electric brake/7-pin wiring help needed

[the2ofus]

Hope all you good people in the TDR can help me out.



Having never towed a fifth wheel before, I am in the process of hooking up my Jordan brake and seven pin connector. My question concerns the gauge of wire that supplies the +12 volts to the 7-pin trailer connector and whether there is a requirement for additional 20 amp circuit breakers.



The instructions with the Jordan brake module indicate the need for a 20 amp, quick reset circuit breaker on its +12 volt power line. Is this necessary or does the 40 amp fusible link, already a part of the power brake provision wiring harness that comes with the truck, sufficient? Can I hook the Jordan up directly to the supplied MOPAR pig tail and then plug it into the connector under the dash?



Also, is the B+ supply line that feeds the 10 pin trailer tow connector add on to be connected to the 7-pin trailer connector? I notice that this is only a 14 gauge wire. Should I run a separate wire to the battery and add a circuit breaker on this line? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[TowPro]

I just came in for a break from doing the same thing. I always install another 7 pin connector inside the bed for my 5er.



The harness I had on my 96, that got moved to my 98 truck has something like a 10 gauge wire for the brakes, but Dodge has (It looks like) a 14 wired back through the truck to the factory tow package connector.



I started splicing my old harness into my new truck, and noticed the Blue wire was burnt. Its burnt bad enough that solder will not stick to it, so I have wait until I can get a new wire harness for the 7 pin connector I am installing.



I did not remove this wire harness from my 98 truck, the dealer did because they did not want to wait for me to get around to it. What I am wondering is did the factory wire look as burnt as the one that is in my wire connector harness?



This has me thinking about running a new wire from the Jordan to the 5er's connector.

 

[the2ofus]

Thanks TowPro.



Hopefully someone has had some experience with the 14 gauge wire. I'll keep my eye on it and if it looks like it's heating up I'll run some heavier wire. It just seems strange that Dodge would use wire in the harness that couldn't handle the load.



What's the advantage to the 7-pin connector in the bed of the truck?

 

[TowPro]

Your wires for your 5th wheel come out near the pin box. By being able to connect the wires into the bed you don't have to have passing over your tailgate.

Originally posted by the2ofus

Thanks TowPro.



Hopefully someone has had some experience with the 14 gauge wire. I'll keep my eye on it and if it looks like it's heating up I'll run some heavier wire. It just seems strange that Dodge would use wire in the harness that couldn't handle the load.



What's the advantage to the 7-pin connector in the bed of the truck?

 

[the2ofus]

Makes a lot of sense TowPro. I'll consider doing that as time permits.

 

[nanpaul]

ELECTRIC BRAKE

THE WIRE GAUGE FOR 15AMPS IS 14G, 20AMPS 12G, 30AMPS 10G. IN ORDER TO CHARGE THE BATTERY IN THE TT IN A RESONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME I USE 8 GAUGE WIRE. INSTALL A 40 OR 50 AMP FUSE AT THE ELECTRICAL BOX UNDER THE HOOD. THE REMAINDER OF WIRES SHOULD BE EITHER 14 OR 12 GAUGE. THE GAUGE OF THE WIRE WILL DEPEND ON THE ELECTRICAL LOAD AND THE LENGTH OF THE WIRE.

 

[the2ofus]

Thanks nanpaul.



I guess I could have gone to 8 gauge but I used 10 gauge instead. I was pretty sure that the 14 gauge run to the rear of the truck would be unable to handle it. I did install a circuit breaker in the circuit as I tied the wire directly onto the battery.

 

[TowPro]

Re: ELECTRIC BRAKE

thanks for the wiresize tip. I called my RV buddy and he said he has been always been using the factory wires and never had a problem. We will check out my wire harness this weekend and deside what happened.