Do Brake Controllers have Constant Power or Do they Wire Into a Ignition/Accessory Power Source

Question

Question:

Dose the unit only have constant power..our do I need to wire to the acc

asked by: Carlton G

0

Expert Reply:

Brake controllers such as # C74VV will have constant power once installed. They need to have constant power otherwise they would reset every time you turned off the vehicle. Brake controllers have what is basically a sleep mode. After a certain amount of time the "go to sleep" and draw only a few milliamps of power so they will not drain the vehicle battery.

If your 2007 Dodge Ram did not come with a factory 7-Way trailer connector then you will also need wiring harness # C51515 for the Curt brake controller. If it did come with a factory 7-Way connector you would need harness # C51332 instead.

expert reply by: Michael H

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Answer 1

If you have a vehicle specific wiring harness for a brake controller then that would indicate that you have a factory tow package and subsequently would already have a 7-way at the back of your vehicle. The universal 7-way connector #ETBC7 is meant…

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Answer 2

It sounds like your Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller #C51170 is working properly. You are not getting an error code, but the number of red lights should increase as more brake power is asserted. The actual number of red lights that appear…

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Answer 3

The Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional - Dash Mount #C51170 will only apply the brakes to your trailer when you press and hold the knob to engage the manual override, or apply the brakes to your tow vehicle. As…

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Answer 4

I think you are going in the right direction. I would definitely replace the 14 gauge wire going to the trailer brake magnets with 10 gauge wire or larger. Usually larger than 10 gauge is hard to get into the trailer connector though. I would also…

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Answer 5

The P3 brake controller, #90195, will go into a sort of sleep mode after it detects no movement for 15 minutes. While it is on it does not draw very much power. What you can do to make sure it goes to sleep is exit the truck after turning it off,…

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Answer 6

You won't have any problem with power going to the brake controller all the time. This lets the brake controller keep all of its settings and not lose them every time the vehicle is turned off. Brake controllers are designed to enter a sleep mode…

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Answer 7

The only pin that should be continuously showing 12V power on the 7-Way connector on your vehicle is the 12V power circuit which is normally the black wire but not always. In 7-way wiring the 12V auxiliary power feed is carried on the contact at the…

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Answer 8

No you should not have constant power on the brake output pin, the blue wire should only have power with the brake pedal depressed in the vehicle or the brake controller manual override is activated. If the blue wire has a constant 12V then it is an…

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Answer 9

There are a number of reasons why the brakes on your trailer may not be working. Lets start with the easiest things to check. First, check the vehicle and trailer connectors for corrosion. This can cause a short inside the connector and the brake…

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Answer 10

I have a suspicion about what might be causing the problem you mention. Do your trucks have 6-way trailer connectors? Or, do the trucks have 7-way connectors, but you are using a 6-way to 7-way adapters because the trailers use 6-way connectors?…

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Answer 11

First, put the magnet ground wires nearby the magnets on the trailer frame. Running them far away makes it harder for the system to complete the circuit. You mentioned that power is getting to the magnets but how much power? TO determine that you can…

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Answer 12

On some vehicles, the key has to be on for voltage to go back to the trailer connector. On others, it does not. An electric brake controller will always send back some minimal voltage to the trailer connector. This is how it senses if there is a…

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