Andrew in Canada
SW ONtario Canada
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Joined: 03/26/2007
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Hi all,
The search feature here is not as user friendly as I had hoped. Well not for this user anyway ! LOL
So I will ask the question here.....
I have a Ford F150, with factory tow package. I bought a brake controller. The truck came with a "pigtail" connector, but it has five wires and the controller four. Is the fifth wire ( green ) stop lamp optional? I do not see where I am supposed to connect it. I did a Google search and it suggested maybe it be tied in to behind the Brake Pedal??? Dont fancy that.
Is it just for lighting up the brake lights when manually using the controller?
Thanks in advance,
Andrew
* This post was
edited 07/04/09 06:32pm by Andrew in Canada *
2006 Palamino 4123 - going !
2010 Jayco 26 BH - Coming Soon!
Canvas camping will now be in a tent only.
2008 F150 XLT SC 5.4 4x4
1DW 2DD
1BC ( border colllie )
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DesertHawk
Las Cruces, New Mexico
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Joined: 06/06/2009
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I just hooked up my old controller to the "pigtail" which came with the pickup. Lucy for me, the controller had five wires to match.
I am no authority, but if the controller has four wires, I would assume the fifth one is not needed. Do you have a wiring diagram for the controller. I had to look my up on line to find one. I had it on another pickup, got it in '05. With the diagram, I was able to match it with the labeled wires on the "pigtail".
I am away from home & the Ford, so I can not check were the green wire went on the controller I have.
If the breaks are working, you may not need it at all.
DesertHawk - Las Cruces, NM USA
2005 16' Scamp Molded Fiberglass Travel Trailer
Side Dinette, Front Shower & Head
2009 White Ford F-150 Reg. Cab
Long Bed with A.R.E. Molded Fiberglass Topper
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart. -Confucius
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librty02
Western Pa
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Ya I just connected my wires straight up to the pigtail and simply plugged it in under the dash used 2 wire ties and walla about a 15 min job very simple
03 Jeep Grand Cherokee V8 TV
08 Ford F150 SC FX4 TV
07 Fleetwood Sun Valley 
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red31
Bryan
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Installation Guide - 97-06 Ford F-150, 99-04 F-250/F-350 Super Duty
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RED-F150
Spokane,Wa
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on my prodigy The green is labeled STOP LAMP, so that will go to the stop lamp circuit on your brake controller, which in my case will be red
2005 F-150 4x4
2006 E2
2009 Jayco 197
30 watt solar
PD9145
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Andrew in Canada
SW ONtario Canada
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OK, so I looked here and it seems that the "Brown" wire is the extra one, it is labelled Illumination. What does that mean? and is it spare.
Dont want to sound dumb, but I also dont want to fry anything. You would think it would just be a matter of connecting the same colours, but it seems not.
Ford - Controller Function
Red - Black +12 Volts
Light Green - Red Stoplight
White - White Ground
Dark Blue - Blue Trailer Brakes
Brown - NA Illumination
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merczephyr
WICHITA FALLS, TX
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What year F-150? For my 99 Expedition, I just bought a premade Pigtail that went from my controller to the plug under the dash. Cost me about $10. And it was built better than my wiring... lol
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Andrew in Canada
SW ONtario Canada
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merczephyr wrote:What year F-150? For my 99 Expedition, I just bought a premade Pigtail that went from my controller to the plug under the dash. Cost me about $10. And it was built better than my wiring... lol
Its a 2008. I see in the packaging of the controller that the premade pigtail is an option. In hind sight, I should have done that maybe. I hear you about the wiring !
Silly me thought I could just connect the Ford supplied pigtail, with the Controller wires and away we go!
Cost me $6.00 just to buy wire connectors LOL !!! Well I am in it now. I will follow the instructions, connect the wires and see what happens HEHEHE!
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javaseuf
California's Gold Coast
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I will be doing the same thing on my new 2008 F150 in a few days.
The "illumination" wire is the one not needed.
The prodigy needs the brake light wire because that is how the prodigy senses the braking sequence.
It looks like I also need to install the supplied relay into the fuse/relay panel on the new truck to activate the charging wire to the trailer battery.
Took me forever to locate the fuse panel since the owner's manual states it is located under the instrument panel. They don't tell you that they consider the entire dash the instrument panel!
I finally found it on the right side passenger kick panel by the floor.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2009 F150, 5.4 ltr.
1986 Palomino Hard-Side PUP
"Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill, but since we're on our way down, we might as well enjoy the ride". ("The Secret Of Life", James Taylor).
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Andrew in Canada
SW ONtario Canada
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javaseuf wrote:I will be doing the same thing on my new 2008 F150 in a few days.
The "illumination" wire is the one not needed.
..... They don't tell you that they consider the entire dash the instrument panel!
I finally found it on the right side passenger kick panel by the floor.
Ok, well we will have to compare notes! Yes, I found the relay compartment too. Its funny how these things are "conveniently" located !
U P D A T E ! ! !
Well it is installed and appears to be working! The lights come on when I put my foot on the brake pedal and there is a noise from the trailer wheels. Cant road test it yet as we have the PUp Popped Up at the momment, but I am sure it will be OK.
An interesting point for us Ford owners....there seems to be a bracket under the dash that is exactly the right size to mount a brake controller too. No drilling required. More than just a coincidence I believe!
Another tip that I learned, cut the wires shorter, it really is not far from the plug to the mounting location! LOL!
Thanks to everyone who helped me here, and I hope I was able to help others.
Andrew
* This post was
edited 07/04/09 06:30pm by Andrew in Canada *
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