Does the breakaway brakes system require maintenance?

[jerrybeaird]

[quote source="/post/11461/thread" timestamp="1432675074" author="@charliem"][quote source="/post/11442/thread" timestamp="1432667579" author="@david"]The battery was dead and read 9 volts. But when I pulled the break away switch and put the brake load on, it dropped to zero, as you would expect with a dead battery. I hooked it up to a 1 amp trickle charger and it jumped to 13.3 v but took almost no current. After an hour I disconnected the charger and the voltage immediately dropped to 11.7V. So it is toast.

David[/quote][font size="3"]Sir,

I respectfully ask what do you have against toast? I, and many others, consider toast a part of our daily lives, especially when covered with butter, Garlic and Basil. I suggest that in the future you refer to such failures as having "gone South".

Yours truly from the Toast Appreciation Gestapo (HOA).
[/font][/quote]Hey wait just a minute...I moved south to Texas as soon as could!  Nothing wrong with the "South" ...perhaps use "gone bad"?

Yours truly from the paranoid traveller, who just escaped the flooding in the San Antonio KOA on Saturday!

[charliem]

[quote source="/post/11464/thread" timestamp="1432681557" author="@nd1979"]Hey wait just a minute...I moved south to Texas as soon as could!  Nothing wrong with the "South" ...perhaps use "gone bad"?

Yours truly from the paranoid traveller, who just escaped the flooding in the San Antonio KOA on Saturday![/quote]Perhaps, "on the Fritz?" whoever he was. All kidding aside I'm glad you escaped and are safe. I had a similar experience in Denver 2 years ago. No fun at all.

[thudd3r]

[quote source="/post/11461/thread" timestamp="1432675074" author="@charliem"][quote source="/post/11442/thread" timestamp="1432667579" author="@david"]The battery was dead and read 9 volts. But when I pulled the break away switch and put the brake load on, it dropped to zero, as you would expect with a dead battery. I hooked it up to a 1 amp trickle charger and it jumped to 13.3 v but took almost no current. After an hour I disconnected the charger and the voltage immediately dropped to 11.7V. So it is toast.

David[/quote][font size="3"]Sir,

I respectfully ask what do you have against toast? I, and many others, consider toast a part of our daily lives, especially when covered with butter, Garlic and Basil. I suggest that in the future you refer to such failures as having "gone South".

Yours truly from the Toast Appreciation Gestapo (HOA).
[/font][/quote]Sir,

I respectfully ask what do you have against the South?  I, and many others, consider the South a wonderful place to be, especially with all of its Southern Belles, mint juleps, and fine upstanding gentlemen.  I suggest that in the future you refer to such failures as "kicked the bucket"

Yours truly from the Organization for Southern Hospitality Image Testimonial Enforcement 

[jerrybeaird]

Thanks Charlie....we escaped just in time only to be pummeled at our home in the Houston area... 10 inches overnight!  Time to build the ark!

[jerrybeaird]

I checked my battery and it was only 9 volts and dead.   I decided to buy a Hopkins battery and box set up that had the stutus led's and charger ( that I am not using).  I bought a cheap solar charge regulator from Harbor Freight that fits right in the breakaway battery box so it is protected from the elements.

This way, if the battery needs charging, I can just hook it up to the 10 watt solar panel on my house battery box.  The house box has two 6v golf cart batteries in it.  I just need to tuck the wires away in one of those black protective sleeves and I will be good to go.

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[daplumbr]

Nice set-up. Mod coming up for me! 

[jerrybeaird]

Thanks Merlin.....I am just about finished with my list of mods that I need/want to do.

[montedtrotter1]

Regarding Charlies earlier comments about the dead breakaway brake battery, I was checking to see if I had the same system on my 2015 21BHS. It turns out my trailer does not have the small separate battery but is wired like the picture Charlie attached, so my breakaway brake system is charged/powered by the primary trailer batteries. I guess LL followed Charlies lead!

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Amazing!. I suspect the real motivation was $$$, but this is a change that needed to be made. Bean counters +1, customers +2.
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[charliem]

[font size="3"]Merlin,

In daylight I find: The second black wire from the switch is connected to the far right hand post along with the two blue wires. If you look very closely at the picture you'll see the black wire enter the box and immediately bend to the top crimp lug, the one with the split yellow covering. It is crimped in with the top blue wire. So the right hand post becomes the physical junction for the brakes, the TV brake controller, and the breakaway switch. That post should light up with 12V when you pull the breakaway switch.

EDIT: You were posting as I was looking and writing. Glad you got it worked out. Aren't dealers wonderful? [attachment id="1336" thumbnail="1"]
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