How is an EOH Trailer Brake Actuator Activated

Question:

can the dexter hydroelectric actuator-EH 1600 be used as a stand alone brake by wire system for a vehicle or is it only applicable to trailer braking? Can the actuator be controlled by a electronic brake pedal which produces a proportional voltage signal based on the drivers pedal actuation?

asked by: Prathik J

Expert Reply:

An OEH braking system like the Dexter EH 1600 cannot be used on a vehicle but on a trailer it can be activated by a trailer brake controller that has EOH compatibility, such as the Prodigy P3 # 90195. If used with a controller that is not compatible with EOH braking systems an adapter may be necessary to allow the controller and actuator to communicate properly.

The brake light switch on a vehicle brake pedal does not generate a proportional signal; that switch is either on or off depending on whether or not the pedal is pressed. This signal is suitable for triggering a controller like the Prodigy to send out a brake signal to the EOH actuator but it does not provide a proportional signal. That proportional signal comes from the P3's internal sensor that detects the rate at which the vehicle is slowing and generates a comparable braking force for the trailer.

expert reply by: Adam R