Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load
(655 reviews)
Price: $59.17
In Stock
Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load
Item # 20400
Retail:$81.29
Our Price: $59.17
You Save: 27%
In Stock
Thank you! Your comment has been submitted successfully. You should be able to view your question/comment here within a few days.
Error submitting comment. Please try again momentarily.
- All Info
- Reviews (655)
- Q & A (0)
- Photos
- Used (1)
Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit - 20400
- Kit with Charger
- Top Load
- Hopkins
- Single-axle
- Tandem-axle
- LED Tester
Breakaway system with built-in charger is designed to bring a trailer safely to a stop by activating its electric brakes should it become disconnected while being towed. Push-button tester lets you know if the rechargeable battery is fully charged.
Features:
- Breakaway system activates your trailer's electric brakes if the trailer disconnects from the tow vehicle
- Push-to-test battery feature offers fast and easy battery testing
- Test button with LED lights clearly displays battery status
- Green = charged
- Yellow = charging
- Red = low battery
- Test button with LED lights clearly displays battery status
- Built-in charger automatically refuels battery while trailer is connected to tow vehicle
- Charges at 1/2 volt below voltage supplied by tow vehicle to prevent over-charging
- Shut-off feature activates when battery is fully charged
- Top-loading case is easy to access from above
- Weather-resistant construction protects battery from moisture and debris
- Self-tapping screws included for simple mounting on your trailer's frame
- Lockable lid deters theft (padlock sold separately)
- Breakaway switch installs on your trailer's frame - drilling is required
- Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant
- 12-Volt rechargeable battery is included
Specs:
- Application: single- and tandem-axle trailers with electric brakes
- Case dimensions: 4" long x 8" wide x 6-1/4" tall
- Battery capacity: 5 amp-hours
- Mounting hole spacing:
- 7" From center of hole to center of hole horizontally
- 1-1/2" From center of hole to center of hole vertically
- 16-Gauge wires
- 90-Day warranty
Note: A breakaway system is required by law in most states for trailers that are equipped with electric brakes and have a GTW of at least 3,000 lbs.
20400 Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Charger - Top Load - 5 amp/hrs
Installation Details
California residents: click here
Customer Satisfaction Score:
99% were satisfied with this product
1% of customers were not satisfied
- Wrong item was ordered
- Defective
- Arrived Damaged
Customer Reviews
Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load - 20400
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars (655 Customer Reviews)
Breakaway system with built-in charger is designed to bring a trailer safely to a stop by activating its electric brakes should it become disconnected while being towed. Push-button tester lets you know if the rechargeable battery is fully charged.by: Dan04/07/2022
Following the installation instructions made the work fairly straightforward. The hole pattern for the case was as-advertised, so it fit perfectly where the old kit was installed on the trailer rail.
by: Harvey 03/30/2024
Would definitely purchase again! This is a good kit for setting up a break-away on your trailer. Make sure to mount it out of the way so that it doesn’t get impacted by any thing.
by: Curt03/26/2024
Very good product. Clear instructions made installation easy. Solved my wiring problem.
by: Gary 02/17/2024
Very easy to install and I feel it is made to last. I am very pleased with my purchase as well as the customer service provided by E trailer.
by: Kenneth04/12/2024
This battery kit is a perfect replacement for the battery that was on my 16 ft trailer to operate the brakes, in case of trailer breakaway. The charging light comes on when connected to my Tacoma pickup truck, which keeps the battery charged. This is a great product, and I'm very pleased with it.
by: Obi-wan-yj05/15/2020
I bought these brake batteries when rewiring two old horse trailers. This is the third & fourth trailer I've rewired, so I'm pretty used to it by now. Everything about this product went together easily. Routing the wires on the trailer was another story, as usual.
I sold one trailer, but I've been using the other trailer infrequently for about a year now, and the brakes seem to be working quite well. I haven't had an occasion to test the breakaway battery out on the road, fortunately, but the little lights on the top indicate that it's maintaining a good charge, and the breakaway switch did lock up the brakes when I tested it in my shop.
BTW, I *love* pairing these with the Bargman coiled wiring plugs. They're so much nicer to use than straight wires.
by: Kenneth 02/03/2024
Simple installation , wiring diagram on the top cover. Easy Peasy!!
by: Jason09/24/2023
Opened battery box and tabs that hold battery in place are broken
Jenny N.
