Community Forums

pixguy · 04-13-2010, 05:24 PM

I have an 07 Dolphin and I'd like to run power to my 2010 CRV battery to keep it up while towing. I cannot pull the fuse as I need the 12v for my toad brakes. Can I tap off my 7 pin round to my 6 pin round umbilical cord?

Or can I run 12v power from the cord to inside the CRV to power the brakes??

Thanks in advance!

chiefdave · 04-13-2010, 05:37 PM

Bill, I just purchased a system called "Toad Charge". It attaches to the alternator side of the coach and runs to the back of the coach then attaches to the toad vehicle. Here's the website: RVUpgradeStore - Search Results
This is the best price on the web. I just received mine and have not had time to hook it up. I have problems when I tow the van several days at a time. Hope this helps.

pixguy · 04-13-2010, 07:24 PM

Thanks Dave, But i was trying to avoid running any wires from the coach batteries to the toad. Don't need another wire to hook up...

no way to run it through the cord I already run??

wa8yxm · 04-14-2010, 09:47 AM

The fuse you need to pull should have nothing to do with your 12 volt outlet.. Though I do admit some cars run that through the ignition switch (idiot design)

you can (and should) add a 2nd independent 12 volt outlet, use 10ga wire and a proper (10-15 amp depending on the socket) fuse and go straight to the battery with the lead.. Or if your car has it to a soild 12 volt tap (This is like a 7/16" stud labeled for that purpose)

Now.. Get the "Towed Charge" system and install it.. yes, it can use the battery lead on the 7-pin plug/socket.

a k · 04-14-2010, 07:16 PM

Just run a #10 or #12 wire from your toad battery to the center pin of your toad 6 pin receptacle. That's coach battery power from your 7 lug coach and it will keep your toad charged.

Fuse it if you want

pixguy · 04-15-2010, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

The fuse you need to pull should have nothing to do with your 12 volt outlet.. Though I do admit some cars run that through the ignition switch (idiot design)

you can (and should) add a 2nd independent 12 volt outlet, use 10ga wire and a proper (10-15 amp depending on the socket) fuse and go straight to the battery with the lead.. Or if your car has it to a soild 12 volt tap (This is like a 7/16" stud labeled for that purpose)

Now.. Get the "Towed Charge" system and install it.. yes, it can use the battery lead on the 7-pin plug/socket.

Quote:

Originally Posted by a k

Just run a #10 or #12 wire from your toad battery to the center pin of your toad 6 pin receptacle. That's coach battery power from your 7 lug coach and it will keep your toad charged.

Fuse it if you want

Thanks Guys, This is th info I was looking for..... So I can run a wire from the center pin on the toad receptacle to an additional 12v plug in the toad or to the toad battery?? What about a ground?
Sorry for the lack of understanding!
Bill

KentM · 04-16-2010, 05:58 AM

I also have the "Toad-Charge" installed in my '01 CR-V. You should already have the ground connection as part of your lights providing it was hooked to the CR-V lights. If you are using a set of magnetic stick-on lights you might not have that ground. I think it is very important that the ground of the RV should be connected to ground in the toad. As others have mentioned, the brake system should be wired to a separately fused connection directly to the battery. The 12v receptacle is just stowed under the dash near the emergency brake pedal. I use the EvenBrake and you can actually monitor the voltage in the toad on the remote display panel to tell you that the charging device is working. I would definitely recommend the use of the "Toad-Charge" device as it limits the charge current to the toad battery. It is possible that the toad battery could be overcharged without it.
Kent

chiefdave · 04-17-2010, 07:50 PM

No, the Charge Controller supplies only the amount of current being demanded by your dinghy battery to keep it charged. Up to 10 amps of charging current is available, but just a fraction of that amount is typically supplied (depending on how much current is being drawn by the ignition/accessory switch, dashboard lights, supplemental braking system, etc.). WHAT HAPPENS IF I START EITHER VEHICLE WHILE TOAD-CHARGE™ IS CONNECTED? The Charge Controller prevents your motorhome from supplying excessive current through the wire harness when you start the dinghy vehicle's engine. Similarly, the Charge Controller will not allow any current to flow from the dinghy back to the motorhome, thereby preventing excessive current draw when you start the motorhome engine.

LeeSoCal · 04-18-2010, 07:59 PM

I have identical vehicles as you do and had the same problem. Here is what I did to solve the problem of the toad's battery dying. You already have a pin in you RV female socket that has power when the RVs engine is running. Just use that to power the aux brake. I had to switch from a 4 wire umbicial to a 5 wire to get the hot wire back to the toad and then of course, I had to change the socket on the front of the toad to accomodate the extra wire. I also installed a fuse in the wire going to the aux brake.

pixguy · 04-25-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeeSoCal

I have identical vehicles as you do and had the same problem. Here is what I did to solve the problem of the toad's battery dying. You already have a pin in you RV female socket that has power when the RVs engine is running. Just use that to power the aux brake. I had to switch from a 4 wire umbicial to a 5 wire to get the hot wire back to the toad and then of course, I had to change the socket on the front of the toad to accomodate the extra wire. I also installed a fuse in the wire going to the aux brake.

Lee, Any chance of pm'ing me and help with which post is the "hot" one??

pixguy26@gmail.com

Thanks, Bill

wa7hra · 04-25-2010, 09:46 AM

pixguy, what kind of toad brake do you have? Some of them, such as the US Gear brake which I have, include a built in toad battery charger.

Bob, wa7hra...........

pixguy · 04-25-2010, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa7hra

pixguy, what kind of toad brake do you have? Some of them, such as the US Gear brake which I have, include a built in toad battery charger.

Bob, wa7hra...........

Hey Bob, I'm using the ReadyBrake, which I love, but it needs a 12v connection for the wireless indicator that tells me when the brakes are activated. I can't pull the fuse in my CRV because it has the 12v plugs on that fuse. So I have to stop every 3-4 hrs to run the toad and charge up the battery. Lee has given me a wealth of info to get power from my MH and to power that aux. 12v outlet. I hope to tackle that soon.

Bill

wa8yxm · 04-26-2010, 06:47 AM

If you have the 7 Pin plug/socket one of those pins is for battery charging, You use the Toad charge system and hook it to the BATT pins on the two plug/sockets.

NOTE: if you have the US-Gear Unified Brake Decelerator aux-braking system for your towed.. You already have a towed charge system.. It is included with the Brakes on that system.