A question about electric brakes.

[Jeepers Creepers]

The camper we've bought has electric brakes fitted, but the controller is on the sellers car.

I'll be towing the trailer home on Saturday afternoon with a car with no controller, so, the question is....

Will the trailer brakes simply not work..... or
Will the trailer brakes try to lock up each time i brake?

If i disconnect the trailer brakes, i'm fine, i think.

[tagman]

They will simply not work.
There is no voltage coming from your vehicle to activate the brake magnets. 
Asuming it is wired correctly.

[Mace]

Does/Presumably it also has manual override (cable operated) brakes as well?

These will get you home safely.

[Jeepers Creepers]

They will simply not work.
There is no voltage coming from your vehicle to activate the brake magnets. 
Asuming it is wired correctly.

So, do the electric brakes run a searate power source?
I was thinking they might get their power from the same wire the brake lights operate off.

Not worreid about the safety factor, as the vehicle will stop ok.
I just don't want to be skidding to a stop cause the trailer brakes are coming on at 100%

[jwb]

IIRC
yes seperate power source
the brake switch activates the system.

the only issue you could face is IF they're not wired in std form

cheers

[Mace]

The brake controller circuit usually feeds from the brake switch circuit near the pedal, then thru the controller, and then via a seperate electrical circuit and pin on the 7/12 pin plug to the Trailer Electric brake circuit.

Yep, if you wire them up directly to the brake light circuit, they will come on 100%  A mate of mine did this until i showed him the error of his ways 

 

[Matto]

Jeepers,

Electric bakes will use a separate power feed to the trailer lights. Has to be much thicker cable than what powers the lights. You just won't have any brakes on the trailer for your trip home.

Nb - if you do happen to get in an accident, there *may* be legal implications from towing a trailer with a 1500kg payload limit with having the brakes connected. So drive carefully, make sure all the lights work, and keep the trailer as light as possible. Ie, do everything you can to be an upstanding citizen . The reality is that people tow unbanked trailers well overloaded every day, but Murphy always rides with me...

Congrats on the new camper!!
Matto

[Jeepers Creepers]

Hey, thanks for the input fella's.

Who would be best to buy a controller off?

How much roughly would i expect to pay?

Can it be mounted on the trailer itself or does it have to go on the Jeep.
The reason i ask this, is we ever want to tow it with our other car.

[Matto]

Re: controllers, I got mine (P3) from 4wdextreme on eBay - highly recommended. Was about $150, much cheaper than locally available. I had to send the first one back, was sent a brand newie no questions asked.

A lot of people like the RedArc unit, because it's so easy to hide in the dash. It's not a proportional controller though.

Legally, I believe the controller has to go in the car. I know some people have the controller mounted on the trailer, but I'm not sure this is allowed any more.

Good luck!
Matto

[LJs GU]

Hey, thanks for the input fella's.

Who would be best to buy a controller off?

How much roughly would i expect to pay?

Can it be mounted on the trailer itself or does it have to go on the Jeep.
The reason i ask this, is we ever want to tow it with our other car.

I bought my P3 off an ebay seller called Autoelecau.  Few others have used him too and only have good things to say.

As for trailer or mounted, wait for ProdigyRF to read this post... (or do a search to prepare yourself!)

You've been warned 

LJ

[chester ver2.0]

Tekonsha is a good brand
Expect to pay around $500 foe unit wiring loom and instilation. Any decent auto electrician can install

The controller must be fitted in the vehicicle to be legal and it must be close enough for you to activate the override switch if nessiary you will also want it close enough for adjusting voltage e.g i have a dry weather and a lower wet weather voltage settings to prevent lock up in the wet

The other unit i am liking and will proably get in my next car is the redarc unit as the box itself mounts up under the dash and all you see is a knob and little light looks much more factory not sure of price on this i believe ARB do them

[99disco]

Although the redarc unit is a neat install they are not proportional, I wouldn't even look at one myself.



Shane

[Jeepers Creepers]

I have a retired auto electrican living within 100 metres of home, so labour cost should be ok.

He does the odd job for pocket money.

[chester ver2.0]

Although the redarc unit is a neat install they are not proportional, I wouldn't even look at one myself.

Sorry please explain how does it work then ??

Shane

[Matto]

Chester - a non-proportional controller simply applies a pre-set voltage to the trailer every time you hit the brakes. The RedArc has a knob that you turn to adjust the voltage. That's all it does - doesn't matter if you're going 10kph in a car park or 100kph on the freeway, you get the voltage you set.

A proportional controller (like the P3) has a little g-sensor inside it. If you just tap the brakes, it senses a slight deceleration, and applies a small voltage. If you really stomp the brakes, the controller ramps the voltage right up to match the trailer's braking to the car. Easy to see how this gets you a much better result on/off the road.

Nothing wrong with a static controller, you've just got to be constantly adjusting the knob, so make sure it's within easy reach. The proportional controllers are much more of a fit-and-forget thing - set it for the weight of the trailer, and off you go.

Aside - the P3 also comes with a heap of functionality over the basic controllers, it's got a bunch of diagnostic modes, can tell you when something is wrong, etc. it's also really easy to switch between trailer profiles. It's this additional fruit that sold me on it, for the marginal extra price.

My $0.02.

Cheers!
Matto

[McGirr]

Depending on the year the camper was built you can have the controller on the camper. I have a 2004 model camper with the controller on the camper.

Personally I would install one in the car as it is much easier to control the braking , depending on the weight of the camper.

Mark

[chester ver2.0]

Chester - a non-proportional controller simply applies a pre-set voltage to the trailer every time you hit the brakes. The RedArc has a knob that you turn to adjust the voltage. That's all it does - doesn't matter if you're going 10kph in a car park or 100kph on the freeway, you get the voltage you set.

A proportional controller (like the P3) has a little g-sensor inside it. If you just tap the brakes, it senses a slight deceleration, and applies a small voltage. If you really stomp the brakes, the controller ramps the voltage right up to match the trailer's braking to the car. Easy to see how this gets you a much better result on/off the road.

Nothing wrong with a static controller, you've just got to be constantly adjusting the knob, so make sure it's within easy reach. The proportional controllers are much more of a fit-and-forget thing - set it for the weight of the trailer, and off you go.

Aside - the P3 also comes with a heap of functionality over the basic controllers, it's got a bunch of diagnostic modes, can tell you when something is wrong, etc. it's also really easy to switch between trailer profiles. It's this additional fruit that sold me on it, for the marginal extra price.

My $0.02.

Cheers!
Matto

Ahhh now ive got it thanks matto. I currently have the P3 and it is fitted into the ashtray slot however it is looking like a cant do that with the 200 series i am looking at and i did not want the damn thing near my knee where i origionally had it

[RebsWA]

Jeepers, I recently got a Tekonsha Primus IQ from ebay for $90 delivered.
It is a proportional controller and has all the bells and whistles I need to stop a camper.
I would not consider buy a non proportional braking type controller.
To be able to use the manual control in emergency or in off road situations and I believe to comply with the regs you should fit it in the car where you can easily reach it.
FWIW
EDIT. I am away from home and cant remember the seller. Just google Primus IQ and there are a few.

[Jeepers Creepers]

Thanks everyone.

Rang a mate who works at an electrical suppliers and he has got everything in the mail to me today.