How can I test my electric brakes?

Swingking · 01-17-2003, 08:43 AM

I just bought my first Airstream!

1969 '27 Land Yach Overlander

The guy that towed it from Houston to Austin said that the electric brakes are inop.

the tail lights and the turnsignals worked when we pluged them in but the running lights did not.

How can I test the electric brakes without spending $60 an hour for someone else to test them?

thanks!!

wb13798 · 01-17-2003, 08:48 AM

pull your break away line and see if you can pull the trailer . brakes should be locked up. also battery in trailer should be hooked up and charged . as that is where you get power to the brakes. that is one way.
al

68 Overlander · 01-17-2003, 09:15 AM

Your breakaway switch might be inop being the trailer is 34 years old but like Al said, your house battery must be charged for it to work that way. You can hook your tow vehicle to the trailer plug and have somebody apply the brakes while you listen near the wheels for a click or humming sound to see if you are getting voltage back there. I would first make sure the trailer plug is wired correctly and matches the tow vehicle wiring (that might solve the running light problem too). I believe there is a thread here that outlines the procedures in detail including checking for the correct voltage.
Randy

68 Suburban · 03-04-2003, 03:38 PM

Do you need to have the trailer battery opertional to use your trailer brakes if you have the power coming from the tow vehicle through the plug? I guess what I am asking is, will the tow brakes work with out batteries on the trailer?

John · 03-04-2003, 04:07 PM

A simple method to check the operation of any magnet is with a compass. Place the compass near the bottom center point of the wheel of the magnet to be tested and have someone activate the brakes. The needle of the compass should deflect indicating the magnet is energized.

Pahaska · 03-04-2003, 05:23 PM

With the exception of the breakaway switch, no battery is necessary in the trailer for the brakes to work. Power comes from the tow vehicle.

**Pick** · 03-04-2003, 06:10 PM

Then you can tell by your ammeter reading if all magnets are energized!

John · 03-04-2003, 06:14 PM

It's true, It's true, It's true!!!!!!!

Pick,

When I adjust mine to full open/on, I get a reading of 14.2A!!

Over 3A per wheel!!!

John