5'x10" Dump Trailer 3.5K Single Axle-12VDC Power Required

[npalen]

I'm upgrading from a single 2000lb axle 4x8 tilt utility trailer to which I've added a 3500lb winch for tilting the bed up to 45 degrees for dumping the load. The power comes from a 50amp Anderson connector at the pickup rear that that connects to the pickup battery with a 60amp circuit breaker and 8AWG wire running the length of the pickup. I realize that the 60amp is too much for the 8AWG but have been running that way for several years.

The new trailer will be a lightweight single 3500lb axle 5x10 hydraulic dump which weighs about 1200lb. (Norstar Iron Bull DUB3) My loads typically consist of wet leaves, grass clippings, tree branches and general yard debris but there might be that very occasional ton of rock.

My question is, in the event of a low battery on the hydraulic trailer power unit, would an auxiliary power cable connecting the trailer battery to the 50amp Anderson make sense? I don't know, at this point, how much power the hydraulic pump motor draws.

Also, would connecting the trailer battery to the 50amp be a faster way to charge the trailer battery with the engine running. Not sure of my alternator output.

 

[LittleBill21]

how many cycles do you plan in a day? I have a similar trailer, there is no charger, but i can prolly get 20+ cycles without issue (I didn't test after that, I don't use it that much in a day)

 

[oldnslo]

Doubtful 50 amps would run the power unit to dump the trailer but you would have to look at the specs for the unit on the trailer.

 

[npalen]

how many cycles do you plan in a day? I have a similar trailer, there is no charger, but i can prolly get 20+ cycles without issue (I didn't test after that, I don't use it that much in a day)

Probably no more than three cycles in a day. Just curious about having the 50amp connection available in the event of forgetting to charge the trailer battery but question is what happens when I plug a dead trailer battery into the pickup battery. Will the stock alternator on a Dodge Dakota pickup have enough oomph?

I don't plan to have the 12VDC terminal powered on the 7-pin connector connected so the trailer battery won't be getting low amperage (5.0 amp?) charging while driving so another reason for wondering about using the 50amp connection.

 

[npalen]

Doubtful 50 amps would run the power unit to dump the trailer but you would have to look at the specs for the unit on the trailer.

I'm seeing a spec of 1.6kw on a couple pump units online so guess that would equate to about 130amp on 12 VDC if my math is correct.

You are probably correct.

 

[Topzide]

The 50amp connection will allow better charging of the trailer battery. I don't see why your alternator wouldn't be able to charge it. It would be similar to Jun extended jump start. Where you would connect cables for 10 minutes before trying to start the "dead" car.

 

[grsthegreat]

Im no expert, but i dont think a battery is designed to get a long charge at 50 amps. Even my rolling battery charger only has a recommendation for a couple of minutes at 40 amps, and the highest setting is for use during starting only. Otherwise its 4 amp charging on a timer.

At 40 amp charging, my battery gets hot pretty fast.

What ive done for my trailers is to install a 1 or 2 amp float charger hooked onto an exterior male outlet so i can leave them plugged in when not using them. Batteries always fully charged.

 

[LittleBill21]

I'm seeing a spec of 1.6kw on a couple pump units online so guess that would equate to about 130amp on 12 VDC if my math is correct.

You are probably correct.

i can throw a meter on mine, but I remotely doubt its pulling 130 amps. the wiring for my winch is 2x the size of this and barely pulls 100 on full load

 

[LittleBill21]

Probably no more than three cycles in a day. Just curious about having the 50amp connection available in the event of forgetting to charge the trailer battery but question is what happens when I plug a dead trailer battery into the pickup battery. Will the stock alternator on a Dodge Dakota pickup have enough oomph?

I don't plan to have the 12VDC terminal powered on the 7-pin connector connected so the trailer battery won't be getting low amperage (5.0 amp?) charging while driving so another reason for wondering about using the 50amp connection.

yea it will be fine, just start the truck before connecting. it won't sit at 50amp long, the battery is pretty small, mine is just a 4 way pin, not sure why you wouldn't enable charging if your running a 7 pin, there is no charger on these trailers.

 

[Topzide]

50 amp is the connector size, not the charging load! Just what the connector will handle.