Replacement Breakaway Kit Recommendation and How to Test Battery Charger

Updated 06/02/2022 | Published 06/01/2022

Question:

Hello, Have boat trailer with electric brakes and break away system with battery. I need to replace the battery and switch, but there is also a small module with the battery that I would either want to test OR replace. It has a red wire going to 12V POS on the break away battery, Black wire going to the 12V POS from the tow vehicle and a blue wire going to one side of the break away switch.. My assumption is this is a module to keep the break away battery charged, but since that battery was dead in my situation, is there a way to test this OR a standard replacement? Thank you so much!

asked by: Chris N

Expert Reply:

I think the best way to test the battery charger on your breakaway kit is to apply 12V power to the wire that connects to the 12V power wire on your trailer and then test the other wire on the module to see if there is power coming through. If power is coming through then I would guess the charger is okay but no power means it's broken. The only real way to test the charger though would be to connect it to a battery that is depleted and see if it regenerates the battery. You'll need to make sure the breakaway pin is in good shape and in place so it won't be sending power straight through to the brakes as well.

My recommendation is to just swap everything out completely with the Bright Way Push-to-Test Trailer Breakaway Kit # 3802346 which comes with the battery, a breakaway switch, and a built-in charger. This way you can scrap everything you currently have and know that everything works together properly and is in brand-new condition.

Attached is an installation video of this kit for you to check out.

expert reply by: Jon G