Does Humming In My Brake Chamber Mean I Need New Magnets?

Question

Question:

I can hear humming in drums but will not work unless you use controller. Does this mean I need new magnetics

asked by: Mickey S

0

Expert Reply:

Humming in the drums means the magnets are getting power and you do not need new ones. If you have a proportional brake controller it will not engage while stopped because it needs the inertia from the tow vehicle to know when to activate. If you have a time delayed controller then you will have an issue with wiring or the actual controller.

I will link an article on testing magnets just in case you do want to test them. As well as a trailer wiring guide to help trouble shoot any wiring problems if they are there.

expert reply by: David B

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Answer 1

Are there any visible signs of wear on the magnets like exposed windings then that would indicate they need replacing. Magnets can go bad without showing visible signs of wear though. To see how to troubleshoot them check out the help article I…

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Answer 2

Trailer brake magnets actually are not polarity sensitive. That means either wire lead can be the positive as long as the other wire is grounded.

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Answer 3

Your Northwoods Arctic Fox 32 5th wheel probably has a gross weight around 16K so it probably uses two Dexter 8K axles. This is a popular axle for 5th wheels and we offer suitable 8K-rated brake sets like Dexter's Self-Adjusting Electric Drum…

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Answer 4

Lets begin with the two leads that exit each brake magnet. One lead from each magnet needs to ground to the trailer frame. The brake magnets carry no polarity, so it does not matter which lead is grounded, and which lead is connected to the brake…

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Answer 5

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 6

I would start by using a circuit tester, item #PTW2993 if needed, to check the wiring going to and coming from the brake controller. There are 4 wires that will need to be checked. White - Ground Red - Stoplight Switch Black - 12 Volt Constant Power…

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Answer 7

I went out to the warehouse and pulled a Trailer Brake Magnet for 10" Hubs #BP01-110 and took some measurements for you. The brake magnet lead wires are 16 gauge wires and they measure 18 1/2 inches long.

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Answer 8

In order to determine the torque rating for the lug nuts on your trailer you will need to know check out the chart I attached that shows all of the torque specs for all the trailer lugs available based on stud size, wheel material and wheel size.

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Answer 9

To determine the size of the brake assemblies you need you have to measure the depth and width of the hub drum on the axle like what you see in the picture I attached. The most common size is 2-1/4 inch wide like the #T4071600-500 that you…

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Answer 10

Hey Richard, thanks for reaching out! The Dexter DX7.5 Drop-N-Go Brake Actuator #099-175-00 is a great option for a replacement actuator because it's a direct replacement for the common Model 60 actuators that were popular in the '90s.…

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Answer 11

A 4-Way trailer connector has the basic lighting functions only; running lights, left turn signal and brake lights, right turn signal and brake lights, and ground. A 7-Way has these functions and a 12 volt circuit, a circuit for electric trailer…

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Answer 12

The difference between the Class II and Class III hitches has to do with their Gross Trailer Weight (GTW), their Tongue Weight (TW), and their Hitch Receiver Size. Class II trailer hitch receivers have a 1-1/4 inch receiver and can be rated up to…

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