We have a 2010 Jayco Starcraft and I noticed the test light was red on our break away system before our recent trip and was red on return.I can only think that the battery did not charge via the tow vehicle for some reason.Do I get a trickle charger to properly charge it and check out why the tug did not charge it.Do these batteries last forever ? I have not seen this problem come up before on techies corner.
I believe Jayco wire their Breakaway Battery ONLY via the trailer plug so it only gets charged whilst connected to a car.
Depending how long your van was stored the battery was probably flat and may have destroyed itself so it couldn't accept a charge. Or...maybe your trailer plug is not wired to charge it.
When we pick up our new Jayco in a couple weeks or so I will be changing the wiring so the breakaway is charged from the house battery which will be solar charged always.
Cheers Neil
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Neil & Lynne
Pinjarra
Western Australia
MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3
Thanks Neil,Jayco just told me the batteries only last about 4-5 years & requires a special trickle charger to charge them(costs about $130) while a new battery is about $30. Daryl
Hi Just buying a replacement battery is not a permanent fix,,You realize you have to find the source of the problem. Check 12v from tug and van at the connection first.. You did not mention that it did or didn't work prior. Don,t chuck your Battery yet,, it may not be U/S. Process of elimination b/4 spend the BUCKS.
The batteries are the same as used in most House Alarms systems, and do require replacement. After installing the new battery, connect your vehicle to the van and with vehicle running, check that the charge light is on (usually amber). If not then see if there is any wiring to the breakaway box to charge the battery. It should charge when connected to the vehicle and not depend on a 240v charger.
Another test is after the new battery, pull out the breakaway plug and check that the electric brakes come on (just in case there is a break in the wiring)
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Glen
A diesel Nissan Pathfinder towing a Coromal Element 542.
My breakaway battery is charged from the main battery in my Van. The whole system is maintained by the solar panels or 240V whichever is prevalent. 4-1/2 yrs old now and still OK (recently tested)
The battery on my van break away went flat within 3 days from replacing the original one, which I thought was the problem. The van charger was doing its job in supplying a charge but the battery was not holding it. I took the batteries out of the van and charged each separately. They each held their charge.
Following much head scratching and electricial faulting finding, the problem was a faulty breakaway switch on the A frame. ( the bit where you pull the pin out to see if the break away is working). It was some how shorting out within the device, consequently flattening the battery.
Replacing it solved the problem and I put the original battery back in. It is still holding its charge well. No more problems.
