Breaksafe Not Charging? Why It’s Not, And How to Fix It

We get a lot of calls from caravan owners worried that they have an issue with their Breaksafe not charging or, worse, that their Breakaway system is flat. Often, it’s nothing major – just a case of knowing how your system is designed to work and charge.

In this Five Minute Fix, Aaron walks us through two common emergency brake systems we see in Supreme, Leader, and Goldstream RVs, how they work, and the simple checks you can do at home before booking a service.

What Is a Breaksafe System and Why Does It Matter?

Your Breaksafe box is usually mounted in the van, with the pin-coupling mounted on the A-frame. The pin is then connected to your tow vehicle with a cable and clip.

In an emergency – say the caravan uncouples from your car – the pin pulls out. This engages the caravan’s brakes using a dedicated battery, bringing your van to a stop.

Where is the Breaksafe?

• In Supreme and Leader caravans, it’s typically under the bed (older models may have it in the front tunnel boot), and the battery for the system is housed in the Breaksafe box.

• Its battery is an independent power source, separate from your main house battery, and it only comes into play in emergencies.

If your breakaway system is flat, it won’t work properly – and that’s a big safety risk.

How to Check If Your Breaksafe Battery Is Charged

Most breaksafe units have a test button and LED indicators. Here’s what to look for:

• Green light = Battery charged and ready.

• Red or orange light = Low charge.

• No light = A dead battery.

If your battery is showing red, it needs charging.

Pro tip: Check your breaksafe before every trip. It’s a quick press of a button that could save you a lot of stress (and keep you safe on the road).

How Are Breaksafe Batteries Charged?

Here’s where a lot of confusion happens. Your breaksafe battery doesn’t always charge the same way your caravan house battery does.

Depending on your van’s setup:

• Some units charge only from the tow vehicle via the 12-pin plug (usually pin 11 on a Supreme or Leader caravan).

• Others can charge from both the tow vehicle and the caravan’s house battery.

This difference matters – especially if your van is in storage.

System 1: RV Electronics Breaksafe (Single Charging Source)

This is common in vans with a three-way fridge and smaller battery capacity.

Charging:

• Charges only when the caravan is connected to the tow vehicle via the 12-pin plug.

• When you start your car, look for the orange charging light on the unit – that means the Breaksafe battery is receiving power.

Storage tip:
If your caravan is sitting in storage, don’t assume plugging into 240V will charge the breaksafe. It won’t. Either connect it to your tow vehicle periodically or remove the battery and charge it with an external charger.

System 2: CAMEC Breakaway System (Dual Charging Source)

This one is more common in off-grid caravans that are designed with larger battery systems.

Charging:

• Can charge from both the tow vehicle and the caravan house battery.

• Has a three-way switch to choose the charging source.

Storage tip:
Before storing your van, set the switch to charge from the house battery. That way, your Breakaway battery stays topped up using your caravan’s main battery system.

Why Does My Breaksafe Go Flat in Storage?

This is the most common question we hear:

“My van’s been on 240V in storage. Why is my breaksafe not charging?”

Here’s the catch: 240V charging your caravan doesn’t always charge the breaksafe battery.

If your system only charges via the tow vehicle (like the RV Electronics unit), your battery can run flat if you don’t periodically hook it up to your car or charge it separately.

When these batteries are left flat for too long, they can fail permanently and need replacing.

Breaksafe Not Charging? Here’s What You Do

1. Check your charge light:

   • If it’s not illuminated, your system isn’t receiving power.

   • Make sure your tow vehicle is wired correctly to provide power to pin 11.

2. Start your car and check again:

   • Look for the orange charging LED to confirm it’s charging.

3. Go for a drive:

   • Longer trips help top up the battery. Short drives may not fully charge it.

4. Use an external charger:

   • If you’re not travelling soon, remove the battery and charge it with a standalone charger.

5. Replace if necessary:

   • If the battery doesn’t hold charge after these steps, it’s time for a replacement.

Final Thoughts

A flat Breaksafe battery isn’t just annoying – it’s unsafe. But most of the time, the fix is simple: understand where your system charges from and keep it topped up.

Whether you’ve got a tow-vehicle-only system or a dual-source setup, a few quick checks before your trip will ensure your caravan’s emergency brakes work when you need them most.

If your breaksafe isn’t charging or you’re unsure how your system is wired, drop by our Adelaide RV Service Centre. We’ll get you sorted quickly so you can travel with confidence.

Your journey begins here – let’s keep it safe.