brakes controller 103 or circuit 101

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Subject Author Date
brakes controller 103 or circuit 101 Karl Townsend 03-12-2010
Posted by Karl Townsend on March 12, 2010, 8:16 pm
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I've got a system to lock up the brakes if the trailer comes off.

It calls for a separate charge wire to the tiny battery. That would be a lot
of work. Why not just use the running lights? Its only going to take a
portion of an amp.

There's a warning on the brake controller manual about not tripping the
safety brake as the full voltage will fry the controller. Can you see any
reason not to put a diode in for protection. I've got several "four diode"
little tin boxes where the diodes have a spade connection and 25 amp rating.
Must be a better name for these.

Karl



Posted by Jim Stewart on March 12, 2010, 8:27 pm
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Karl Townsend wrote:
> I've got a system to lock up the brakes if the trailer comes off.
>
> It calls for a separate charge wire to the tiny battery. That would be a lot
> of work. Why not just use the running lights? Its only going to take a
> portion of an amp.
>
> There's a warning on the brake controller manual about not tripping the
> safety brake as the full voltage will fry the controller. Can you see any
> reason not to put a diode in for protection. I've got several "four diode"
> little tin boxes where the diodes have a spade connection and 25 amp rating.
> Must be a better name for these.

Diode bridge or bridge rectifier

Posted by Pete C. on March 12, 2010, 8:50 pm
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Karl Townsend wrote:
>
> I've got a system to lock up the brakes if the trailer comes off.
>
> It calls for a separate charge wire to the tiny battery. That would be a lot
> of work. Why not just use the running lights? Its only going to take a
> portion of an amp.
>
> There's a warning on the brake controller manual about not tripping the
> safety brake as the full voltage will fry the controller. Can you see any
> reason not to put a diode in for protection. I've got several "four diode"
> little tin boxes where the diodes have a spade connection and 25 amp rating.
> Must be a better name for these.
>
> Karl

A breakaway switch and battery is required equipment on any trailer
required to have brakes, generally anything over 2,000#.

The 7 wire RV type trailer connector has a defined pin for a charge
connection to the trailer. This is used to charge batteries for winches
mounted on trailers (hint) or in some cases to charge the breakaway
battery. This is normally a 30A charge feed.

A diode will introduce a voltage drop, reducing the maximum voltage that
can be applied to the trailer brakes and thus the maximum braking they
can provide. I don't recall seeing any trailer brake controllers that
stated they wouldn't survive breakaway switch activation if they were
connected. If that is the case, make sure that your 7 way connector will
pull out before the breakaway cable will will activate the breakaway
switch.

Posted by Karl Townsend on March 12, 2010, 9:30 pm
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> A diode will introduce a voltage drop, reducing the maximum voltage that
> can be applied to the trailer brakes and thus the maximum braking they
> can provide. I don't recall seeing any trailer brake controllers that
> stated they wouldn't survive breakaway switch activation if they were
> connected. If that is the case, make sure that your 7 way connector will
> pull out before the breakaway cable will will activate the breakaway
> switch.

Isn't the drop on a diode just a couple mili volts?

I'll want to test the breakaway system by pulling the pin with the trailer
connected and pulling ahead with the truck. There is a warning in the
controller manual about this causing damage. At least once in the next 20
years somebody will forget and back feed it.

Karl



Posted by Pete C. on March 12, 2010, 9:45 pm
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Karl Townsend wrote:
>
> > A diode will introduce a voltage drop, reducing the maximum voltage that
> > can be applied to the trailer brakes and thus the maximum braking they
> > can provide. I don't recall seeing any trailer brake controllers that
> > stated they wouldn't survive breakaway switch activation if they were
> > connected. If that is the case, make sure that your 7 way connector will
> > pull out before the breakaway cable will will activate the breakaway
> > switch.
>
> Isn't the drop on a diode just a couple mili volts?

.600V I believe.

>
> I'll want to test the breakaway system by pulling the pin with the trailer
> connected and pulling ahead with the truck. There is a warning in the
> controller manual about this causing damage. At least once in the next 20
> years somebody will forget and back feed it.

Don't know what to say on this one. If it was a common problem, standard
breakaway switches would be SPDT and disconnect the line from the brake
controller before applying voltage from the breakaway battery.

I don't recall reading any similar warning for the factory integrated
brake controller in my F350. Nope, just read the manual and there is no
warning about damage from activating the breakaway switch when connected
to the brake controller, indeed it indicates that the brake controller
will report "Trailer wiring fault" if it sees this condition.

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