trailer breakaway cable

[Donald]

I am finishing up surge brakes on my boat trailer. And looking at the breakaway lever and cable.

So if the ball comes off and both safety chains fail then the breakaway cable will give one tug on the brakes before the breakaway cable is ripped apart as its not strong enough to pull my boat trailer. Which is obviously a big trailer as it has brakes.

The breakaway pin switch on a trailer with electric brakes makes sense, not sure this does.

Or am I missing the purpose?

(And yes I have been finishing up the brakes for at least a year.)

 

[NHGUY]

When the whole mess breaks loose.the pin is pulled from the switch box.This immediately closes the curcuit to the breakaway battery and applies full trailer brakes.Once everything is recovered the breakaway lanyard and switch box musy be replaced (cheap).These get replaced more often than you would think....just goes to show whats going on out there...

 

[doitmyself]

According to this web page that I Googled, the actuator lever is pulled and locks into position to apply constant brake pressure:

"A latch mechanism keeps the lever in the energized mode even if the breakaway chain or cable is ripped away by the separation of the truck and trailer. The lever mechanically pushes the master cylinder piston to generate emergency brake fluid pressure, and the latch assures that the pressure is maintained until the latch is disengaged manually by using tools"

http://www.centrevilletrailer.com/news-notices/surgebrake-troubleshootingtips.htm

And yes, I am just parroting the infonet.

 

[Donald]

Originally Posted By: NHGUY
When the whole mess breaks loose.the pin is pulled from the switch box.This immediately closes the curcuit to the breakaway battery and applies full trailer brakes.Once everything is recovered the breakaway lanyard and switch box musy be replaced (cheap).These get replaced more often than you would think....just goes to show whats going on out there...


Surge brakes, so all maechanical.