Orange Charging Light on Hopkins Engager Breakaway System Stays On without Trailer Connected

Updated 07/15/2014 | Published 07/13/2014

Question:

I just installed a 20099 kit on my car trailer and the orange light stays on even when the trailer is un-plugged from the truck. I exchanged it for another unit and it does the same thing. I have the blue wire going to the trailer brakes, white wire to ground, black wire to 12v coming off the plug.

asked by: Bill

Expert Reply:

The orange light on breakaway kit # 20099 is indicating that the battery is charging. Since this is happening, not once, but twice with 2 different units on your trailer without the trailer connected that indicates a short.

Since the breakaway system and its battery are installed in line with the wiring from the tow vehicle to the magnets on the trailer brakes the likely cause is a short on the wiring to the magnets or the magnets themselves.

First, make sure that the blue wire from the box goes to the blue wire on the switch. The other wire on the switch them goes to the wiring leading to the brake magnets. The black wire on the box connects to the 12 volt circuit from the 7-Way trailer connect. And the white wire is ground.

Make sure the grounds are all attached to clean and corrosion free bare metal surfaces. Check the wiring to and from the switch. If any copper strands are touching bare metal that will cause a short. If any wires are pinched or sandwiched anywhere, that can cause a short.

To test the magnets themselves, first visually inspect them. If you can see the copper windings coming through the magnets will need to be replaced. To further test the magnets you can use the help article I have linked.

expert reply by: Michael H