Why Does Tekonsha Primus IQ Brake Controller Not Activate When Not Moving

Question:

Low power out when sitting still. Does the trailer have to be moving for the foot brake to work? I have the wheel elevated to spin free. Hand brake will stop spinning wheel but foot brake just makes the brake hum and it still spins freely. Is this caused by this controller being a proportional controller?

asked by: Don M

Expert Reply:

Yep, you're on the money - the Tekonsha Primus IQ Trailer Brake Controller # TK90160 is a proportional brake controller, so it and other proportional controllers are not going to send out power when you hit the brake pedal of your tow vehicle when the vehicle is not moving.

With a proportional brake controller what happens is it has a sensor which detects the rate at which you slow down and activates your trailer's brakes at the same level, which is in proportion to the rate of your vehicle braking, hence the name.

I have added a cut out from our help article on brake controllers which has a lot of good information and I recommend taking a look at it. I have also added a link to a couple other hlp articles on installing and testing brake controllers you may find useful.

expert reply by: Kyle S