Forum Discussion

waykat's avatar
waykat
Explorer
Aug 15, 2013

Can a short in the 5er damage the TV electrical system

I picked my 5er up today from having suspension upgrades completed by Spring Works in GJ Colorado. On the way home I had some serious electrical problems. The transmission downshifted really hard on a small hill after applying the brakes then went into neutral (not the gear lever, the transmission). After pulling over I shut down but the truck would not start. I jumped it and got it going but charge light was on and stayed on. My charge system stopped working and I was able to limp the rig to the
Ford dealer. It appears my alternator is bad, but i found where a brake wire was rubbing and shorting out on the tire.

Can a brake short in the trailer damage your tow vehicle electrical system?

Help!
  • You_can_t_take_'s avatar
    You_can_t_take_
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2013
    I've had brake lines shorting to ground on two different trailers. It makes the trailer brakes 'grab' intermittently (as the wires short) but no, it doesn't affect the rest of the 12V system.
  • edhensley's avatar
    edhensley
    Explorer
    Aug 15, 2013
    ScottG wrote:
    No, the worst it can do is blow the fuse for it.


    Shows you did not grow up in Electronics. Sometimes a 20 cent fuse will protect a $1000 electrical system.

    It could have been they way the breaks were shorting out the system taking out the diodes in the Alternator
  • YC_1's avatar
    YC_1
    Nomad
    Aug 15, 2013
    edhensley wrote:
    ScottG wrote:
    No, the worst it can do is blow the fuse for it.


    Shows you did not grow up in Electronics. Sometimes a 20 cent fuse will protect a $1000 electrical system.

    It could have been they way the breaks were shorting out the system taking out the diodes in the Alternator


    I grew up in electronics so can you please explain to me how they could damage the diodes in the alternator. You can talk techie to me. I'm a Certified ET. First Class FCC license and own a telecommunication repair service.
  • Allworth's avatar
    Allworth
    Explorer II
    Aug 15, 2013
    I'm voting in the NO camp.

    If there is no voltage on the brake line, there is no harm-no foul. (Remember that the brakes work on positive voltage provided by the controller.)

    If there is voltage on the brake line, the short will be seen as the brake magnet going to ground. Just another load.

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