Power to Break-away

[Bersaglieri]

I've got a 2002 Duramax, in preparing for a 4800 mile towing trip I noticed the other day my trailer break-away battery isn't charging. I checked both plugs [hitch and bed] and the 1 o'clock pin has no voltage. I've searched around here and the interwebs and found so much conflicting information that I'm lost. What do I need to to get power to that pin? I've read GM didn't power them from the factory. I leave Thursday so if you know, please repsond, thanks!

 

[bfmine]

I think you need to power it in the fuse panel under the hood of the truck. I'm pretty sure it's one of the square headed fuses that you can see right into. Not one of the mini fuses.

 

[bfmine]

Oh. And I'm pretty sure it's not power from the factory. There might be just a filler in that spot or no fuse in it at all. Hard to remember without looking

 

[Dozerboy]

Bfmine is right its a 40A square fuse under the hood should be a blank fuse in its place.

Really just make sure your breakaway battery is charged before you leave and it will make the trip they general last for months. Lots of times our work trucks never seem to charge the battery's so we just charge/replace them every few months.

 

[clrussell]

It's the far left top fuse if I remember right. If I remember I'll check tomorrow for you.


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[Robby05]

It's the stud #1 fuse in the under hood panel. If the fuse is there you'll need to check the 7 way for corrosion. You can unhook the harness from the plug & inspect the pins.

 

[wondernutz]

You might need to connect the wire there is a red or pink wire that is taped to the harness that goes to the fuse box that goes to the number 1 stud then the fuse then recheck

 

[Bersaglieri]

I put a 40AMP fuse in "Stud 1" and the break away works. Glad I didn't have to dig around for wires. Thanks guys!

 

[jollybuildingmover]

You need a fully charged break away battery not connected to tv power. That is what I was told by a DOT weights and measures officer. That breakaway systems needs to operate completely independent of the vehicle systems. He told me first thing he does is put a test light on the battery. That type of battery uses milli-amps to charge (learned that messing with the kids' power wheels). Hooking it to a 12v source from the tv will end up frying the battery rendering it useless.

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[malibu795]

Tow vehicle charges the break a way and is required to by federal law as stated in FMCSR. And yes its to be fully functional with out being connected to tow vehicle.
The test to see if its working... Is to disconnected trailer plug pulled break a way, put tow vehicle in gear trailer should hold truck in gear at idle... Or drag tires if manual..

 

[jollybuildingmover]

Taken directly from fmsca.dot.gov
(d)**Every trailer required to be equipped with brakes shall have brakes which apply automatically and immediately upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. With the exception of trailers having three or more axles, all brakes with which the trailer is required to be equipped must be applied upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. The brakes must remain in the applied position for at least 15 minutes.

If your battery is dead when you hookup and you need tv power to charge it, you are not going to meet the standard. The guys at the battery shop I bought my last breakaway battery from said to only use a milli-amp transformer to charge, anything more will cook the battery. They have been selling batteries longer than I have been alive, so I trust them.
I guess the main point I am making, don't gamble your safety or the safety of anyone else on a crappy battery you are having to keep juiced up with your tv.

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[Robby05]

Taken directly from fmsca.dot.gov
(d)**Every trailer required to be equipped with brakes shall have brakes which apply automatically and immediately upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. With the exception of trailers having three or more axles, all brakes with which the trailer is required to be equipped must be applied upon breakaway from the towing vehicle. The brakes must remain in the applied position for at least 15 minutes.

If your battery is dead when you hookup and you need tv power to charge it, you are not going to meet the standard. The guys at the battery shop I bought my last breakaway battery from said to only use a milli-amp transformer to charge, anything more will cook the battery. They have been selling batteries longer than I have been alive, so I trust them.
I guess the main point I am making, don't gamble your safety or the safety of anyone else on a crappy battery you are having to keep juiced up with your tv.

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What kind of batteries are they?

 

[malibu795]

If your battery is dead when you hookup and you need tv power to charge it, you are not going to meet the standard. The guys at the battery shop I bought my last breakaway battery from said to only use a milli-amp transformer to charge, anything more will cook the battery. They have been selling batteries longer than I have been alive, so I trust them.
I guess the main point I am making, don't gamble your safety or the safety of anyone else on a crappy battery you are having to keep juiced up with your tv.

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Pushing 300,000 miles towing professionally, only time I've had an issue is when contacts corroded.. Tow vehicle maintains a constant state of charge on my breakaway batteries and my air compressor battery on my trailer with air ride

Someone need to learn electrical stuff again

 

[shiggs68]

Pushing 300,000 miles towing professionally, only time I've had an issue is when contacts corroded.. Tow vehicle maintains a constant state of charge on my breakaway batteries and my air compressor battery on my trailer with air ride

Someone need to learn electrical stuff again

Just for FYI, many GM models (year dependent) do not have the battery charge wire enabled from the factory. As was said above, some require the addition of a fuse, some a wire is provided but must be connected to a stud on the fuse box. Recent models, it is enabled thru a relay only when the ignition is on.

The specific user manual usually provides the instructions.

Normally the current is limited to not overcharge the trailer battery.


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[jollybuildingmover]

The battery mine uses is some sort of sealed lead acid battery. It is the same type of battery that power wheels use, just a different size and shape, and lower amp/hr rating.

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[jollybuildingmover]

To address the issue of the OP, check to see if that battery has any juice on its own. If it doesn't, replace it.

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[malibu795]

To address the issue of the OP, check to see if that battery has any juice on its own. If it doesn't, replace it.

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If you read the thread.. You would we got him taken care of:thumb: