Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[WinterDeere]

My 2021 car trailer has a break-away system with battery. I don't know how to test it, but do ANY of them actually work?

As noted in prior post, in PA we are required to have them tested by inspection site every year. We're also required to have brakes on all axles, whereas most states seem to require them on only one axle of a tandem axle trailer. Always adds a bit to the quoted price of any trailer, once they learn you're in PA. I actually think it's a good idea, not just for the added stopping power and redundancy, but even more every time I see someone driving around with a hitch way too tall or short, to where just one axle is carrying the majority of the load.

Make sure to unplug the trailer plug first. On my Ram 1500, it'll blow the fuse for the service brakes, least ways it did on mine. Not a big fix if you know about it but a real pia if you don't. Factory brake harness and controller.

That's weird. Think the trailer was wired positive ground, while your vehicle was negative ground? Anyone else ever have this happen? I'll admit, I can't remember ever intentionally trying this while connected.

 

[mrmikey]

That's weird. Think the trailer was wired positive ground, while your vehicle was negative ground? Anyone else ever have this happen? I'll admit, I can't remember ever intentionally trying this while connected

I thought it was odd as well but I figured if that's the only problem I have if my trailer gets away from me, it'll be the least of my worries LOL. I just make sure that when I do test it, I unplug it.
It's definitely wired neg ground, it's happen to a couple of new trucks at work (both Rams) when I was working as well.

 

[LouNY]

When the emergency pin is pulled that little auxillary battery is directly connected to your trailer brakes at full battery voltage voltage that in turn lowers the aux batteries voltage to a level much lower then your trucks battery so your truck is trying to charge that battery through a circuit which can't handle that much current.

 

[Norm W]

Battery polarity doesn't matter with most of the "Old" trailers. Brakes and lights will work either way. However, if you have LED lights polarity does matter. It won't hurt them, they just won't work with it reversed.

 

[WinterDeere]

When the emergency pin is pulled that little auxillary battery is directly connected to your trailer brakes at full battery voltage voltage that in turn lowers the aux batteries voltage to a level much lower then your trucks battery so your truck is trying to charge that battery through a circuit which can't handle that much current.

I don’t follow. If the battery is so undersized that the brakes drag down the voltage, then it would not have capacity to keep the brakes locked hard, as intended.

If previously connected, we know the battery voltages are nearly the same. How much current do the brakes really pull?

 

[California]

...if you have LED lights polarity does matter. It won't hurt them, they just won't work with it reversed.

Maybe in most cases.

I bought LED lantern bulbs that the eBay listing declared could be used with either polarity. I destroyed 2 of them immediately before figuring the polarity of my 6 volt lantern.

Hopefully automotive LEDs aren't as vulnerable as this.

 

[WinterDeere]

Maybe in most cases.

I bought LED lantern bulbs that the eBay listing declared could be used with either polarity. I destroyed 2 of them immediately before figuring the polarity of my 6 volt lantern.

Hopefully automotive LEDs aren't as vulnerable as this.

LED's are diodes, so an individual LED will always be polarity sensitive. But there have also always been bipolar LED assemblies, essentially two LED's in reversed-parallel inside the same package, such that it will light with either polarity. There's a reverse breakdown problem, where you could cause damage, but typically they're sized/designed to prevent that at the prescribed voltage.

 

[LouNY]

I don’t follow. If the battery is so undersized that the brakes drag down the voltage, then it would not have capacity to keep the brakes locked hard, as intended.

If previously connected, we know the battery voltages are nearly the same. How much current do the brakes really pull?

If when the emergency brake activation pulls 15-20 amps through the trailer wiring and truck connection for that battery is connected to who knows were if it pulls more then the fuses instantaneous rating it would blow.
I'm not sure but most brake controllers are setup with 40 amp breakers or fuses. Not sure why it would blow a fuse for the OP's service brakes. Brake lights maybe?
Just out of curiosity I looked in my 19 RAM's manual for brake fuses, that thing has numerous fuses for the trailer plug lights and brake controller.
I've only checked the breakaway switch on a couple of trailers with my RAM 1500 and it's never lost a fuse.

 

[seville009]

 

[dodge man]

What is that? Siding?