Trailer Break Away Switch

[FashaPa]

I had an interesting thing happen this weekend on the way to the campground. When I arrived I could smell something like rubber or plastic burning or melting. When I went inside camper the control panel fan was running hard which surprised me. I started looking and feeling everything to find the smell and what was making the inverter fan work so hard. To my surprise the trailer break away switch was very hot, to hot to touch. I pulled the cable and the plunger came out with the tip melted and distorted. The case of the break away kept getting hotter. After a discussion with a mobile RV tech I cut 1 of the wires to the switch. I was concerned that brakes would not work but after our discussion I was convinced it would be ok. Has anyone experienced this before? I have never heard of it. Now I will carry a spare. Just in case.

[damammel]

On my 2017 I just had an issue with my switch. I pulled it after adjusting the brakes and it would not go back in after. The tip was melted and the spring inside was loose. I removed it and replaced with a different one.

https://www.tekonsha.com/mobile/products/brake-controllers/breakaway-kits/breakaway-switch/TzaIxkVx1cL5ERqvVYjzzDDZEB0EpdBvV%7C%7CmfCHi!Bk=

[Jagiven]

Nope, i did engage them once over night, to ensure I did not roll oit of camp and down a bluff. You could walk under the back end of the tt, without ducking. Worse site ever, out west somewhere. Nothing felt hot, even in the morning.

[Flyrotor]

Originally Posted by Jagiven

Nope, i did engage them once over night, to ensure I did not roll oit of camp and down a bluff. You could walk under the back end of the tt, without ducking. Worse site ever, out west somewhere. Nothing felt hot, even in the morning.

So the way I understand the breakaway switch, once engaged it sends the full 12 volts to the magnets, which if left engaged could actually overheat the magnets to the point of failure, also draining the batteries rather quickly. This switch is not to be used as a “parking break”

Correct me if I’m wrong