Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes With Low Voltage

Question

Question:

My trailer light work on the trailer but my electric brakes do not work do they have a fuse that controls them or could it be one of the wiring in the inside of the Hub I have current to all of the wheels at one point five

asked by: Frederick

0

Expert Reply:

If you are only getting 1.5 volts at your brakes then there is an issue, but there is not a fuse that controls the brakes. There are a number of possible issues so you will need to find out if the issue is on the brake controller, truck, or trailer. To test the brake controller, sever the blue wire a couple inches from the back of your controller. Then use a circuit tester such as # PTW2993 to test the end of the blue wire coming out of the controller. It should only have power when you apply the manual override; if it shows power at idle then there is an issue with the controller, and it will need to be replaced.

If the controller tests fine, reconnect the blue wire and move on to the truck side trailer connector. Often, corrosion or dirt may be the cause of a short in a trailer connector that could be hampering your wiring. Check the plug to see if there is any type of corrosion built up that may be hampering its functionality.

You will also want to test the brake output pin on the 7-way socket; it should only show power with the manual override. If it shows power any other time then there is a short somewhere between the connector and the brake controller you will need to find.

If the truck side checks out, then it could be the wiring to the brake magnets or possibly the magnets themselves. Inspect the power wires to the magnets and look for wires that may be pinched or otherwise damaged and fix as necessary. You'll also need to make sure all of the ground wires, including those coming from your brake assemblies, are attached to bare metal surfaces and free of any paint, dirt or corrosion.

You'll want to visually inspect the magnets; if you can see the copper windings coming through the magnets will need to be replaced. To test the magnets, you can follow the help article I have linked. I have also attached some help articles for you to check out which should be useful.

expert reply by: Kyle S

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Answer 1

Its not uncommon for there to be slight voltage drop off over a certain distance but with the brake controller set to the maximum you should still be getting 12 volts at the brake magnets. We need to determine if the low voltage is coming from the…

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Answer 2

Something is obviously causing a voltage drop between the brake controller and the trailer connector. The usual culprit in this type of situation is a break in the wire or a corroded wire. Check the wiring under the truck. You should be able to trace…

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Answer 3

I believe you almost solved the problem when you swapped the wiring, but in reality you needed to use 10 gauge wire like part #10-1-1 (sold by the foot). You are experiencing a voltage drop due to the long distance of wire that's not thick…

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Answer 4

A slight voltage drop between the controller and the magnets is normal. But you will need around 12 volts at the magnets for proper operation. The only way to know the wire gauge is to strip away the insulation and measure just he copper strands. If…

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Answer 5

It depends on what the brake controller output is set to. If you have the brake controller set to the maximum then there should be about 12 volts at the brake magnets. To see if the brake magnets are drawing the correct power set the brake controller…

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Answer 6

Testing your trailer brakes for proper function on the test bench will require a multimeter that can display readings for both amps and ohms, such as part # PT89ZR. (Some brake controllers, such as the Tekonsha P3, have built-in test functions.) You…

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Answer 7

It should be getting close to 12 volts if the power output is set to the maximum on the brake controller. Some brake controllers will not work properly if they are titled or turned to the side or if it has a leveler knob that is not level. Check…

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Answer 8

If you are only getting the 8 volts when you pull the pin using a meter like #PT89ZR, that has nothing to do with your brake controller as the breakaway battery is powering that from the trailer itself. You can confirm your brake controller is…

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Answer 9

First, do a visual inspection. You should make sure that the front of the magnet is not worn to the point where the interior copper windings are visible. Also, check the armature surface (inside rear of brake drum where magnet rides) is free of…

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Answer 10

Think of the end of the Titan hitch extender, #RP45018, as a long trailer hitch receiver. You will put the weight distribution shank in the end of the extension just like you normally would and perform the set up the same on the trailer end. The…

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Answer 11

If I did the math right the combined weight of the trailer and the vehicle is 5,300 pounds. At the 24 inch length the Hitch Box Extension and Reducer for Titan 2-1/2" Trailer Hitches, 24" - 34" Long Item #RP45292 is rated for 6,000…

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Answer 12

The Titan Hitch Box Extension part #RP45018 should fit your 2017 Ram 3500 with the factory Class V trailer hitch receiver. The note on the product page that it may not work with some OEM hitches is in reference to Ford trucks. Please note that your…

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Troubleshooting Trailer Brakes With Low Voltage

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