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KWiK · 09-14-2019, 04:02 PM

I don't believe there is such a thing, except I suspect the RVI one is.

Bought a Motorhome that came with a RVI3 brake system, but the seller didn't want to pull the breakaway off his car.

RVI wants $55 for their breakaway while regular breakaway switches can be had for ~ $12. I am not against company's making money, and yes I can afford it, but that seems a bit excessive to me.

It seems to me I could just have a 2 pole weatherproof connector. Run the wires from one connector to the RVI3, and on the other connector just loop the wire, and have the motorhome cable run through the loop. That would provide the NC connection, and if the car ever broke away it would pull out the looped connector.

Has anyone done something like this? Am I being crazy? I may end up purchasing the one for $55 but it sure seems like you could do the same thing for about $5

KWiK · 09-14-2019, 04:42 PM

It appears it is even easier than that. I have some spare connectors from another project. I put a wire across the two connections, and when I plugged it in, it said a breakaway had happened. Took the wire out and it was happy. Apparently it somehow senses when the plug is installed even though it is open. Anyhow it appears to me a standard breakaway will work just fine.

Soppy · 09-14-2019, 06:30 PM

The standard breakaway switches are N.C. When the plug is installed, it opens the connection. So when a breakaway happens, the plug is pulled from the switch and the connection is then closed.

KWiK · 09-15-2019, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soppy

The standard breakaway switches are N.C. When the plug is installed, it opens the connection. So when a breakaway happens, the plug is pulled from the switch and the connection is then closed.

I guess it depends on what you call normal. To me normal is the pin in place.
https://www.etrailer.com/question-308770.html
"The breakaway switch on your trailer is a normally open circuit which means power will not pass through the switch if the pin is installed and functioning properly. "

Bullitt6283 · 09-17-2019, 08:10 PM

From the world of industrial safety instrumentation design, the best circuit is one that is closed during normal operation. A circuit being closed can tell you two things: The situation is normal, and the wires between the switch and the controls have not been cut.

If you're dealing with a circuit which is open during normal operation, you don't really know if you're monitoring the condition.

That said, even though it's less safe, designing circuits which are normally open unless they have to "do something" are easier to design.
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