I am thinking that pulling the brake away cord applies fifth wheel battery power to the brake magnets.If I am connected to shore power so that I am charging my batteries, is it OK to leave this braking on, while using chocks too, or is it just a very short term emergency application that should be disconnected from power as soon as possible to avoid harm to the brake magnets.

NO!! The breakaway system applies full battery voltage and is an emergency braking system only. The brake magnets (or hydraulic pump, in the case of disc brakes) are NOT designed for continuous application.Rusty

X2 what Rusty said, if you ever pull it by accident you should always hook back up soon as possible..

That's great question, thanks for posting.

As others have said, you will risk damaging brake components. Unless you are parked on a 45 degree slope, your properly set wheel chocks will be sufficient.

Thanks for the quick answers, and it got me thinking about when this happens. Most often it is when someone pulls out of the hitch without having it latched. So, if then the brakes are on full... often one might not be thinking the best in that situation... KaTHUMP... how long until brake parts actually get damaged with full voltage on? Anybody with experience... did damage occur?Essentially it is a resistance, and current flow through the resistance, and then the wiring should take the current without damage.

Break away safety cord | Good Sam Community

Artum_Snowbird
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015
Thanks for the quick answers, and it got me thinking about when this happens. Most often it is when someone pulls out of the hitch without having it latched.

So, if then the brakes are on full... often one might not be thinking the best in that situation... KaTHUMP... how long until brake parts actually get damaged with full voltage on? Anybody with experience... did damage occur?

Essentially it is a resistance, and current flow through the resistance, and then the wiring should take the current without damage.
downtheroad
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015
As others have said, you will risk damaging brake components.

Unless you are parked on a 45 degree slope, your properly set wheel chocks will be sufficient.
icanon
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015
That's great question, thanks for posting.
KID2TEXAS
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015
X2 what Rusty said, if you ever pull it by accident you should always hook back up soon as possible..
RustyJC
Explorer
Dec 10, 2015
NO!! The breakaway system applies full battery voltage and is an emergency braking system only. The brake magnets (or hydraulic pump, in the case of disc brakes) are NOT designed for continuous application.

Rusty

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