Trailer to vehicle integral current draw management

A system for controlling automatic current from a tow vehicle to a trailer coupled thereto, the tow vehicle having a vehicle battery and the trailer having a trailer battery, the system comprising:

• a sensor configured to at least facilitate measuring a state of charge of the trailer battery;
• and
• a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to at least facilitate selectively providing current from the tow vehicle to the trailer based on the state of charge of the trailer battery, wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:
• determining whether a braking event is occurring;
• determining whether the state of charge of the trailer battery is less than a predetermined threshold;
• selectively providing current from the tow vehicle to the trailer to control braking, based on whether the braking event is occurring and the state of charge of the trailer is less than the predetermined threshold;
• operating a braking system of the trailer in a degraded mode, with limited current, when the state of charge of the trailer battery is less than the predetermined threshold;
• and
• operating one or more additional system of the trailer, in addition to the braking system of the trailer in a degraded mode, with limited current, when the state of charge of the trailer battery is less than the predetermined threshold.

An automotive system comprising:

• a tow vehicle having a vehicle battery;
• a trailer coupled to the tow vehicle, the trailer having a trailer battery;
• and
• a control system comprising:
• a sensor configured to at least facilitate measuring a state of charge of the trailer battery;
• and
• a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to at least facilitate selectively providing current from the tow vehicle to the trailer based on the state of charge of the trailer battery;
• wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate:
• determining whether a braking event is occurring;
• determining whether the state of charge of the trailer battery is less than a predetermined threshold;
• selectively providing current from the tow vehicle to the trailer to control braking, based on whether the braking event is occurring and the state of charge of the trailer is less than the predetermined threshold;
• providing current from the vehicle battery to a braking system of the trailer to perform braking for the trailer, when the braking event is occurring and the state of charge of the trailer battery is less than the predetermined threshold;
• and
• providing current from the trailer battery, instead of the vehicle, to the braking system of the trailer to perform braking for the trailer, when the braking event is occurring and the state of charge of the trailer battery is greater than the predetermined threshold.