brake away brakes

This break away system has been discharging its battery sense it was new, IF the battery is left plugged into the system, when not is use/plugged into the tow vehicle.

Dusty

mkirsch wrote:
They all do that (charge while driving), if wired properly and the charging line fuse is installed on certain trucks. What's this "built in charger" you were talking about earlier? Was that what you were talking about?

I was confused about this so looked up the Hopkins model linked to by Roy B. That break-away charger gets power from the towing vehicle. It has circuitry to limit the charge current delivered to a separate break-away battery. The reasoning is that the vehicle charge current may over-charge the small battery used for the break-away system.

I think Dusty's problem with the battery losing charge is probably a worn out battery. These small 6AH-12AH sealed batteries don't have very good longevity. An ammeter connected to the break-away battery when at rest would confirm this. No load on battery (break-away switch not active) should measure no current (amps) through the connections.

They all do that (charge while driving), if wired properly and the charging line fuse is installed on certain trucks. What's this "built in charger" you were talking about earlier? Was that what you were talking about?

I don't how it charges. It just charges when plugged into my tow vehicle and being used. And if I don't unplug the battery when not in use, it will slowly run down.

Dusty

What is this "charger" you are talking about? Is it something that's plugged into an AC outlet when the trailer is parked?

A lot of the cheaper float chargers don't care where they get their power from. If there is no AC power, they will run the battery down. All they are, are voltage converters.

If yes, then disconnect the charger and the problem will be over.

My first trailer, I bought of them new, had a small dry rechargeable sealed battery. After several years, the break away pin had never been pulled, I removed the battery for the winter and checked the battery and found it was holding it's charge.
The 20' trailer with the system to charge the same type battery. I don't where it gets the power to charge the battery, I'm guessing it comes from the travel lights. I haven't tried to figure it out.
All I know is there is a very slow drain to the battery. I don't use the trailer very often, same with the first one. I just have to remember to unhook the battery, and hook back up when in use.

Dusty

OOPS, wrong thread. disregard

I think you mean you have a charge wire not a separate charger (that would need some kind of power other then the tow vet. for power). So yes the battery over time will discharge when just sitting unused.

When the breakaway system is working correctly there is no load on the battery when the pin is in.

Any battery will self discharge over a period of time but it takes a while.

If your flat bed trailer just has the electric/surge brakes on it and nothing else then the trailer battery will only be used for the electric or surge trailer brakes. Most of the larger utility type flat bed trailers have the surge type brakes that don't need the brake controller on the truck side.

The safety lights etc for these type trailers are all powered by the truck battery system..

The batteries I have seen are small sealed throw away types and sealed up in a compartment box on the tongue area. They are not a very large battery... The only time they would be used is in the event the trailer becomes disconnected. The trailer breakaway switch action turns them ON...

I guess your setup must be different than what I am familiar with...

NOTE I was just on the etrailer.com site and they have a video for installing a hopkins battery charge kit...
ETRAILER HOPKINS Battery Charge Kit



Roy Ken