break-away switch stuck

And the wire for the break-a-way should be 4-6 inches shorter then the safety chains. So hook up the safety chains to the tow heh. before hitching up and move the TV ahead till the safety chains are tight and make the break-a-way wire 4-6 inches shorter.
Same applies to toads and tow bars.

When testing unplug from your tow vehicle because it can and will burn up the controller.

ours did the same thing-had the melt marks on the pin. I got a new one at NAPA, replaced it and all was good. do check the brakes as stated above.

I would replace it, they are not that expensive. The smoke was probably the result of the switch trying to make contact and the fingers of the switch and they are probably rusted and/or corroded. (When you pull the pin the fingers inside of the switch spring back and try to contact each other). Disconnect the battery if you cannot put the pin back in temporally. If and when you replace the switch, do a monthly maintenance by pulling the pin and wiping it clean and reinstalling the pin. A little WD40 might help prevent it happening again.

They cost about $12 at most any RV parts store or trailer shop.

Replace and wire up.

Replace the switch and simply test the brakes, most likely no harm done to the magnets nor the trailer other than flattening the battery if left on long enough.

These switches are exposed to the weather and DO go bad, water tends to get into them and damages the switch contacts to the point the contacts will not pass enough current to activate the brakes.

In your case water may have been creating enough of an electrical path to conduct a small amount of current across the plastic pin (kind of like a short).

Basically if you open the switch you will find nothing more than two pieces of metal which when the plastic pin is pulled will contact each other and connect the battery to the brakes.

Really simple switch but it depends on a small O ring on the pin to keep moisture out of the switch. The O ring can go bad or lose enough shape to allow moisture in..

It is a good idea to test the breakaway each time you hitch up, just takes a couple of minutes to do this but well worth it knowing that if for any reason the trailer separates the brakes will activate..

GATJcampers wrote:
I was trying to pull the pin on my break-away switch on the trailer and it would not come out. I pulled and pulled, nothing. Then I got a tool and used some leverage and it came out. I noticed on both sides of the pin there were melt marks. Then I noticed a tiny bit of smoke coming out of the switch. Trailer has been parked for weeks.No problems that I know of. I was just testing the switch. Any idea what could be going on? Is it as simple as replacing the switch? Thanks

Wonder if the smoke you see is really the corrosion as a result of the friction from pulling it out. I accidentally set mine off at a campground and had to reset it, I did not look closely to reveal the orientation and had to replace it as soon as I got home. I did not have the problem you had but if you can put it back in securely you will be okay other wise it may be time to replace it.

Disconnect your trailer battery right away. You may have burned up your electric brakes.