Hi Guys
Wondering how to hook up a brake controller?Does it send an electrical signal thru to the trailer to activate the trailer brakes when the brake pedal is applied in the truck?Just curious....Pete

 

There are different types of controllers. Basically power to the trailer brake wire engages the brakes. Some controllers start with a lower voltage to engage the brakes less and slowly step up the voltage to engage them fully. The brake light switch gives the signal to apply brakes but the battery gives the power to engage them.

 

There are a couple of aftermarket brake controllers that use brake pressure via a transducer to manage the trailer brakes similar to the new factory Ford controllers. These do not have any fluid in the cab and are compatible with all known antilock braking systems. The one I can remember is brakesmart though they will not be cheap they give the best performance, the next best is like the prodigy where it has a inertial sensor to bias the brakes depending on the braking of the truck the third type is a timer based that uses only the brake light signal to determine the trailer brakes.
The timer based and the inertial brakes will brake slightly after the truck does in an emergency situation so the set up and boost of the signal is very critical. The pressure based acts instantly and is proportional to the vehicle brakes and will slow the truck and trailer as one unit.
I forgot to mention a fourth type that has a cable attached to the brake pedal and uses pedal travel to actuate the brakes.
Most of these use varying voltage and or current to the brakes, The old discontinued type that plumbs into the brake lines and directs some to the controller in the cab only use a variance of amperage to set the brakes and are incompatible with most new trailer brakes as they will burn the magnets out almost instantly.

 

Hi Sean&Mitch
Thanks guys for your reply.I thought It had to do with a voltage signal communicating with the trailer brakes but didnt know its implimentation.When you buy the unit,how do you tie it into your system?Something you plug under the dash?I do have the trailer towing pkg on my truck...Pete

 

I am not sure where the plug is on the newer trucks on mine it was in the center of the truck slightly under the dash, if you bought your truck new with the trailer package you should have the connector for the plug. Most of these have the same common wiring codes as the controller does. Make sure that you follow the instruction in regards to the angle on the controller if it is an inertial based one, the others do not have a max min angle on them.