Why Am I Not Getting Power on My Breakaway Battery?

Updated 04/04/2022 | Published 04/03/2022

Question:

My 7 way trailer connector is not charging the trailer battery for the break away system how can I fix this

asked by: Loren

Expert Reply:

The first thing you need to do is to check and make sure that the breakaway battery is receiving power from the 12v accessory power on your tow vehicle's 7-way. This can be tested with circuit tester like the # PTW2992. If you are not receiving power there, the problem lies in the tow vehicle's wiring and you can rule out any issue with the breakaway module itself. I recommend making sure there is no short in the circuit and that all ground wires are on a metallic, corrosion/rust free surface.

If, however, you are receiving power, the most likely case is that the battery on the breakaway does not have enough charge or it was wired incorrectly. If the battery is dead, a truck's 7-way power source is not enough to charge it. I recommend making sure that the wiring is properly installed. If you need assistance with the installation, feel free to respond to this answer with the breakaway model you have.

If everything looks good, I recommend taking the breakaway battery to a local autoparts store to have it properly tested.

expert reply by: Bob C