I have a 2008 F450 with the FORD brake controller. I just towed a new GN horse trailer back from Florida. I kept blowing a 30amp fuse that is labeled battery charge only when I have my headlights on and only after about a half hour of them being on. This fuse would also take out the 30amp that runs the running lights on the trailer. First does anybody know what that battery charge fuse is for? The FORD dealer called FORD and was told that the FORD electric brake controller is NOT compattable with GN and 5th wheel trailers with electric brakes ???? If I removed that fuse everything worked fine and I had know problems blowing anyother fuse all the way from GA.

 

First regarding the controller, the integrated controller is not compatible with some trailer HYDRAULIC disk brake. It should not be a problem with your electric brakes. In any event, it would not be the cause of blowing a fuse.

It sounds to me like a short in your trailer, and possibly between your battery charge circuit and lamp circuit. I don't know nuttin bout horse trailers but I'm guessing they would not have the battery charge circuit in use. Even some travel trailers don't use the dedicated battery charge circuit. You'll need to sort out the short circuit.

Bill

 

Ran into a similair problem on my f'ver .The battery charge lead on my camper was touching the frame.Only time i had trouble was when i was towing..If your problem was in the truck itself it would blow the fuse without a trailer.. before you take your truck apart trying to find a short,try pulling another trailer,or better still let some else tow the one that give you the problem.

 

I had the same problem with my int brake controller. turned out the charge wire was connected to ground at the trailer. That was an easy fix. Not all trailer wiring is the same. There are still a few oddballs out there.

 

If your trailer has electric brakes, it probably has a break-away system that applies the trailer brakes if the trailer becomes disconnected from the truck.

This system is powered by a small battery. While driving the battery is charged by your battery charge connection.

I would look for corroded wiring or intermittent shorts on the trailer side of this battery charge system.

As bpounds mentioned, if your brakes are electric-hydraulic, the above does not apply.

Lou Braun

 

Brand new truck and a brand new trailer.

 

Brand new Is no better than the person that put it together..

 

Do you have a 6 way or 7 way plug on the trailer? The so called battery charge wire is also used as a hot wire for interior or auxiliary lights on a trailer. If it's a 6 way plug there's a possibility you have two wires swapped so they don't match up. How well do the trailer brakes work?

 

I have a 6 way plug. 1 brown Common Grd, 2 Blue Electric Brake, 3 Black tail & License, 4 Red Dome Lights, 5 Yellow Left Stop & Turn and 6 Green Right Stop & Turn.

 

I'm probably wrong .but i thought Brown was for marker lights.and white was a common ground.

 

Your truck did not come with a 6 way. They only come with 4 or 7 way plugs AFAIK. So, how did you get a 6 way socket on the truck?

Also, based upon what you wrote, your 6 way does not have a battery charge wire. But you originally said you were blowing the battery charge fuse.

Here is your wiring diagram for a 7 way.
http://www.rvbasics.com/techtips/rv-...ug-wiring.html



Bill

 

If you're using a 6 pin to 7 pin adapter, that WILL cause problems.

 

I haven't gone out to look at the truck yet I am sure you are right and it is a 7way plug. I am looking at the plug wireing diagram from the trailer manufacture. Your right something dosen't make since. Tomorrow when the weather is better I will take a close look at the truck plug.

 

It sounds like your brown tail marker wire is your problem. When you turn your headlights on the tail lights come on too. The 30 minute delay either means you have something getting hot, or more than likely when the 6 way plug was added to your truck they did not get all the strands of wire tucked into the holes inside the plug. I'd check the brown and red wire (battery charger circuit) for loose strands in the plug, too much insulation, stripped off, or chaffed wires. I'm guessing that it takes about 30 minutes until things bump around just right to cause the short.

 

Double post