install REDARC for caravan electric brakes, install wiring to charge caravan battery with relay

[mattzappa Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close mattzappa]

Hi all, I was hoping someone might know where to begin with my dilemma, I own a 2015 prado 3.0 and I need to install a redarc brake controller AND also a relay as I want the caravan battery to charge while I am driving? Could someone advise me how to wire the relay to begin with?

[Andyfive Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andyfive]

Go to the Redarc website for all the information you need.

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

I did it myself with Redarc TwoPro Elite and Redarc SBI12. It took me around 8 hours but I also have an electrical/electronic industry background.

[OnOz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close OnOz]

Do most people run the cables under the chassis for both brake controller and Anderson 12v supply to the tow ball?

to me it makes sense doing it this way, so the Anderson 12v cabling requires no gromet penetration and water issues and the Redarc brake controller only has one gromet entry/exit point in the firewall for three wires as per on the Redarc site.

utube searches on installs show many people running the cables internal down the left side under all the trim panels. This means much more trim taken on/off and risk of breaking connectors I assume on the plastic bits. It also means compromising more grommets and water ingress to get the cables to the tow hitch.

which way to go?

if under the chassis, can you safely run it inside the main left frame bar or is it better where it can be seen for periodic checks on wear and tear?

thanks

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

For the controller , run the cables down side under the plastic door sills and up into the left rear corner. There you will find the wiring for the trailer socket usually hiding behind the jack. The blue wire for the brakes should be just taped up in the loom.
For the anderson I just fitted a redarc SBI smart relay with a fuse and then ran the cables in flexible conduit along the inside off the chassis and mounted the anderson onto the drawbar. Mine is a 120 but the chassis and general bodywork is the same. Link to my install. ive since removed the hersey switch and fitted all anl fuses.

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

I ran the power cable for the brake controller through the door-sills on the passenger side of my 150, The RedArc TowPro Elite brake controller was mounted on the passenger-side rear wheel-arch, behind the trim panel. A 4.5 metre ethernet cable connects the controller to the centre-console/dashboard-mounted knob.

The Anderson connector cabling goes across the rear of the engine compartment and through the door-sills on the driver's side of the vehicle. 50 Amp circuit breaker mounted on the inside of the fender near the starter battery. The SBI12 mounts on the opposite fender on the driver's side.

[OnOz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close OnOz]

Thanks for the information.
the tow pro elite v3 doesn’t use the Ethernet cable now and the lead to the control switch is 2m. I plan to mount it as per Redarc now left side of the glove box. I will check the connector near the jack, however expect connecting directly to the 7pin plug with the Redarc loom will be much easier and I already have to run the Anderson loom under the chassis for ease.
thanks

[zoc Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zoc]

i just did the V3 on my 150.
i mounted the controller where redarc show with their $15 bracket.
power and earth via twin core to battery and ran a twin core down LH side and connected to blue wire as described and also the brake wire going to the trailer plug too. saves going in another direction.

[OnOz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close OnOz]

Hi ZOC
The cables down the left side, was it internal under the trims or under the chassis?
thanks

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

I ran mine along the outside of the chassis. There are lots of threaded holes along the length to screw saddles or fixings to. I ran 25mm2 twin cables to rear for anderson. Bit big to hide under the door sill plates.

[OnOz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close OnOz]

Thank you all for your contributions.

is anyone able to post a photo or two of the mounting of your Redarc sdi12 in the engine bay of a Prado 150?

[sparksy Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close sparksy]

!50 is probably similar to a 120 in engine bay layout. I mounted mine on rear. Made bracket to pick up on 2 existing studs.

[OnOz Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close OnOz]

Thanks Sparksy

[GeeWhizz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close GeeWhizz]

Similar to sparksy but on the driver's side of my 150GX. Mounted on a bracket made from 3mm aluminium, I also managed to use two M6 stud-holes.

[carco Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close carco]

I suggest you have a think about what else might need to go down to the rear when you do the instal.
My wiring runs along inside the left sills, plenty of space in there.
Most vans will need an Anderson plug to run the fridge, some will also need a trigger from the IGN to tell the fridge it’s connected. Usually pin 12 on the 12-pin setup.
You might consider a DC-DC charger in the van to charge its batteries. Often they too need a trigger signal but this is easy to over-ride.
I have an extra Anderson plug in that left rear hatch area for running the 12v freezer. It’s permanently powered and I set the freezer to cut off at suitable battery voltage.
Safety Dave reversing camera?
ESC stability control?
Lots of gadgets out there these days.