Pro Series Push to Test Breakaway Kit with Premium Integrated Charger

Ask the Experts about this Pro Series Trailer Breakaway Kit

• Can Breakaway Battery Be Submerged on Boat Trailer
  The battery/battery box for the Pro Series Breakaway Kit # 50-85-315 that you referenced (along with most other units) is weatherproof meaning it's designed to be mounted outside and can handle exposure to rain and splashes but it's not waterproof. Because of this I don't recommend actually submerging this or any other breakaway battery for even a short period of time. I know it will mean moving it to a less convenient location but I highly recommend mounting the battery in a higher...
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• Can Trailer Breakaway Kit Use Battery of Trailer
  DOT really will only care that the breakaway system battery will be capable of holding the trailer brakes fully engaged for at least 15 minutes at any given time. It's wiser to use a dedicated battery for this so that you don't deplete the main trailer battery with other accessories and then when needed it not be able to fulfill it's duties to stop the trailer. I'd recommend using a kit like the part # 50-85-315 that you referenced which includes a dedicated battery.
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• Is a Current Limiter Circuit Breaker Needed for a Battery Charge Line
  It sounds like you have a charge line ran from the RV's battery to the trailer's battery. If this is the case then yes, you will need a current limiter (circuit breaker) in between the two in order to prevent any spikes that could in turn damage either battery. In the charge line kits we offer like the Roadmaster Battery Charge Line Kit part # RM-156-25, they come with a 15 amp circuit breaker so that is what I recommend you use. However, this battery charge line is only going to provide...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes that Are Activating but Not Stopping Trailer
  Sounds like you installed new brakes and they aren't wanting to grab and stop your trailer. Most likely you just need to adjust the assemblies so that they will actually grab. If they are self-adjusting brakes all you would need to do is make several brake applications with the trailer moving and they will set themselves. To see how to manually adjust trailer brake assemblies check out the video I attached, fast-forward to the 4:35 mark of the video. I also attached a help article...
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Breakaway System that Says its Not Chargin
  Test the 12 volt power wire that feeds the charging circuit for the breakaway kit part # 50-85-315 that you have installed on your trailer with a circuit tester like part # PTW2993. You should be getting 12 volts running into the battery box that will be providing the battery with a maintenance charge. You can also test the wiring leading to the battery from the lid with it disconnected from the battery to see if there is voltage there. If so, then the lid of the box must be defective...
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• When Would a Trailer Break Away Kit Be Required By Law
  Many states in the U.S. and provinces in Canada require break away kit. In order to determine the specifics for where you live and where you plan to travel, you can check with the state and federal departments of transportation for the area. Specific weights or trailer types may change from state to state, so it is important to check for every state in which you plan to be towing. A break away kit is just a good idea in general, whether it is required or not. It is a fairly simple system....
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• Trailer Breakaway Kit Recommendation for Gooseneck Trailer
  I would go with the Pro Series kit part # 50-85-315 as it has the best price, has a built in charger and battery tester, and because of it's many great reviews. I attached an install video for this for you to check out as well.
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• Do Trailer Breakaway Systems Usually Power from Separate Trailer Battery
  Typically breakaway systems on trailers like yours will be powered from a separate smaller battery than the two larger ones you have on your trailer. You can trace the wiring of the switch back to see where it ends, but typically the breakaway system is in a box that is somewhat near the nose of the trailer. I attached a chart that shows how a breakaway system usually wires up as well. I also attached a help article on trailer breakaway systems for you to check out as well.
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• Weak Trailer Brakes After Pulled Breakaway Pin and Burning Smell
  I have attached a photo of how a breakaway system should be wired. If you would please, check the brake output wire on the trailer where the breakaway switch is spliced in. This is shown as the letter A in the attached photo. If something were to fail on the breakaway system then it would more than likely be the switch, not the pin. Since you said you smelled burning I would replace this anyhow with part # 2005-P which also comes with a new pin. With that being said, I suspect that...
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• Where to Attach Break Away Cable for Pro Series Breakaway Kit # 50-85-315
  The breakaway cable assembly that is part of the Pro Series Breakaway Kit # 50-85-315 will mount to the front of your trailer tongue so that the vehicle end of the cable can reach to the safety chain hook on the tow vehicle. If you click on the link provided you can see the entire installation process for this kit on a goose neck trailer. Even if your trailer is a different type the installation steps are the same. The video also includes instructions on how to wire the breakaway to your...
