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Is Circuit Breaker Needed When Installing Draw-Tite Brake Controller # 5504 On 2000 Chevy Silverado  

Question:

i have a 2000 chevy silverado. it has the trailer towing option. i bought a tekonsha controller, and the proper direct fit wire harness. tekonsha says to use a circuit breaker. currently there is a fuse in the spot under the hood for the brakes. is there a circuit breaker available to replace the fuse. thanks

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Expert Reply:

If your 2000 Chevy Silverado has the factory 7-way trailer connector on the rear of the vehicle you can use the Draw-Tite Brake Controller # 5504 and the Draw-Tite Universal Wiring Adapter # 3025-S.

A circuit breaker and a fuse do the same thing in keeping a circuit from being overloaded. The difference in the two is that the fuse is one time use only, and the circuit breaker will reset after a certain amount of time. A fuse will just plug into a slot and a circuit breaker has to be wired into the circuit. If you have the correct fuses installed in your fuse block, you will not need to install a circuit breaker in your circuit.

You will want to check the Accessory Fuse Block under the hood to make sure the connections are complete for the power to the brake controller and the power to the 7-way trailer connector. The red wire should be connected to the closest auxiliary positive post and should have a 20 amp fuse in the slot closest to the the auxiliary positive post. The blue wire should be connected to the electric brake wire that is coming from the 7-way trailer connector at the rear of your vehicle, and have a 40 amp fuse in the slot closest to the post. I am sending a link to a FAQ page that will show where these connections are made on your vehicle.

If the connections are not made, you will want to connect the red wire as described above and make sure the 20 amp fuse is installed next to it.

If the blue wire is not connected, you will need to clip off the connector. Then, using a length of Jacketed 2 Wire # 10-2-1, connect the blue wire to the white wire in the jacketed housing which will need to be ran to the blue electric brake wire coming off the back side of your 7-Way plug in the rear of the truck. You also need to run the black power wire in the jacketed housing from the other auxiliary positive post in the accessory block to the black power wire on the back side of your 7-Way connector at the rear of the truck. Also, make sure you have a 40 amp fuse in the slot next to the positive post where the black power wire is attached.

With those connections complete, you will be able to plug in your brake controller wiring adapter to the factory brake controller port under the dash and wire the 4 wire leads to the brake controller and complete your installation.

expert reply by:
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Jeff D

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