trickle-charges the battery during towing — InvisiBrake will never drain the battery.

However, I am seeing that it IS draining the battery. I had to stop twice today on a 5 hour drive and both times the engine barely turned over.

[CA_Traveler]

superrayzor,

Sent you a PM.

[CA_Traveler]

Wow there is an incredible amount of issues here. First the Invisbrake does not charge the battery.

Next the charge line does not supply power to the Invisbrake it supplies power to the battery, from which the Invisbrake draws its power.

Roadmaster installed my Invisibrake and wired the charge line into the tail lights. I have to turn on the tail lights to get power to the charge line.

You should be all over Roadmaster management for this – just unbelievable. Tail lights are not a charge line. A charge line starts at the MH battery and ends at the toad battery.

Invisibrake is a load or drain on the toad battery. A charge line is unrelated and it’s what charges the battery.

Most brakes including the Invisbrake draw very little power for the toad battery unless of course you are on the MH brakes a LOT. If there is a significant battery drain while towing with no charge line it is likely a toad related drain.

[dons2346]

Go here to see how to wire up an invisibrake. http://www.roadmasterinc.com/products/braking/invisibrake/index.html

[luvlabs]

I've never heard of a braking system supplying charging to the tow vehicle. Powering the braking system directly from the motorhome and not the vehicle battery is inherently unsafe as the brake would not operate in a breakaway situation.

You need to install a direct charge line from your motorhome to you vehicle battery. You can either do this your self (be sure and add a fuse) or purchase a ToadCharge or a RVi Battery charging system. No more dead or nearly dead batteries.

[superrayzor]

Bobbo wrote:
Are you absolutely sure the 12v charge wire from the MH is carrying power to the Invisibrake? It has to get its power from somewhere.

I mean it works - the turn signals turn on, and the brake lights turn on, and when I press on the brakes in the MH, it pulls the pulley and presses the brakes. How else could I check?

I also verified, it looks like the red wire is run to the battery from the invisibrake.

[wwest]

With the tail lights on that level of current flow might be enough to drop the voltage enough to prevent adequately charging the battery.

LED tail light bulbs..?

300W DC-AC converter(***) with an inexpensive battery charger.

*** works down to 10.5 volts..

[dons2346]

Roadmaster installed my Invisibrake and wired the charge line into the tail lights. I have to turn on the tail lights to get power to the charge line.

[Bobbo]

Are you absolutely sure the 12v charge wire from the MH is carrying power to the Invisibrake? It has to get its power from somewhere.