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• Trailer Brakes Work with Break Away System But Not with Brake Controller
  It sounds like the brake controller might need to be reset or the wiring from the vehicle side to the break away system needs to be examined. Try adjusting the power output of the controller. If that does not work you can test the controller itself using a circuit tester like # 40376 if needed. Sever the blue wire a few inches from the back of the controller and use the circuit tester to test the end coming from the controller while applying the manual override. If it does not show power...
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• Length Of Safety Cable on Trailer Breakaway System Recommendation
  The best length for the cable of a breakaway system like the Tow Ready Trailer Break Away Kit # 50-85-315 that you referenced will be slightly longer than the safety chains. The breakaway cable should be longer than the safety chains according to RVIA Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. This will activate the brakes in the event you lose the trailer connection and the safety chains fail.
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• Can a Trailer Be Pulled With a Faulty Breakaway System
  The trailer breakaway's are required in most states so I cannot advise for you to continue traveling without having the system repaired or replaced. It sounds like you have already identified the culprit (shorted wire) so what I recommend is just ordering a new system that way you can get it installed and hit the road again as soon as possible. The Pro Series Push to Test Breakaway Kit pprt # 50-85-315 is what I recommend for this because it is cost effective and easy to install. That said,...
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• Do All Trailers with Electric Brakes have to have a Breakaway System
  No, but your local and state laws may require one. You will need to check anywhere you will be towing the trailer to determine if a breakaway system is required by law. They are also just a good idea in general because they will stop a run away trailer should it get disconnected from the tow vehicle. We have several different breakaway options which I have linked to the right. I have also included a link to our help article on breakaway systems for you.
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• Where Does the Cable for the Break Away Switch Attach on the Tow Vehicle
  The cable loop for the breakaway switch in the Trailer Break Away Kit With Built-In Tester and Battery Charger, # 50-85-315, does not attach to the ball. Run the pin through a safety chain loop on the hitch. Pass it through the loop on the other end of the cable, and then plug it in to the break away switch.
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• Brake Controller Does Not Detect Trailer when Breakaway System is Connected
  The most common issue with breakaway systems occurs because of the wiring. They do not always make it as straight forward as it could be. Starting from the trailer side connector the brake output wire will go to the brakes and to the breakaway switch. The other wire from the switch will go to the brake output wire on the breakaway battery. The power wire to charge the breakaway battery will connect to the 12 volt wire from the trailer connector. And the battery ground wire should be...
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• Parts and Installation of Trailer Breakaway Systems
  Yes, a towed trailer that has brakes must also have a functioning breakaway switch/battery system so that in the event of an accidental uncoupling of the vehicle and trailer the brakes on the trailer will receive direct 12V power from the breakaway battery to stop the trailer. We do sell replacement switches like # 2005-P, complete kits like the item # 50-85-315 that you referenced and replacement batteries like # C52023. Switches are NOT specific to any particular brand of breakaway...
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• Where to Attach the Electric Brake Emergency Break Away Cable When Towing with a Fifth Wheel Hitch
  There are many options for attaching the breakaway cable from the Tow Ready Trailer Break Away Kit, item # 50-85-315, to your vehicle. You could attach to a tie down point in the bed of your truck or you could use stake pocket tie down and attach the cable to it. You could also run the cable down to the safety chain loop on the bumper hitch if your vehicle is so equipped. Finally, you could attach the cable to the rails installed in the bed of the truck. The thing to remember is...
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• Should Charge Light Stay Lit on Tow Ready Breakaway System when Disconnected from Tow Vehicle
  No, the charging light on the Tow Ready breakaway system should turn off if it is not getting a charge from the vehicle. If it stays lit up that could indicate a short somewhere that is drawing power. It could be due to corrosion in the trailer side connector. Make sure the trailer side connector is clean and free of corrosion inside and out. Check all connections for any loose or pinched wires/connections or frayed wires that might be touching bare metal. It could also be a ground...
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• Recommendation for Attaching a Trailer Breakaway Pull Pin Cable to Tow Vehicle
  Since breakaway pull pins require a pretty decent amount of force for them to get removed from a breakaway switch I would not recommend running the cable of the switch to a license plate bracket. Many people just put the cable through the safety chain loop on the hitch and then run the pin through the small loop in the end of the cable. This secures the cable to the hitch and no other parts are needed. In this configuration you need to mount the switch close enough to the coupler to...
