Testing traiker brakes with battery charger. - Fiberglass RV
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Old 09-22-2016, 08:18 AM   #1
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Testing trailer brakes with battery charger.

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Can I test my trailer brakes by using my battery charger?

Raise trailer wheel and give it a spin
( Spin the wheel the same as driving down the road).

Have ground hooked up to trailer plug from battery charger.

Now touch. then release, positive wire from battery charger to brake terminal, on trailer plug.

Will this make the brakes work or stop the wheel from spinning?
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Old 09-22-2016, 08:36 AM   #2
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If your trailer has a breakaway switch, you can test you brakes simply by jacking up a wheel and yanking the cable. Just don't do it for very long since it might overheat something.
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Old 09-22-2016, 08:44 AM   #3
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I have NO breakaway switch.
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Old 09-22-2016, 09:54 AM   #4
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Depends on your charger. Most charger will not output any voltage until they sense a battery is hooked up (they need to detect a small voltage first, like a couple volts).
However on some chargers you can bypass this feature and use it like a 12V power supply. An older charger will work too.
And yes, the brakes will activate and lock the wheels.
I've done it a couple time like that when I needed to adjust the brakes shoes and my wife was away with the tow vehicle. The easiest is simply to plug the tow vehicle and have someone activate the brakes manually on the brake controller. Also, I always hitch the trailer to the TV, makes it more safe when jacking the trailer, prevents it from rolling off the jack.
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Old 09-22-2016, 10:00 AM   #5
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Carl V
THANKS

"Hitch the trailer to the TV, makes it more safe when jacking the trailer, prevents it from rolling off the jack. "
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Old 09-22-2016, 10:50 AM   #6
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With a battery in place I've used the plug to test my brakes by jumping from the battery pin to the brake pin. I used two small pieces of sheet metal pushed into the plug and a wire with alligator clips.
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Old 09-22-2016, 12:24 PM   #7
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Not sure why you dont have a breakaway switch
But i think one you get your brakes tested that is something you should get installed


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Old 10-08-2016, 05:39 PM   #8
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Is there a bush button or a slide on your brake controller?
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Old 10-08-2016, 06:10 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmartin748 View Post
Is there a bush button or a slide on your brake controller?
I don't know about the OP, but my brake controller has a slide control, and the bush button is in my scrapbook.
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Old 10-08-2016, 06:25 PM   #10
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You should have a slide switch or lever on your controller. This is the manual override. With the trailer hooked to the TV have someone slide it over when you spin the wheel. If the wheel comes to a halt, the brakes are working.

If you aren't aware of this slide or lever, you should read the directions for your controller. This is the switch that used to set your brake controller for manual override, and you will need it in emergency situations.

Caveat: If all else fails, read the directions.


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