Troubleshooting Trailer Brake Controller with No Signal on Black 12V Power Wire

Question

Question:

Im not getting trailer brakes. I tested the red wire when I push the brakes and it has power. The black one dose not. And the blue one dose not

asked by: Kazz

0

Expert Reply:

Typically for brake controllers, the black wire provides 12V power from battery to the brake controller. Since you said there is no signal on the black wire going to the controller, this tells us that there is something wrong with the wire or circuit breaker and means the controller is not getting any power. If the controller has no power, then it cannot send a brake signal back to the trailer brakes. Since this wire comes directly from the battery, there should always be signal on the black wire.

To fix this issue, you will want to check the black 12V power wire to make sure it is not damaged in any way. If any wiring is damaged it will need to be replaced.

You will also want to check the 20 amp or 30 amp circuit breaker between the battery and controller to make sure it has not been fried. To test the breaker, you will want to check the wires coming into and leaving the breaker. If the power signal is not moving through the breaker, it is fried and will need to be replaced.

If these troubleshooting steps do not provide a solution for you, feel free to let me know the Year, Make, and Model of your vehicle and which brake controller you have and I will be happy to provide further troubleshooting steps.

expert reply by: Victoria B

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Answer 1

That will depend on the amount of brake axles your trailer has. . The 20 amp breaker like #9506P is for 1 and 2 axle brakes, and the 30 amp like part #38630 is for 3 and 4 axle brakes

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Answer 2

If your break away switch looks like #HM20010 then you should just have to push the pin back in. This will break the circuit and release the trailer brakes. If this does not work then there is some other wiring issue going on. You will need to…

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Answer 3

You are correct, you should only be getting output when the brake is applied, or the override switch is activated. It sounds like the controller might be bad, but to make sure, you should probably bench test it before tossing it. Use a circuit…

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Answer 4

I'd recommend using 10 gauge wire like part #10-2-1 (sold by the foot) for the brake power and ground wires as this will be more than adequate and will ensure you get plenty of amperage to activate the brakes.

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Answer 5

The High/low adapter #RM-072-2 does not come with a hitch pin. It takes a 5/8 inch diameter pin or lock. For a regular pin and clip you can use #PC3. For a lock you can use #RM-316 which is a set of 2 that are keyed alike.

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Answer 6

The RoadMaster 7-Wire to 6-Wire Flexo-Coil Kit #RM-146-7 can expand to over 8 feet. It keeps coiled shorter for compact storage and to keep from dragging while in use. If you are looking to run the cable through a tow bar channel, I recommend the…

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Answer 7

I'd be happy to help you with that. Since it's a tractor, there's likely a few differences from what would be seen on a standard passenger vehicle. You very likely won't need to contend with turn signals and taillilghts, and you…

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Answer 8

Since you have an older trailer, the brakes could have possibly been switched from electric to hydraulic or the other way around. Even on newer campers, unless it is just purchased from the manufacturer, it would be just a guessing game for someone…

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Answer 9

There may be a bunch of different reason why your Lippert Level-Up system has suddenly stopped working. The most common reasons are due to a dead battery, extending your jacks too far, or a blown fuse. The first thing you should check for is the easy…

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Answer 10

First, you can almost never go by color as there is no real industry standard. You have to go by function when adding a new 7-Way. I have included a picture that shows the trailer side connector and how it should be wired. Ignore the colors, you will…

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