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• Breakaway System Kept Trailer Brakes On and Melted Wiring
  The way that a breakaway system for electric brakes works is when that pin is pulled it completes the circuit between the breakaway battery and the brakes. They have to stay on full for at least 15 minutes to be legal. But there is nothing stopping the brakes from staying on after that 15 minutes is up. Usually breakaway batteries are 5 amp hour rated. For 10 and 12 inch brakes each magnet draws between 3.2 and 4 amps. So if you have 4 brake assemblies that would be 12.8 to 16 amps....
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• Troubleshooting Trailer Breakaway Switch Where Wiring Causes Light to be Yellow all the Time
  I believe the problem is the connection of the switch on your breakaway. You said you went from blue brake output on the trailer to the blue wire of the switch and then on the other side of the switch you went to a black wire. You should have went to the blue wire of the battery box. The black wire of the battery box goes to the 12 volt power of the 7-way which is typically red. Check out the diagram I attached for more info as well.
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• Recommended Charger to Maintain Trailer Breakaway Battery
  The battery in a trailer breakaway kit such as Pro Series # 50-85-315 will not hold a charge for a full 6 months of storage, especially if we are talking cold-climate storage. The best way to keep the battery in good shape for off-season storage is to bring it inside and keep it on a charger/tender like the CTEK charger # CTEK56353. I own and use one of their chargers continuously, 24/7/365, on the various batteries in my vehicles, mower and motorcycle, and it works great to keep them...
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• Can Push to Test Breakaway Charging Light be Turned Off When Trailer is Connected to Tow Vehicle
  As long as the trailer is connected to the tow vehicle and the battery isn't fully charged the single yellow LED charging light will be on. This is because the 12 volt circuit is always active in the vehicle side trailer connector. The single LED light draws such little power that it would likely take weeks if not longer of it just sitting with that light on to drain the battery. Bit there is a way that you can remove power from the 12 volt circuit when the truck is turned off. You...
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• Breakaway Switch Installation
  The breakaway switch on the Pro Series Push to Test Breakaway Kit with Premium Integrated Charger # 50-85-315 will need to be attached the same way it was installed. The accompanying photo is a cutout of the linked instruction manual which details how to install the breakaway switch. What follows is what it says: - Switch location should be selected to ensure unobstructed line of pull in event of vehicle separation. - Bolt breakaway switch bracket to frame of trailer or battery case...
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• What are the DOT Requirements for Trailer Breakaway Systems for Miltary Trailers
  I can certainly help. You will want to look at DOT/FMCSA regulation 393.43, specifically paragraph (d). This regulation should have everything that you need for what the Navy requires. In general, a breakaway system needs to be sufficient enough to apply the trailer brakes on fully for at least 15 minutes.
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• Dead Batteries from Accidental Tripping of Trailer Break Away
  Yes, it is indeed likely that your trailer breakaway batteries were depleted from the accidental tripping of the breakaway switch (but good for you for doing the yard work!). If your main trailer batteries have a charge line to feed the breakaway battery then they could have been depleted as well. Breakaway batteries are required to be able to apply full braking power (in the event of a disconnect) for about 15 minutes; this may vary slightly depending on the particular system and the number...
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• Where Does Electric Brake Emergency Break Away Cable Attach
  I recommend you attach Tow Ready Trailer Break Away Kit, # 50-85-315, to your vehicle to a tie down point in the bed of your truck. You could also use a stake pocket tie down and attach the cable to it. Or you could run the cable down to the safety chain loop on the bumper hitch if your vehicle is so equipped. Finally, you could attach the cable to the rails installed in the bed of the truck. The thing to remember is that the place the cable is attached to needs to be strong enough that,...
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• Do Drum Brake Assemblies Have Emergency Brakes?
  For an emergency brake system, we recommend a break away kit like the Pro Series # 50-85-315, because trailers aren't designed exactly like passenger vehicles that come equipped with an extra parking brake. This breakaway kit has a battery attached and will send a power signal to your brakes to engage when the unit senses the pull cord has been removed. I have linked a helpful picture of what the inside of the pull pin unit looks like for you to better understand how it functions. The...
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