Oops! Brakes on for 24 Hours!

path1 wrote:
(Hate to tell on myself). Years ago when we were starting out and our 1st RV was new to us, I was told the break away switch would lock up the wheels if cable became disconnected. I thought great, what a slick anti-theft device. Parked RV at seasonal campground and came back next weekend and wondered why my battery was dead. Charged up battery no problems, but I'm sure it shorten life of battery.

You can probably do all kinds of tests to see if any damage. I use an "old style" compass and see if needle spins around when brakes applied (being my ears aren't so good anymore).

You need to do a pull test with 7-pin disconnected and breakaway pin out again. Just hearing the brakes work or that hum/whine at each wheel with the brakes on and trailer stopped does not tell the tale.

I have a brake job coming up so I know that. I get the 12amps ok, the voltage is good, get the hum/whine. You can hear the brakes apply. But the trailer has "no brakes."

Various possibilities, all expensive, but never mind that--the point is you have to do the pull test to see if the brakes actually stop the trailer from moving, both with the breakaway test as above, and also with the brake controller and 7-pin way with no truck braking and the manual slider on the brake controller.

Usually that little mistake will just drain your battery as noted above. Charge your battery and move on.

had that happen on our first TT- the pin pulled out and I didn't even know it. it sat for a week. I put the pin and charged the battery, no problems.

(Hate to tell on myself). Years ago when we were starting out and our 1st RV was new to us, I was told the break away switch would lock up the wheels if cable became disconnected. I thought great, what a slick anti-theft device. Parked RV at seasonal campground and came back next weekend and wondered why my battery was dead. Charged up battery no problems, but I'm sure it shorten life of battery.

You can probably do all kinds of tests to see if any damage. I use an "old style" compass and see if needle spins around when brakes applied (being my ears aren't so good anymore).

That will be 12 amps (3 per wheel)from the trailer battery bank too unless you have shore power, so if off-grid you lost 288AH.

Hope your truck's 7-pin was not connected. Doing the breakaway with 7-pin connected can damage your truck's brake controller.

Doubt the electromagnets burned out. Why? Well put me in the "Me Too" department around 25 years ago. Embarrassing, but only harmful to the battery in my case.

Done is done. Do a brake test before you roll too far.

good question but I think more than likely recharge the battery and you will be good to go.