Trailer connector with integrated power monitoring system and related methods

A method of monitoring the electrical connection between a vehicle and a trailer, the method comprising:

• a. inserting a vehicle plug of an electrical connector into a vehicle receptacle, said vehicle plug having a plurality of pins connected to a junction box, said junction box comprising:
• i. a controller board having a processor and antenna,
• ii. a protection circuit, and
• iii. a sensory circuit having a current monitoring system and a voltage monitoring system, said sensory circuit being in electrical communication with said controller board;
• b. inserting a trailer plug of said electrical connector into a trailer receptacle, said trailer plug having a plurality of pins connected to said junction box, wherein each pin of said plurality of pins corresponds to a function on said trailer;
• c. placing a receiver board in the cabin of said vehicle, said receiver board including a processor and a display module having a graphical user interface;
• and
• d. a wireless connection between said receiver board and said controller board.

A junction box configured to attach a trailer electrical system to a vehicle electrical system, the electrical connector comprising:

• a. a harness having a plurality of wires connected to a vehicle electrical system on a first end and connected to a trailer electrical system on a second end, wherein each of said wires corresponds to an electrical load;
• b. a protection circuit operable to independently protect each electrical load in said harness;
• c. a sensory circuit operable to monitor electrical characteristics of said each electrical load independently, said sensory circuit further in communication with a controller having a processor;
• and
• d. a receiver in wireless communication with said controller, said receiver including a display and graphical user interface that is operable to display said electrical characteristics establishing
• wherein said harness is in electrical communication with a fuse block and said processor is operable to communicate with said sensory circuit and said sensory circuit is operable to monitor electrical characteristics at said harness, and said controller is operable to send said electrical characteristics to said receiver using a wireless communication protocol.