Where Should the Ground Wire be Attached for a Trailer Breakaway Battery
Question:
Should the white wire from the battery pack be grounding my entire trailer? I contacted tech support on the telephone for Hopkins towing solutions and the person I spoke with indicated that the white wire will only ground the brakes themselves. That sounds incorrect if not impossible. Will the brakes work without my trailer being grounded from the break away battery pack when it breaks away? I have good ground when I am connected to my truck but I lose ground once disconnected and my theory is I should be getting ground from the battery pack for the breakway systemin order for the brakes to work if they break away
asked by: Karl
Expert Reply:
You will likely have several different grounds on any given trailer. The breakaway battery can ground by itself to the frame and to the trailer connector's ground if you want. But at the very least ground the battery to the frame.
The brake magnets should be grounded independently near the magnets (axle or frame) for the best results.
As long as the breakaway battery is grounded to the trailer frame and the magnets are properly grounded it will work should the trailer separate from the tow vehicle.
If the trailer only grounds properly when connected to the ball then that indicates that there is a ground problem with the main trailer connector ground. All grounds on the trailer should be attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces. You may need to sand away some paint or coating to get good metal to metal contact.
I have included a couple of links that should also help.
Product Page this Question was Asked From
Hopkins Engager Trailer Breakaway Kit w/ Charger, LED Tester, and 5 Ah Battery - Side Load
- Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Kit with Charger
- Side Load
- Single-axle
- Tandem-axle
- LED Tester
- Hopkins
more information >
Featured Help Information
Instructions
Miscellaneous Media
Continue Researching
- Shop: Trailer Hitch
- Search Results: break away system
- Article: Breakaway Kit Installation for Single and Dual Brake Axle Trailers
- Article: Trailer Wiring Diagrams
- Search Results: break away trailer brake
- Search Results: 1024
- Video: Curt Soft Trac I Trailer Breakaway Kit Review
- Video: Hands-On with the Tekonsha Shur-Set III Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Video: Review of the Curt Soft Trac I Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Shop: Curt Soft Trac I Trailer Breakaway Kit with 5 Ah Battery - Side Load
- Shop: Tekonsha Shur-Set III Trailer Breakaway Kit - Side Load
- Shop: Tekonsha Trailer Breakaway Kit with 5 Ah Battery and Clamp On Case - Top Load
- Shop: Curt Soft Trac II Trailer Breakaway Kit with 5 Ah Battery and Clamp On Case - Top Load
- Video: Feature Review Tekonsha Shur-Set III Trailer Breakaway Kit
- Video: Curt Soft Trac II Trailer Breakaway Kit Feature Review
- Shop: NOCO Genius Smart Battery Charger - AC to DC - 6V/12V - 5 Amp
- Shop: Trailer Connector Adapter w/ Lamp-Out Sensor Bypass - 7-Way RV to 7-Way RV - Vehicle End
- Shop: TorkLift SuperHitch Magnum Trailer Hitch Receiver - Custom Fit - Class V - 2-1/2" and 2"
- Q&A: Should The Breakaway Switch Be Wired Through a Circuit Breaker On Travel Trailer Battery?
- Q&A: Trailer Breakaway System Battery Requirements for 5th Wheel
- Q&A: Why Trailer Breakaway Systems Need Their Own Dedicated Battery
- Q&A: Will a Breakaway System Still Send Power To The Trailer Brakes If the Charge Line Is Disconnected
- Q&A: Does a Breakaway Switch Require a Separate Battery
- Q&A: Will Trailer Breakaway Battery Having Low Charge Cause Brakes to Stop Working
- Q&A: Clamp Size for the Curt Breakaway Battery Kit part # C52026
- Search Results: trailer hitch
- Video: Finding the Right Trailer Wiring Harness
- Shop: Trailer Wiring
- Article: Brake Controller 7- and 4-Way Installation Kit (ETBC7)
- Video: How to Choose a Trailer Brake Controller
on Trailer Breakaway Kit
