Break-Away Switch - Jayco Travel TraiIers 27' Eagle Owner's Manual

First of all, the battery of your tow vehicle is used as the primary
source of power. From the battery, the power is taken to the
controller which will be assembled under the dashboard of your truck
or car. In open positions, it breaks the electrical circuit, so no current
reaches the brakes. When depressed by hand or by hydraulic
pressure (foot pedal) the variable resistor controls the amount of
current which in turn varies the braking of your trailer.
Although it is possible to operated the controller by hand, it is
designed to operated automaticalIy when the car's brakes are
applied. A line for hydraulic fluid from the controller to the master
cylinder allows the accelerator bar and coil to make contact when the
foot pedal is depressed which in turn sends the current to the brakes.
To obtain equality between your car or truck and your Jayco trailer, a
front mounted knob on the controller can be.turned for more or less
braking effort.
The last item in the braking system is the brakes themselves. The
brakes are wired in parallel, never in series. If the current first went
through one brake and then the other as it would for series, each
brake would get a different quantity of power and braking would be
uneven. Therefore, the brakes are wired to give you the assurance of
safety and protection.
BREAK-AWAY SWITCH
The break-away switch is one of the most important parts of your
trailer electric brake system. The very instant a break-away occurs,
the pullpin which is linked to the tow car is pulled from the switch.
The two contacts automatically close to complete the electrical circuit
and apply the trailer brakes. This system will apply the brakes of the
trailer should it break away from the tow vehicle. Sufficient size
battery is required to power break-away switch.