9/26/2023
Oh no! I will have our Customer Service team contact you.
by: Randy F07/08/2017
I really wanted a 9 ah setup to insure ample power but I could not find one that also had a push button test feature so I decided I would just mount two and configure them to work together. It uses two, dpdt switches to switch the units on and off line either independently or together. This gives me assurance of ample power and a backup to each other..
One thing I'm going to do is run a diode isolated circuit to the cold side of the breakaway switch to the l.e.d. Break lights so if the trailer ever did come lose, it will also apply the break lights. The two diodes will keep the tow vehicles breaklight power from back feeding into the actuator's emergency stop circuit.
by: Mark07/03/2023
This unit replaced the crusty 30 year old battery on my car trailer.
Easy installation if you do what I usually don’t. That is, read the instructions!!
The status LED charge indicator is a great feature.
by: Ted 06/24/2023
Easy install if you read and pay attention to the directions. This was installed with a new 7 pin plug and there are different wiring configurations between utility trailers and larger rv type trailers; so pay attention to what you are reading and wire according to your project.
by: James04/01/2018
Product works well
Applies power to the electrical brakes if the cord is pulled
Easy to put the cord back into the switch
Used on a homemade trailer
That was made to carry bale barns
(hay feeder for horses)
by: Dustin11/17/2023
Great product but wish it had better labeling and instructions for the wiring
by: Craig07/13/2023
While it was an easy fix, the wire length on the battery box is pathetic. The breakaway switch had long enough wires. If you get this, just run new wiring from the circuit board like I did.
by: Brad09/23/2022
Thankfully I haven’t had to have an operational use of this. It was a straightforward installation and is easy to check the battery status. I would order this again, if needed.
by: Pat 08/23/2023
My breakaway came very fast and at a good price. I use e trailer all the time because they have what I need and get it to me fast.
by: Robert08/16/2023
i purchased this product to replace the same unit i purchased 5 years ago. The previous unit had sundamage and the top readout was no longer readable , the cover hinged were broken. easy replacement and works great
by: Shawn04/02/2024
Fast shipping, pictures and items matched up to exactly what I needed. Thank You Again!
by: Matt03/28/2024
Clean and easy.
by: William 02/23/2024
Still working great
by: Lynne 05/24/2023
Kate F was awesome. She new exactly what I needed. They were out of stock on my ordered product but she understood the order details and had suggested one in stock. She knew I was trying to go away for the holiday and time was of the essence. She was very helpful and knowledgeable, polite and friendly. This is the 2nd time I ordered from E-trailer and have been very happy, delivery times were great to. Thank you Kate you made my day.
by: Juan 02/03/2024
The box is made very durable to last and it is easy to setup!
by: Roger 02/05/2024
I was surprised battery was included
Great deal!
by: Don 08/25/2023
Heavy Duty product best part battery all charged and ready to go thanks E Trailer your the Best .
25
654
Show More Reviews
See what our Experts say about this Hopkins Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Correct Way to Wire Trailer Breakaway KitThe correct way to wire your breakaway battery, like the Hopkins Engager # 20400, is to have the black wire from the battery connected to the 12V power on your trailer, and then the blue wire to your breakaway switch which, in turn, connects to the blue wire that sends power from the brake controller in your vehicle to your trailer brakes. I've attached a photo demonstration for you to check out. Be sure that you're connecting the wiring per function and not just going by color since these...
view full answer...
- Is There Max Distance that Hopkins Engager part # 20400 Has to Have Between Switch and BatteryThere isn't a set max distance that the switch of the Hopkins Engager part # 20400 can be from the battery. I would say basically any standard trailer setup is going to have a perfectly compatible distance.
view full answer... - Why Does Amber Light Illuminate on Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway KitThe amber charging light should not be always on so you are going to want to verify that the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # 20400 is wired correctly. You will want to make particularly sure the ground wire is attached directly to your trailer frame. It may also be possible that somehow moisture got in the battery box and causing a short.
view full answer... - Do I Need a Breakaway Battery Charger for My TrailerYou need an electric breakaway when you have electric brakes on your trailer. A breakaway system is required by law in most states for trailers that are equipped with electric brakes and have a GTW of at least 3,000 lbs. Hopkins Engager Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # 20400 would provide you with everything you need for a single or tandem-axle trailer. The battery and breakaway switch mount to the trailer. The battery is charged through the 7-way connection from your vehicle....
view full answer... - Breakaway Battery Kit for Sundowner 2 Horse TrailerThe Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load # 20400 will absolutely work with your Sundowner 2 horse trailer. I've attached some videos to assist and have also attached the diagram and an article to assist.
view full answer...
