More on the Safety Brake-away system

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

More on the Safety Brake-away system

Radar · Guru

Warren-Pat_01 wrote:

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There was considerable discussion on this post.
My questions are - (1) if the whole system is to be separate from the van battery & only charged from the tug, what is the expected life of the separate battery? With intermittent use, caravans might remain dormant for periods of time. If it is only charged when the van & car are connected (ok for those continually on the road), surely without being used the small 12v 5/7AH battery must discharge over time. I would assume that this doesn't do the battery much good & may fail should an emergency occur.

Only part of the question I can personally answer from my experience only, 6 years the life for our battery and as I give it a quick test before leaving home, to my horrors it was dead, a quick trip to the local parts shop and on the road again.

My rule is I check the battery regularly.

iana · Guru

If an incident occurred, and the insurance company asked how this unit was maintained, then the quote would be, "To be maintained in accordance with the manufactures (of the unit) recommendations", the manuals on these units state, or the manuals I have read state, the battery should be replaced every two years.

I know that there aren't too many of use change the battery every two years, but if it came to the crunch (pun), those prosecuting could have a case.

When the caravan is parked up and connected to 240v, the battery would be charged up via the 240v to 12v adaptor if supplied.

Possum3 · Guru

You can purchase a small solar panel at Supercheap or such www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/sca-sca-solar-maintenance-charger---4w/340106.html that you can place in sun when van is idle to keep small battery charged, check charge weekly. New Battery can be purchased on line for around $27.

KFT · Guru

My breakaway system is connected only to the caravan house batteries which are charged by vehicle. charger or solar. I have no separate system for this funtion and the annual inspection only verifies that it works not how it is set up.

Frank

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

If you are in NSW that is all you need to do Frank. (Dont know about other states)

NSW Reg requires A battery source capable of maintaining the brakes for AT LEAST 15 minutes. Charging source is usually the car alternator/generator.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Warren, I have mine wired up to keep charged via aluminium tent batteries or Collie when driving. It is on the AT batteries most of the time though. There is a switch on the Breakaway unit to go one way or the other.

When stationary for any length of time I turn it on via aluminium tent batteries for a full day when sun is good, once a week to keep the battery charged at all times.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

Thanks everyone,
What current do the electric brakes draw? The auto resetting cct breaker supplied with the unit is 30A, the cabling looks like it might be ok for 20.

I think I'll be wiring it to the house battery, normally charged by solar.

Brenda and Alan · Guru

Warren the magnets draw around 4 Amps each when connected directly to a 12 volt battery, so single axle 8 Amp dual axle 16 Amp.

Looking at the Century 7 Ah discharge curve the battery would be flat in about 13-14 minutes at 16 Amp.

I think maybe the regulation was drawn up when single axles were the norm.

Alan

Bobdown · Guru

The Travelling Dillberries wrote:
If you are in NSW that is all you need to do Frank. (Dont know about other states)
NSW Reg requires A battery source capable of maintaining the brakes for AT LEAST 15 minutes. Charging source is usually the car alternator/generator.

I flattened the single house battery in my old van by leaving the Break-away system on, probably about 3 months with no charging done (stupid I know), they continue to draw all the time, the red light never goes green that I know of.

I believe in some States (NSW) it's law to have a monitor for the break-away battery in the tow vehicle.

Cheers Bob

http://www.withoutahitch.com.au/caravan/legal-requirements-caravan-breakaway-systems-australia/

KevinC · Senior Member

It's my belief that the reason a little battery is included in the break-away system is that it may be fitted to a trailer that doesn't have a house battery, e.g. a horse float. We who own caravans with house batteries therefore have a bit of overkill built in.
I keep my little battery topped up using a lighter plug in a 12v outlet near the battery, and wired to the terminals on the front of the break-safe battery box (which I understand is a charger). I leave it connected while we travel.

Ron-D · Guru

Just arrived home ,while we were travelling the breakaway battery went flat , its four years old January 2015 on the battery,there cheap to buy ,so maybe thpats the life span,will buy a new battery and fit it next time we set out,sounds like old age kills them same as us biggrin .

iana · Guru

Brought one for $35 yesterday.

JBDUBBO · Veteran Member

The system has a 7 amp/hr battery inside and has to hold the brakes on for 15minutes which it will. Connecting the house battery to it merely keeps the 7 amp battery charged ( unless you remove it and directly connect it) The regulation calls for a separate battery and means to charge it from the car. And a monitor in NSW
So mine is seven years old original battery still OK and I have a circuit from the car which charges it whilst travelling, I also have a 1000 milliamp plug in 24ovolt charger connected for when on 240 volt these are $20 at Jaycar.
Redarc units have these wires for monitor and charge already connected to the unit. Mine had been extended to the 12 pin plug from new.
I have my 240v charged on whilst in storage and I usually turn it on for a short time if I am on a power site for a few weeks .
Mine works well and passes inspection for registration ever year

Shop around new 7 amp/hr batteries can be bought down to $25

-- Edited by JBDUBBO on Thursday 23rd of May 2019 07:56:00 PM

The Travelling Dillberries · Guru

JBDUBBO wrote:

The system has a 7 amp/hr battery inside and has to hold the brakes on for 15minutes which it will. Connecting the house battery to it merely keeps the 7 amp battery charged ( unless you remove it and directly connect it) The regulation calls for a separate battery and means to charge it from the car. And a monitor in NSW
So mine is seven years old original battery still OK and I have a circuit from the car which charges it whilst travelling, I also have a 1000 milliamp plug in 24ovolt charger connected for when on 240 volt these are $20 at Jaycar.
Redarc units have these wires for monitor and charge already connected to the unit. Mine had been extended to the 12 pin plug from new.
I have my 240v charged on whilst in storage and I usually turn it on for a short time if I am on a power site for a few weeks .
Mine works well and passes inspection for registration ever year
Shop around new 7 amp/hr batteries can be bought down to $25

-- Edited by JBDUBBO on Thursday 23rd of May 2019 07:56:00 PM

Hi JB, Cant find any NSW regulation that requires a separate battery, could you quote the regulation "link" please.

Brenda and Alan · Guru

The regulation only requires A battery, not necessarily A separate battery. I also believe that NSW has deleted the need for in car monitoring of said battery in recent regulations probably to come into line with the rest of this country (maybe less of a bunch of states doing their own thing and really behaving as a country, but don't get me started on absolutely useless politicians whose only interest is their own welfare)

If it is a dual axle van a 7Ah battery can't last 15 min.

Alan

-- Edited by Brenda and Alan on Thursday 23rd of May 2019 11:54:05 PM

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

I was curious about the current draw as the battery supplied with my unit is 5aH - I don't think even with a single axle that it will hold the load for the required time.

I suppose something is better than nothing! If the "incident" occurred on a busy road such as the Hume Highway, the van would be a write off after being cleaned up by numerous semitrailers travelling at 110kph. Has anyone had a van break away?