Why Would Breakaway Plug of Trailer Cause Trailer Battery to Drain

Published 10/16/2018

Question:

Hello my name is Kim Im actually camping at this exact moment. yesterday before hitching up for the first time I noticed the plastic plug on the Breakaway cable was pulled out. Out of deduction only found one spot where it would go in but not all the way. After much deliberation I decided to get going on my last getaway till spring. On the two-hour road trip I stopped a few times to check that Breakaway connection it stayed intact but very loose. While camping at the lake the temperature ped, used furnace midway through the evening noticed I needed to change over to new propane tank. No issues. When I woke my camper was dead in the water batteries completely drained figured it was the refrigerator that did not catch on to the new tank and reverted to the DC power. Have had the camper plugged into a generator since 7 a.m. its now almost 2 p.m. battery in my camper is up to 3/4 but my refrigerator will not come back on. Also LP detector is showing solid red indicating not enough juice Im assuming. I went back to thinking it was the issue with the Breakaway brake line ..which once again was hanging halfway out.. loose. I cannot seem to re properly to go in all the way. now assuming that is whats drawing the current and draining the batteries. Can you offer any quick advice and what to do as Im camping off grid for the next 2 days on how to either re properly or cut the power from that detachable Breakaway completely until I get home and can work on it properly or get it replaced???

asked by: Kim

Helpful Expert Reply:

If your breakaway system uses the same batteries as the rest of your trailer it wil drain the batteries when the pin is pulled since that will activate the trailer brakes at full voltage. To prevent the drain for the time being you'll want to cut the breakaway switch off of your trailer wiring and tape up the wiring on both sides. This will prevent your batteries from being able to drain from activating the brakes.

I attached a diagram that shows how the switch and system normally wires to a trailer to help you visualize what's going on. In your case the breakaway box represents the trailer batteries.

expert reply by: Jameson C