For those living in NSW or those who just want the extra protection and convenience of real time battery information, a monitor is a must. In every state except for NSW, a breakaway battery monitor is optional. Breakaway Battery MonitorĪ breakaway battery monitor is a device installed inside the cabin of the tow vehicle, near the driver, to provide a visual and sound warning if the breakaway battery charge falls below a specified level. This is to ensure that the system would still work in the rare case of the tow bar itself becoming detached from the vehicle. It’s important to attach the cable directly to a secure point on the tow vehicle and not on the tow bar. This will ensure that the breakaway will be activated in the event of the trailer being disconnected from the tow bar but still connected to the chains. The cable is generally 44 to 48 inches long and should be attached so that it is shorter in length than the tow safety chains. Breakaway Cable and PinĪ breakaway cable is attached on one end to a pin which is inserted into the breakaway unit and secured at the other end to the tow vehicle. This activation will cause the trailer’s electric brakes to be engaged, bringing the trailer safely to a standstill. In the event of unexpected trailer decoupling, a correctly installed switch will be activated when the pin is pulled out by the tow-vehicle. The switch is mounted to the trailer and wired to the 12 volt breakaway battery. It’s the switch which determines when the breakaway system is activated. The breakaway switch is the brains of the operation. Some batteries can be recharged from the tow vehicle itself whereas others require an electric or solar charger. Keep in mind that after the pin is pulled from the breakaway switch, an activated system can drain the breakaway battery supply quickly. The battery will need to be charged fully before it’s first use and has an average life of two years. These are usually housed in a black plastic case. Most trailer breakaway systems are powered off a 12 volt battery. A breakaway battery monitor is mandatory for trailers registered in NSW. This would trigger the switch, which would use the attached breakaway battery power to activate the electric brakes on the trailer, bringing it to a stop.Īn optional component is a breakaway battery monitor, to ensure that the breakaway battery has enough power to operate while towing. In the event of the trailer uncoupling the cable will pull out the pin.
The pin-end of the cable is inserted into the breakaway switch and the other end of the cable is attached to the tow vehicle. They are also wired to the electric brakes. The battery and the switch are attached to the trailer and wired together.
These are: a battery, a switch and a cable connected to a pin. There are three main components to a trailer breakaway system.
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