Battery failure 2018 Flying Cloud 23'

[eganwh]

Check your 12-v system wiring diagram in your owner's manual. On my '16 a blue 12 AWG wire from the "always on" bus routes to the break away switch and on to the breaks. Circuit normally open - emergency switch closes it.

Originally Posted by gypsydad

UB- are you sure about the "breakaway system" being tied to a battery? My other flatbed trailer with similar disconnect for brakes does not have a battery..when emergency brake disconnect wire is pulled, it fires from the harness connected to my truck, I believe? Anyone know for sure?

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

UB- are you sure about the "breakaway system" being tied to a battery? My other flatbed trailer with similar disconnect for brakes does not have a battery..when emergency brake disconnect wire is pulled, it fires from the harness connected to my truck, I believe? Anyone know for sure?

But, I believe they all come with batteries when shipped from AS, as you all indicated.

What about when that cable and the safety chains break and the trailer takes off across oncoming traffic? THAT is when the breakaway brakes come into their own, but without being powered by an on-trailer battery, they don't exist.

Originally Posted by eganwh

Check your 12-v system wiring diagram in your owner's manual. On my '16 a blue 12 AWG wire from the "always on" bus routes to the break away switch and on to the breaks. Circuit normally open - emergency switch closes it.

I have only one quibble. The switch is Normally Closed, but is held Open by the breakaway plunger.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

UB- are you sure about the "breakaway system" being tied to a battery? My other flatbed trailer with similar disconnect for brakes does not have a battery..when emergency brake disconnect wire is pulled, it fires from the harness connected to my truck, I believe? Anyone know for sure?

But, I believe they all come with batteries when shipped from AS, as you all indicated.

Hi

Yup, the magic break away switch goes straight to the battery on the trailer. Leave it unplugged and you will flatten the trailer battery, probably in under an hour. You also may fry the magnets in the brakes. Since they are electric powered brakes, there's not a lot of other ways to make it work.

One could debate the need for chains plus switch plus the latch on the hitch. The bottom line seems to be that indeed, redundancy is needed. I actually know people who have "used" the feature and there are lots of stories ...

So - always make sure your battery is charged up when you pull out. ....

Why go into all this detail? It's winter storage time, people just might take shortcuts pulling out of storage in the spring .... you have been cautioned

Bob

[brick1]

Battery water level is routine maintenance - owner responsibility.
My dealer, Southland RV in Atlanta did cover battery maintenance in my (extensive) walk-thru when I purchased my new AS. Very thorough and patient with all of my questions.
brick

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

UB- are you sure about the "breakaway system" being tied to a battery? My other flatbed trailer with similar disconnect for brakes does not have a battery..when emergency brake disconnect wire is pulled, it fires from the harness connected to my truck, I believe? Anyone know for sure?

But, I believe they all come with batteries when shipped from AS, as you all indicated.

The whole point of the breakaway is to apply the trailer brakes in a "dumb" fashion (unmodulated, full-lock) if the trailer actually gets loose from the tow vehicle. I've seen utility trailer systems that use a little battery that gets charged from the tow vehicle and would have enough juice to power the brake magnets for a few minutes... maybe there's a small battery somewhere on your flatbed? Or maybe its breakaway system really doesn't work?

I guess surge-brake system expect the tongue to dig in if the trailer gets loose and activate the brakes that way...

This is one with the little built-in battery:
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Bre...ins/20099.html

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

The whole point of the breakaway is to apply the trailer brakes in a "dumb" fashion (unmodulated, full-lock) if the trailer actually gets loose from the tow vehicle. I've seen utility trailer systems that use a little battery that gets charged from the tow vehicle and would have enough juice to power the brake magnets for a few minutes... maybe there's a small battery somewhere on your flatbed? Or maybe its breakaway system really doesn't work?

I guess surge-brake system expect the tongue to dig in if the trailer gets loose and activate the brakes that way...

This is one with the little built-in battery:
https://www.etrailer.com/Trailer-Bre...ins/20099.html

Hi

At some size point, break away setups are an "optional" item. I have no idea if that varies state to state or if the fed's come up with that "answer". There are a lot of boat trailers out there with no break away on them at all. There also are a lot of light weight "garden gear" haulers in the same category.

Bob

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

At some size point, break away setups are an "optional" item. I have no idea if that varies state to state or if the fed's come up with that "answer". There are a lot of boat trailers out there with no break away on them at all. There also are a lot of light weight "garden gear" haulers in the same category.

Bob

It varies by state... somewhere around 3000 lb most states require trailer brakes (a few use a much higher weight though), and many of the states requiring trailer brakes also require a breakaway. There's no exemption that I know of for boat trailers beyond the weight... A quick glance through the AAA collection of state trailer regs looks like 20 states have a breakaway requirement, and none seem to exempt boat trailers.

