Breakaway Pin Melted When Reed Into Breakaway Switch

Question:

The found the plastic pin out when i went to move trailer dont know how long being out so i guess the brakes were atavated when i put the pin back in it melted the pin if brakes are on long time the divice will hot.was that the reason it got hot?

asked by: William

Helpful Expert Reply:

It depends on how long the trailer was sitting there before you reinserted the pin. On a system like the Hopkins Engager # 20099 the battery has a 5 amp-hours capacity so if you were within the 5 hour time limit that would explain why the pin melted. If it melted the whole switch then you can replace it with part # HM20010. Otherwise the replacement cable and pin is part # HM20051.

If your trailer had been sitting there for a day or so and your pin was melted then I really am not sure how that is possible as your battery should have been completely depleted. The only other possibility is if you have another battery on your trailer that your breakaway battery was somehow drawing power.

expert reply by: Jon G