Mistakenly pulled breakaway cable

[Vvvv1010]

One of us mistakenly leashed our high energy dog to the breakaway cable. Of course he pulled the entire insert from its box.

I was able to put insert back in, but my question is what should I expect tomorrow morning when we leave. What do I need to do to the breakaway system? My fear is wheels will be locked.

Thank you

[Vvvv1010]

I wanted to update you on the pulling of breakaway cable insert yesterday. I had my BIL pull my TV forward while I stood by the trailer tires looking/ listening for some type of locking.

Like it never happened. We rolled out with no trouble at all. Learn something everyday.

Thanks again

[opnspaces]

I'm betting that five minutes was you chasing the dog around to get the pin back wasn't it? 🙂

Nothing to worry about. The magnets were energized for 5 minutes and the since the wheels didn't even turn the brakes were never engaged.

Just put the pin back in and go about your daily life, no harm no foul. 🙂

[dave17352]

I agree with those that say no problem. I have a dump trailer and one of the things the DOT does is pull the pin in order to check the brakes. You put your truck in drive and if the breakaway brakes hold then your good to go. Then you slip the pin back in and you are good to go.

[MNRon]

What Old Biscuit, and others have said. You've reinserted the pin which opens the circuit back up. You're good to go, no problem.

Now find a new place to hook up the dog 🙂 I have a length of rope with a spring clip on either end: I wrap one end around something (not the break away cable 🙂 and clip the rope securing that end and then clip the other end to the dog's collar. Works well around a tree, picnic table post, anything stationary that you can wrap a rope around.

[hddecker]

BTPO1 wrote:

beemerphile1 wrote:

Vvvv1010 wrote:
It was 5 minutes or so that it had been pulled and reinserted. It is fully snapped in and is flush with its box. I sense it's not as easy as just snapping back in. I am thinking of some type of reset process.

There is no reset, it is a simple switch.

Pull pin, switch closes and applies power to brakes.

Insert pin, switch opens and removes power from brakes.

Don't overthink it.

X2, it really is simple.

X3

Part of your pre-trip should be pulling the pin to ensure that the brakes do lockup in the case of a breakaway.

[Boband4]

As usual, Old Biscuit has great, solid info. Recently, the curiosity was killing me, I pulled the pin. Then I tried to move the trailer. The trailer may have moved 8 inches and then all 4 wheels locked. The pin was actually difficult to get back in, but once I was able to reinsert it, all worked just fine.

[BTPO1]

beemerphile1 wrote:

Vvvv1010 wrote:
It was 5 minutes or so that it had been pulled and reinserted. It is fully snapped in and is flush with its box. I sense it's not as easy as just snapping back in. I am thinking of some type of reset process.

There is no reset, it is a simple switch.

Pull pin, switch closes and applies power to brakes.

Insert pin, switch opens and removes power from brakes.

Don't overthink it.

X2, it really is simple.

[Bigbird65]

I guess that I really don't see the concern about damaging the magnets. 3 amps at 13 volts is only 39 watts which is really nothing in heat considering that the magnet is solidly heat sinked to the brake drum. These components are made to work in a very hot environment.

I can't imagine an electric brake manufacturer designing a magnet that couldn't take that power/heat load indefinitely.

I would drive a short way and check the brakes with the controller. If they still work well then enjoy the rest of the trip.

[MarkTwain]

break away cable---
Had the same experience while parked in an RV Park. After I hooked up the trailer to take off, found that the trailer would not move. I got out, looked around for a problem. Some kids had pulled the cable out and then taken the brake plastic insert. Luckly a RV store near by had a replacement:) I bought 2 and carry one as a spare

[12thgenusa]

Five minutes is nothing. That's about one amp hour out of the battery. Also three amps per magnet is only about 36 watts to dissipate as heat. The magnets get much hotter than that due to being inside and in close proximity to the brake drum. Snap the pin in and you're done.

[beemerphile1]

Vvvv1010 wrote:
It was 5 minutes or so that it had been pulled and reinserted. It is fully snapped in and is flush with its box. I sense it's not as easy as just snapping back in. I am thinking of some type of reset process.

There is no reset, it is a simple switch.

Pull pin, switch closes and applies power to brakes.

Insert pin, switch opens and removes power from brakes.

Don't overthink it.

[JJBIRISH]

Melting??? Did anyone say melted???

I do believe the full voltage load on the magnet can cause an open or a short condition in the magnet… which is in effect the wiring overheating and the melting of the wire (open) or the insulation (shorting)…

Yes I believe it can and does happen, and yes I have seen magnets go bad…
No I can’t document what caused the encased wire to break or short out…

Putting the pin back in should restore everything to its original condition over time… it is more likely that you did damage to the battery than the magnet though...

[Vvvv1010]

It was 5 minutes or so that it had been pulled and reinserted. It is fully snapped in and is flush with its box. I sense it's not as easy as just snapping back in. I am thinking of some type of reset process.

[BB_TX]

No problem if not left out too long. I use it to check individual brakes before first trip each year. I jack up one wheel, pull the breakaway pin, rotate the wheel to make sure it will lock up, put pin back in, lower that wheel, and repeat with the other three.