caravan emergency brakes
Submitted: Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 20:50
ThreadID:
58785
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Replies:
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FollowUps:
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zacc
hi all i have a 21 foot van which has the emergency brake system on it. it has a little cable that attatches to the chain shackle that if the van parts with the car it pulls a plug out. now how can i tell if it is working ? when i pull the plug out should i hear the brakes ? cheers
Reply By: Member - Mark G (NSW) - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:07
Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:07
ZACC; this plug is called a break away switch.a
test light should do the trick to
test it.
AnswerID:
309997
Follow Up By: zacc - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:15
Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:15
hi thanx for the quick reply. should i be hearing the humming noise come from the brakes the same as i do when it is connected to the car and brake applied? cheers
FollowupID:
576000
Follow Up By: zacc - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:16
Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:16
hi thanx for the quick reply. should i be hearing the humming noise come from the brakes the same as i do when it is connected to the car and brake applied? cheers
FollowupID:
576002
Follow Up By: Motherhen - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 22:08
Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 22:08
Yes, electric brakes hum when applied.
FollowupID:
576013
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 20:45
Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 20:45
You could always pull the plug when connected to the car then try and move it You will soon find out if the brakes are on or mot.
Also keep the little SLA battrey charged up if you havent used the van for a while.
FollowupID:
576225
Reply By: donk - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:30
Reply By: KiwiAngler - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:35
Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:35
You should have a small 12v battery under one of your seats in the caravan - make sure that it is charged and working.
I used to leave a small trickle charger attached to
mine when I wasn't 'on the road'
AnswerID:
310003
Reply By: donk - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:35
Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:35
I also wonder how many breaksafe batterys are replaced every 2 years
Regards Don
AnswerID:
310004
Follow Up By: Dunedigger - Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 10:38
Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 10:38
I am amazed that the breakaway system is not checked as part of the RTA inspection checklist. It the laws require it to be fitted, the laws should require the testing of it
Dunediger
FollowupID:
576068
Reply By: RussellP - Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:36
Saturday, Jun 14, 2008 at 21:36
Try driving off after you have pulled the pin......
If the trailer brakes all lock up, it works.
Otherwise, you have a problem.
AnswerID:
310005
Reply By: Dunaruna - Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 11:15
Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 11:15
It is acceptable to have the breakaway connected to the house battery as long as the house battery is maintained. Law says that the brakes need to be applied for a period of 15 minutes after breaking away from the tug. In NSW the breakaway battery must have a monitor (volt meter) visible by the driver of the tug, this cannot be achieved with the standard 7 pin plug, a 12 pin is the answer.
I would suggest that a
test light is not an adequate way to
test the system. The breakaway branded battery unit has a built in
test (push a button, read the
test lights), a normal house battery should be load tested. Jack the vehicle up, pull the pin - brakes should lock up. Spray a bit of inox inside the breakaway unit before you re-insert the pin. If the cable is frayed, replace it. The breakaway cable cable should not be connected to the safety chains connection shackle, it should be connected directly to the towbar.
AnswerID:
310065
Follow Up By: Dunaruna - Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 11:17
Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 11:17
Forgot to add, it is also law that the van brake lights are activated when the van breaks away from the tug.
FollowupID:
576084
Reply By: Member - DAZA (QLD) - Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 15:37
Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 15:37
Hi All
When we took delivery of our new Caravan, the Agent inadvertently
connected the Breakaway Securing Cable to the truck, and didnt
leave any slack, we drove down the main road ok, as soon as we
made a sharp left hand turn at the intersection, the Breakaway Pin
pulled out and locked the Caravan Brakes, we were stuck in the
middle of the main road in busy traffic, with me scratching my head
saying what the **** has happened, then I noticed the Pin had pulled out, I readjusted the Pull Cable, gave it a bit of slack, and we
got the hell out of there.
Cheers
Daza
AnswerID:
310106
Follow Up By: Gazal Champion - Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 16:26
Sunday, Jun 15, 2008 at 16:26
How embarrassment, as Effie would say.
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