- Will A Breakaway Kit Operate Properly Without An Auxiliary Battery It is possible to operate a breakaway switch from the trailer's main battery but it is not recommended. The breakaway kit may not function properly in emergency situations because the trailer's main battery has other accessories powered from it which may drain some of its power. The auxiliary battery that comes with breakaway kits such as part # 20400 will be kept at a full charge from the trailer wiring 12 volt power because it has a built in battery charger. Most states require by law...
view full answer... - Installation of Breakaway Kit Switch for Electric Trailer Brakes on Gooseneck TrailerHopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load # 20400 can have the pin mounted on the coupler. The angle should be as aligned as possible with the point you are connecting to and be slightly shorter distance than your safety chains. The pin will pull with force so the pin is designed to withstand that without breaking as is the cable. The length and angle are important because you want the trailer brakes to activate when the trailer becomes...
view full answer...
- How to Wire Break Away Switch on Hopkins Engager Break Away SystemThe black wire from the break away switch will connect to the blue wire from the break away box, as shown in the provided diagram. By 'brake wires' I'm assuming you're speaking of the wires connected to the brake magnets on your brake assemblies. One wire exiting the brake magnet could connect to the brake output circuit, usually a blue wire and the other would ground to the trailer frame. It doesn't match which goes where.
view full answer...
- Troubleshooting Trailer Battery Draining with Brake Controller and Electric Trailer Jack InstalledThank you for reaching out! I'm not 100% certain what you have installed on your trailer but it sounds like you may have some things wired incorrectly on your trailer. Your brake controller should be going directly to your trailer brakes and the only other thing connected to that line would be one of the wires for the breakaway switch, like what comes with the Hopkins # 20400 (see first photo). Aside from that the 12V power wire is where you want to connect a battery for charging as well...
view full answer...
- How To Wire Up Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway KitIn regards to the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit part # 20400, there are only two wires with the black being power so it should be run to the positive battery terminal and the blue being brake output so it should be run to the brake output circuit. I have attached a wiring diagram you should use below.
view full answer... - Is Trailer Breakaway Battery Kit a One-Time Use?Maybe there was some miscommunication which is where the confusion is coming into play. Trailer breakaway kits, like the Hopkins Engager # 20400, are definitely not a one-time use as they are designed to recharge as you saw in your system. With that being said, the charging system is a bit slower with them so if you were to pull the pin like you did then you'll want to wait a while before you start towing your trailer so you can ensure the battery is at full capacity prior to towing. The...
view full answer... - Power Draw On Tow Vehicle Battery to Charge Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway BatteryThe Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger part # 20400 has a maximum power amp draw of 2 amps to charge the breakaway battery. The power draw is so low is will not drain the tow vehicle's battery. It will also only charge when the trailer is connected to the tow vehicle and the 12V circuit is active. On some vehicle's that does require the ignition to be turned on.
view full answer... - What is the Recommended Breakaway Battery Size for a Single Axle TrailerThe standard battery size for a breakaway system is 5 amp hours. I recommend the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger part # 20400 which is a complete kit that has everything you need. It also have a cool feature where you can simply press a button to see if your battery is charged and ready to go. It comes with the battery, switch, and mounting box.
view full answer... - Troubleshooting Shorted Out Brake Controller Connected to Breakaway SystemI'm sorry that this happened to your brake controller. I am happy to do research to help get this issues resolved. If when testing the breakaway system and the pin was pulled with the battery connected backwards. This would compromise the brake controller. When reaching out to my contact at Tekonsha we agreed that there may be a wiring issue someplace in the breakaway system. The combination of the wiring issue, combined with pulling the pin would certainly cause frying of the brake controller. The...
view full answer...
- Trailer Breakaway System Operation And TroubleshootingThe brakes shouldn't necessarily lock up, but the brakes should quickly bring the trailer to a safe stop. The weight of the trailer shouldn't matter if the breakaway kit and the trailer brakes are working properly. All trailer from utility to RV with a much larger weight capacity than the 5,000 lbs you mentioned use breakaways like the Hopkins # 20400. If it isn't functioning to a safe level, there is a need to fix something. It may be a ground, it may be a brake magnet, it may be...
view full answer...