Texas is pretty lax as such things go... brakes are required for a gross trailer weight over 4500 lb and I don't think the breakaway is legally mandated (they don't check it during the annual "inspection").

[gypsydad]

My utility trailer is a dual axel rated at 5,000lbs. I know the brakes work fine when connected; not sure if the brakeaway switch has rechargeable battery...I use it maybe twice a year when in MT..I purchased new 10 years ago...

But, somehow we have gotten off topic....again....from the OP post.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

My utility trailer is a dual axel rated at 5,000lbs. I know the brakes work fine when connected; not sure if the brakeaway switch has rechargeable battery...I use it maybe twice a year when in MT..I purchased new 10 years ago...

But, somehow we have gotten off topic....again....from the OP post.

While we're on the off-topic... Looks like you need a battery somewhere. For MT, per AAA:

... every trailer and pole trailer with a GVW in excess of 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels that are designed to be applied automatically and promptly, and remain applied for at least 15 minutes upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.

[ROBERT CROSS]

The surge brake cable releases a spring actuated plunger to apply the brakes on the trailing axle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9l3DSsot-A

Bob
🇺🇸

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

While we're on the off-topic... Looks like you need a battery somewhere. For MT, per AAA:

... every trailer and pole trailer with a GVW in excess of 3,000 lbs. must be equipped with brakes acting on all wheels that are designed to be applied automatically and promptly, and remain applied for at least 15 minutes upon breakaway from the towing vehicle.

Now that I think about it, there is a little 4" sq. box mounted on the front that the brake wires come out of. Never considered there might be a battery in there...I will check out this summer...when snow melts!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If you think about it, the battery does not need to be very big. If it's got enough power to clamp the brakes on for a minute ... that's good enough. Something like you would find inside a computer UPS would do the trick just fine. Even if the brakes pull 10A (which they don't) you would need < 0.2 AH to get the job done.

Since this is all pretty obscure, I'd bet that roughly 99.99% of the small trailers that get rigged this way are running around with dead batteries after about 5 years on the road.

Bob

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

If you think about it, the battery does not need to be very big. If it's got enough power to clamp the brakes on for a minute ... that's good enough. Something like you would find inside a computer UPS would do the trick just fine. Even if the brakes pull 10A (which they don't) you would need < 0.2 AH to get the job done.

Since this is all pretty obscure, I'd bet that roughly 99.99% of the small trailers that get rigged this way are running around with dead batteries after about 5 years on the road.

Bob

Many of the states requiring breakaway systems (per the AAA info website) have a 15-minute standard, I guess to give you time to get back to the trailer and chock it safely before the battery gives out.

I do wonder what sort of a battery lives in the black box on those packaged systems e-trailer sells... it says there's a rechargeable battery in there that charges from the tow vehicle but doesn't give any more info.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Many of the states requiring breakaway systems (per the AAA info website) have a 15-minute standard, I guess to give you time to get back to the trailer and chock it safely before the battery gives out.

I do wonder what sort of a battery lives in the black box on those packaged systems e-trailer sells... it says there's a rechargeable battery in there that charges from the tow vehicle but doesn't give any more info.

Hi

Given all the admonitions to never ever use the breakaway as a parking brake (or you will toast the brake windings) ..... yikes .....

Even at a quarter hour, the typical 2 or 3A load does not get you to 1AH of drain. Still a mighty small battery required.

Bob

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Many of the states requiring breakaway systems (per the AAA info website) have a 15-minute standard, I guess to give you time to get back to the trailer and chock it safely before the battery gives out.

I do wonder what sort of a battery lives in the black box on those packaged systems e-trailer sells... it says there's a rechargeable battery in there that charges from the tow vehicle but doesn't give any more info.

It may get charged when plugged into the pigtail in the back of the truck, perhaps? I have never thought about it. Brakes strength need to be dialed down on my trailer brake control built in to my F250 when I use this trailer, which is only few times in the summer, but I been using this trailer since new for about 10 years now. Brakes always seem to work fine.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

It may get charged when plugged into the pigtail in the back of the truck, perhaps? I have never thought about it. Brakes strength need to be dialed down on my trailer brake control built in to my F250 when I use this trailer, which is only few times in the summer, but I been using this trailer since new for about 10 years now. Brakes always seem to work fine.

Hi

One would guess that the battery would be charged from the 7 pin. It is only used when the breakaway is "active" ( = the magic plastic plug is out of the little switch box). The battery being charged / not charged / totally missing would have no effect at all on normal brake operation. All power for normal braking comes over the brake wires on the 7 pin. Yes, that's a bit weird.

Bob