How to Install Trailer Electric Brake Controllers
Electric brake controllers are a vital component in the safe towing of all but the smallest and most lightest trailers. In fact, in many states it is mandatory that electric brakes be installed and their control circuits be functional. Trailer electric brake controllers work by interpreting either the decreasing momentum of the tow vehicle or the compression of the pedal when the brakes are applied. The physical movement is translated into a graduating electrical signal that is sent to the trailer's electric brakes, which deploy proportionately. The greater the stopping force the brake controller senses in the tow vehicle, the greater the friction it instructs the electric brakes to apply inside the hubs.
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Things You'll Need
- Electric brake controller kit
- Screwdriver
- Socket set (optional)
- Cable splice
Instructions
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1
Find a location in the cab of the tow vehicle where the bracket supplied with the unit can be fitted at right angles to the fore/aft axis of the chassis; some units also require that the surface be within 30 degrees of horizontal. The location must be within easy reach of the driver's seat, and there should be no wiring or components fitted to the reverse side.
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2
Use a screwdriver or a socket set to attach the bracket, depending on whether it was supplied with mounting screws or bolts. Attach the electric brake controller into the bracket and secure it in place, typically using knurled tabs turned clockwise until finger tight.
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3
Insert the supplied harness into the back or underside of the electric brake controller. There should be a terminal multi-block on one end of the harness that mates with the socket on the unit.
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4
Connect the four wires in the harness to their corresponding connections in the tow vehicle. These connections are on a factory-installed harness may be taped to the steering column or hard-wired under the dashboard. Consult your owner's manual to determine if your vehicle is pre-wired for an electric brake controller. If so, simply press the two matched connectors together and calibrate the unit.
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5
Run the blue wire from the harness to terminal two of the round seven-pole hitch if the tow vehicle is not pre-wired. Route the red wire to the pivot point of the brake pedal, and join it with a cable splice to the switched wire. Connect the black wire to a 12-volt live source that is constantly hot when the engine is switched on. The feed to the light switch is usually convenient, but the wire can also run directly from the battery's positive terminal. Install an inline fuse sized according to the instructions supplied with the electric brake controller. Connect the white wire to ground.
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6
Follow the installation instructions specific to your unit to calibrate the electric trailer brake controller.
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