WARNING for using Electronic brake controller with breakaway units
My boat / trailer combo is aprox 2500 kgs and as such required assisted breaks.
My boat trailer was supplies with a breakaway unit installed on it.
I was supplied a Voyager electronic brake controller to be installed in my vehicle.
The controller was duly fitted by on of Perth’s leading 4x4 accessory outlets.
Recently I had an accident whilst coming down a hill to a T section on a wet road. Applying my brakes simply started a skid which propelled me through T section and onto bush on other side. Fortunately no other cars or trucks were in my vicinity or the outcome could have been rather different.
I rather shakily proceeded to remove myself from bush and took car and trailer to boat dealer for inspection.
After some investigation it appears that when the brake controller was installed a power supply direct from the vehicle battery to vehicle trailer plug was omitted. This is required for the breakaway unit to function correctly.
Follow up with the installer of the brake controller indicated that from their perspective everything was ok for a trailer without a breakaway unit, and I should have indicated that I was going to us a trailer with a breakaway unit.
To their credit they installed the additional wiring at no charge to me.
This is posted merely as a warning to those who may not be savvy with trailer breaks etc to check that you actually have the correct wiring for your application or you may end up worse than just in the bush.
cheers
dazza336
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 19/02/10
Was the breakaway system
Was the breakaway system connected to its own 7amp battery that they normally come with?
rodkarr10
Posts: 15
Date Joined: 29/02/12
yes, although over the last
yes, although over the last few months with no charging it was probably flat.
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18089
Date Joined: 11/03/08
good warning to others.
good warning to others. lucky for you it wasnt worse. could have been horrific
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
strike_zone
Posts: 403
Date Joined: 09/09/10
maybe best to get a marine dealer
to fit these units they obviously have a little more sence than the 4x4 dealer
kempy
Posts: 810
Date Joined: 28/05/09
OR get a auto electrician to
OR get a auto electrician to as with any breakaway brakes it needs that second permanent power supply to charge the battery.
Dinkum Auto Electrical A/C & Mechanical Unit 10/16 Kent way Malaga 0438755754 Also Mobile
Open 7 days except when we are fishn For all your auto electrical needs
rodkarr10
Posts: 15
Date Joined: 29/02/12
You are spot on there Kempy,
You are spot on there Kempy, however trying to get an auto elec at short notice was next to impossible at the time, and car was going in to get Bbar fitted so thought it would be ok. The old adage of “if I knew then what I know now”
I will look you up next time I need an AE
dazza336
Posts: 71
Date Joined: 19/02/10
another place you can get
another place you can get these done pretty quicky is from caravan service centres but good on you for getting people aware