trailer brakes
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Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
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trailer brakes
Just wondering how electric trailer brakes work. Does an increase in brake pedal pressure result in an increase in voltage? Is the trailer brake pressure consistent no matter how far I press the pedal due to the brake controller setting?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Commerce Twp, MI
The more voltage the more braking force for trailers. Most controllers are proportional and are based on the deceleration rate of the truck. The more the truck tries to stop, the more trailer brake voltage.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
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From: Colorado
Originally Posted by mneal
Most of them have a accelerometer that senses the deceleration of the truck and increases the voltage to the trailer brakes appling them harder.
Common, inexpensive brake controlers that have a light that turns from green to red only have an on/off switch from the truck brake-light switch. True these have an accelerometer, but if the level switch isn't leveled before towing it is inoperative...as is very common.
Older and less common systems used to have a pressure switch and required a brake line to go into the brake controller to sense truck brake pressure.
Mid-priced brake controllers will have a timer based actuator that applies the brakes gradually as to prevent brake surging....still without an acceleromter.
Top Line and usually priced brake controllers will have accelerometers, some with timers as well and some still tap into the brake system as well to sense line pressure.
You definately get what you pay for in brake controllers.
I always recommend that the less you tow, the better your brake controller should be.
People who tow very frequently (daily) can commonly get by with the cheapest brake controllers; but those who tow monthly or less usually have trouble setting the controllers correctly for the public safety. (I can site examples of this daily at my work)
Last edited by Colorado Osprey; Mar 26, 2007 at 10:18 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,358
Likes: 1
From: Commerce Twp, MI
To add to what Colorado said, the price difference between the inexpensive and Top of the line is about double, $50 vs. $100. Still, $50 more for the best braking controllers compared to the truck and RV is nothing.