View Full Version : What is this wire hanging near my batt>
Gnfanatic
10-24-2006, 07:17 PM
HEy guys, I saw this red wire near my neg terminal jsut sitting there. It has a terminal at the end of it but why is it disconnected?>? I have a pic but cant post one. Can someone help?
thanks
Ralph
blktbz
10-24-2006, 07:27 PM
post started about this yesterday i believe....something to do with a trailer connector....
ghoster
10-24-2006, 07:31 PM
yep yep...its for trailer controls. No need to hook it up unless you are installing a trailer controller.:cool:
Gnfanatic
10-24-2006, 07:54 PM
OH, you think the dealer would tell you this when you buy it?? I wonder if you slide it on the post that has no nut on it ? (under the fuse cover)
Thanks guys
Ralph
ScarabEpic22
10-24-2006, 10:29 PM
Its for a travel trailer +12V constant to the trailer plug. Only useful if you are towing a TT.
the roadie
10-25-2006, 10:21 AM
yep yep...its for trailer controls. No need to hook it up unless you are installing a trailer controller.:cool:Just a clarification for the archives. The trailer brake controller harness is four wires coiled up under the dash near the driver's left foot. (+12, ground, brake pedal signal input, controller output to the rear 7-pin connector pin 2). The wire near the battery is for constant +12 going to the rear 7-pin connector pin 4 - intended to charge trailer batteries while driving along. You can install a brake controller without connecting the under-hood wire.
Gnfanatic
10-25-2006, 10:25 AM
thank guys! So if i trail my gn i need to hook up this pos cable to get juice back to the connector?
jimmyjam
10-25-2006, 10:42 AM
the only reason you would need to connect the wire is if your trailer needs 12V power, like if it has a battery that needs charging or something like that. but your trailer lights will work regardless of whether that wire is connected. I guess the reason for leaving the wire disconnected is that some hooligan could drain your battery by wiring a blub or some shenanigans like that.
the roadie
10-25-2006, 01:52 PM
I guess the reason for leaving the wire disconnected is that some hooligan could drain your battery by wiring a blub or some shenanigans like that.Or an idiot user like I did first time I was going to be towing with the trailer fridge set to +12V, drawing 10+ Amps, and connected it all up the afternoon before the trip intending to leave at 6AM.
Sucker drained the trailer and the Envoy batteries overnight.
The optimum way to hook up that wire is to a relay controlled by an "ignition on" signal, so pin 4 of the trailer 7-pin connector only gets constant power when the tow vehicle's running. GM isn't going to give that relay away for free to all the owners who aren't towing, so they assume we'll install one. If we don't, then we need to remember to disconnect the trailer wire harness every time we stop for more than an hour or two while on the road, IF we're running a fridge on 12 V. Fridges are about the only very heavy user of +12 in a towed trailer. Lights are fed from different fused circuits, and brakes go through the controller.
clr114
10-29-2006, 11:27 PM
OH, you think the f$$cking dealer would tell you this when you buy it?? I wonder if you slide it on the post that has no nut on it ? (under the fuse cover)
Thanks guys
Ralph
Whats that post for anyways? :confused: It's begging to have SOMETHING hooked to it.
ScarabEpic22
10-30-2006, 01:47 AM
Whats that post for anyways? :confused: It's begging to have SOMETHING hooked to it.
Have you read this thread man?
Its the connection for the +12V trailer connection. It is what the dangling wire Gnfanatic asked about connects to.