Forum Discussion

falconman515's avatar
falconman515
Explorer
May 23, 2013

How to wire a breakaway switch, which wire is which?

I purchased my trailer and I was told the two extra wires that are blue and orange W/ black stripe are for the breakaway switch that was not on the trailer.

I purchased a Breakaway Switch from Amazon and it has no instructions and didn't say which wire was which ... they are just both blue.

I have it mounted and all wired with connector butts and everything I just have no clue which wire goes to which.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated. :)
  • 69_Avion's avatar
    69_Avion
    Explorer
    May 24, 2013
    Just to make sure there is no confusion, you need an uninterupted 12 volt power supply from the trailer battery to one lead of the break away switch and the other lead of the switch is connected to the trailer brake wire, which is usually blue. You need to check to make sure. If the break away switch is every activated, your trailer brakes should lock up.
  • falconman515's avatar
    falconman515
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    westend wrote:
    Bring out the multimeter and see if you have voltage to one of those wires. They may both be for the brake leads and you may have to supply a power lead. If you have power to one of the wires and no power to the other , connect them, as posted, to the break-away switch and check to see if your brake magnets are powered by pulling out the pin. You can do that with a stud finder or compass at each drum. Have you checked your trailer's brakes using the truck's harness?


    Ya I have my P3 controller hooked up and the brakes work with the harness connected.

    I will test this in a bit and see if I have power to one, if so I should be good to go.
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Bring out the multimeter and see if you have voltage to one of those wires. They may both be for the brake leads and you may have to supply a power lead. If you have power to one of the wires and no power to the other , connect them, as posted, to the break-away switch and check to see if your brake magnets are powered by pulling out the pin. You can do that with a stud finder or compass at each drum. Have you checked your trailer's brakes using the truck's harness?
  • ChooChooMan74's avatar
    ChooChooMan74
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    falconman515 wrote:
    Ohh so I can just pick one and I'm good to go?

    Doesn't matter which one goes which???
    correct
  • falconman515's avatar
    falconman515
    Explorer
    May 23, 2013
    Ohh so I can just pick one and I'm good to go?

    Doesn't matter which one goes which???
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    May 23, 2013
    Doesn't matter which wire(s).......

    The break away switch is just a switch in the positive power line to brakes.

    12V DC power from trailer battery goes to switch and then to trailer brakes when switch is activated by pulling the pin.

    One wire to blue wire on switch the other wire to the other blue wire on switch.

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