- Is the Lid with Tester for Hopkins Engager Top Load Breakaway Kit Replaceable?The Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load # 20400 does not have a separate lid as a replacement part. The Breakaway switch is replaceable as is the battery, but to get that particular lid you need to replace the entire kit.
view full answer... - Recommended Location for Breakaway Cable Installation It is perfectly acceptable to mount the breakaway cable to the safety chain loop on the hitch on your vehicle. This can be found in the instructions for a breakaway like your Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load # 20400. Another common location to attach the cable is a tow hook on the vehicle. Realistically any sturdy location you can attach it to on the bumper or frame will work for installation. If you choose to attach it to the...
view full answer... - Is Hopkins Engager Breakaway Kit Compatible with Over 30 Tandem Axle Trailer with 12 Gauge WireI reached out to my contact at Hopkins and she said that the Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 20400 has been tested on a variety of trailer lengths and so it will be good to use on your tandem axle trailers. The heavier gauge wire that is shown in the chart you sent in will just help to ensure that as much power as possible is traveling as far as possible.
view full answer...
- Is Lid of Hopkins Breakaway Kit 20400 ReplaceableThe Hopkins Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger - Top Load # 20400 does not have a separate lid as a replacement part. The Breakaway switch is replaceable as is the battery, but to get that particular lid you need to replace the entire kit.
view full answer... - Breakaway Battery Continually Goes DeadThe small breakaway battery shouldn't be going dead unless the breakaway switch is being pulled, there's a short in the system somewhere or the system has been incorrectly wired. The battery should be receiving a maintenance charge from the 12-volt power feed from the trailer connector on the tow vehicle. I would not recommend bypassing or altering the system at all. The breakaway system should have its own dedicated battery. I'll link you to an FAQ article that shows how the system should...
view full answer... - How Many Charging Amps Does The Hopkins Engager Break Away Kit Draw When Charging The Battery?I spoke with Hopkins and their Engager Push-To-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit with Built-In Battery Charger # 20400 has a 2 amp charger. This will include a battery that has a 5 amp-hour capacity and has a built-in shut-off feature that activates when the battery is fully charged.
view full answer... - Can Poorly Installed Breakaway Battery Kit Cause Brake Controller to see Disconnected TrailerHey Jerry, If your breakaway kit isn't hooked up properly I suppose it could give that "trailer disconnected" code on your brake controller, but it would have to be that the wiring going to your brakes is disconnected on the circuit somewhere for that to happen. I think you have some damaged wiring or a bad connection somewhere that needs to be fixed - this could even be where your trailer 7-Way plugs into your vehicle 7-Way socket. I'm attaching a wiring diagram that can be used for...
view full answer... - Should Breakaway Switch Be Wired Directly To Travel Trailer BatteryIt is not normal for the breakaway switch on your travel trailer to be wired directly to the trailer battery. Instead, it should have its own battery. I recommend adding a breakaway kit like the # 20400 along with a rechargeable 12V battery. This kit will splice into the 12V wire of the trailer connector to charge the breakaway battery while the trailer is connected to the towed vehicle. It also has a push-to-test button that shows you if the battery is getting low. The 12V wire does...
view full answer... - Wiring Diagram for Trailer Breakaway KitOn this page (typically below the product links) there is a helpful link section that will have the install instructions fo the Hopkins Breakaway kit part # 20400 that you referenced. I also attached an install video that shows the kit installed as well as a diagram for trailer breakaway wiring as well. The white wire is the ground wire.
view full answer...
Do you have a question about this Trailer Breakaway Kit?
Used Items Available
Condition: Like New
Notes: May have damaged packaging or minor cosmetic blemishes.
Info for this part was:
Expert Research:
Mike L
Expert Research:
Michael H
Expert Research:
Jameson C
Expert Research:
Adam R
Expert Research:
Victoria B
Updated by:
Adele M
Updated by:
Laura H
Updated by:
Wilson B
Updated by:
Alexander C
Updated by:
Brian T
Installed by:
Cole B
Installed by:
John A
Video Edited:
Chris R
Video by:
Amber S
Test Fit:
Michael H
At etrailer.com we provide the best information available about the products we sell. We take the quality of our information seriously so that you can get the right part the first time. Let us know if anything is missing or if you have any questions.
Product Experts Available Now!
Call 1-800-940-8924
Dan
4/8/2023
Cant tell you. I sold the trailer with the boat!