Can the Prodigy RF Trailer Mount Brake Controller Be Used on a Vehicle with a 4-Way Flat

Question:

I have a fleet of rental trailers that use the Carlisle Electrastar System. I have had nothing but problems for the last 5 years with them. Rarely do they work for more than a few weeks. Mostly due to moisture in the box. I would like to switch over to the Prodigy RF. I would like to use the existing battery box that the Carlisle uses for the dedicated power wire. Mounted to the trailer The issue I am wondering about is how can I charge the battery? The Carlisle did it while the trailer was being towed. It used the tail light curcuit to charge the battery. The unit required the parking lights to be on while in use. Is there a way to wire the Prodigy using the 4 wire flat? Thank you!

asked by: Jon M

Expert Reply:

The Tekonsha Prodigy RF Brake Controller, # TK94FR, has a 7-Way connector of its own that plugs into a 7-Way on a vehicle. But it also has a 7-Way receptacle, so the trailers would need to have 7-Way connectors on them in order to plug into the unit.

In order to power the unit, the towing vehicles must have a functional 12 volt circuit. This negates the need for a trailer mounted battery as the unit is not designed to be powered by a trailer mounted battery. If a vehicle only had a 4-Way flat, you would need to add # 37185. The 4-Way flat would plug into the back of this adapter and the ground wire would need to be attached to the vehicle frame.

To make the 12 volt pin functional, a length of wire # 10-1-1, long enough to reach from the 37185 to the vehicle battery would be needed. You would connect the wire to the black wire on the 37185 then route it under the vehicle, avoiding areas that may pinch or burn the wire, up through the engine compartment where it will need to be attached to the positive battery terminal via a 40 amp circuit breaker, # PK54540.

Or you could use # ETBC7 which comes with the 4 to 7 Way adapter, wire, mounting bracket, and circuit breakers. You would just have a few extra parts like 20 and 30 amp circuit breakers that would not be needed for this application.