Off topic, electrical question

[snrusnak]

I'm thinking of buying this:

http://www.cyclegear.com/CycleGear/...GPF-June2013&gclid=CPeUh9SVrr0CFQ8OOgod9F4AJQ

I want to see how well it works and might buy a couple more (one to leave in the tail bag on the buell, one in the jeep or truck, etc). I have air bags on the rear of my ram that currently I pump up with a small hand held bicycle pump. Works fine, takes about a minute or less. But for $20, if I can use this I think it'd be good, even if it takes a few minutes to pump up(saves me from looking like a weirdo with a bicycle pump by the tail gate lol).

My question is can I make a harness to plug this compressor into that can plug in to the 4 pin trailer harness on my bumper?

 

[Dogwood]

Probably wouldn't be a good idea. If your harness is wired into your tail lights, even worse.

My qualifications:
25 years of dumbass electrical mistakes.

 

[snrusnak]

can you elaborate as to why? I have no idea if the harness is wired in with the tail lights, it's the factory harness.

 

[jstav]

There is not a continuous 12V line on the trailer harness connector. Just run a wire to your battery, with an inline fuse, and that should be good.

 

[ztied]

Yes it should work fine. I made a handful of my 12v stuff fit into the trailer plug. This made it easier to blow up the trailer tires. If I remember white is ground,brown is parking,green is right turn,and yellow is left turn. Dont forget to turn the lights on so you get power. I never had any issues doing this, it is 12v at the trailer plug which is the same as the voltage at the cigarette lighter.

 

[snrusnak]

ok that makes sense. so jstav if i do what ztied said and just turn on the lights to power it would that work? Just would be very easy to make a quick harness that plugs in right there vs running a new wire the whole length of the truck.

Basically I'd just use ground and parking(12v power) and ignore the turn signals prongs right?

 

[jstav]

Yes, you can do what Ztied said, although you are sharing that circuit with the lights at the same time, but should be ok. If the fuse blows, you know the load is too large. Probably ok to put a slightly larger fuse in that case (10 goes to 15A). Actually, I think you can also use the turn-signal outputs if the lights are on, but the blinker isn't blinking

 

[snrusnak]

Are you saying the turn signal outputs will have 12v when the lights are on but the turn signals are not on? Or did i misinterpret that?

I might give this a shot and see if it works.

 

[nicholas900]

I don't think you would have a problem with that little guy. I would wire it up to the white and brown. Then turn on your parking lights, but not headlights. That will send power to your diy plug and keep the headlight load off. I suppose it could blow the fuse if the little pump draws more current than the fuse. I doubt it though.

The turn signal positions of the plug will have power from the flasher only when blinker flashes. Would make the pump run rather erratic

 

[snrusnak]

lol ok that makes perfect sense. Thanks for the help. I'll post back with how it works.

 

[anrkizm95]

My question is can I make a harness to plug this compressor into that can plug in to the 4 pin trailer harness on my bumper?

yes you can,the only problem you'll have is if the compressor pulls more amps than the circuit can handle.if your tail light circuit has a ten amp fuse and the lights pull 5 and the compressor pulls 15-20 then you'll blow fuses.
i didnt see any specs on the link you posted.if you had the 7 pin trailer plug this wouldnt be a problem,you could use the aux 12 volt pin but the 4 pin doesnt have this option.

 

[snrusnak]

I do also have a factory 7 pin harness on my bumper. But the 4 pin I can do for almost no cost(already have a scrap connector that I have no other use for).

 

[Dogwood]

Use the 7 pin there is a constant power that is made for auxiliary components. Seriously, don't use the 4 pin. I make a living because people do stuff like that.

 

[snrusnak]

Can I buy a cheap 7 pin connector? I've never even used the 7 pin on my truck.

 

[somecallmery]

http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Pollak/PK12706.html

Or you could splice a battery tender plug into the 12v aux and ground. Chances are your trailer wiring is plugged in so not damaging hard to replace wiring.

 

[snrusnak]

I like that idea, splice a battery tender connector into the back of the 7 pin connector is what you mean right?

 

[somecallmery]

Exactly. The tender plug is probably cheaper to buy and less crap to keep around.

 

[Dogwood]

Good call!

 

[Dogwood]

Although I wouldn't splice. Try to connect the wires to the terminals. Splices tend to work loose and corrode.

 

[Dogwood]

Or buy this.