jerem0621
Sequatchie, TN
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
A few months ago I replaced my Hayes time based brake controller with a Tekonsha Primus (original Primus not the new iq). I am very happy with the proportional braking with this pendulum based controller.
Something that bugs me about my "New controller" vs my old one is that when I manually apply the brakes on the new controller the tail lights on the truck and trailer do not activate! I spoke with Tekonsha and they said that the controller is functioning properly.
on my Hayes Syncronizer time based controller when I would activate the trailer brakes on the brake controller the tail lights on the truck and on the trailer would activate.
For some reson I feel like this is a major safety issue.
What do you all think? Am I over thinking the importance Of the brake lights coming on when I manually activate the trailer brakes?
Do the new Tekonsha products activate the trailer brakes lights when you manually apply the brake?
TT: 1995 Layton 2910
Tow Vehicle: 1999 F-350, v10, 2wd, Crew Cab, Dually
Hitch: Draw-Tite Trunnion WD Hitch
Sway Control: Valley dual friction sway control
Brake Control: Tekonsha Voyager
"It's Kind of Fun To Do The Impossible"
~Walt Disney~
|
VintageRacer
Dundas, Ontario
Senior Member
Joined: 04/02/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
No. The lights are activated by the vehicle brake pedal. The brakes are activated by a completely separate circuit from the controller. The old Hayes must have back-fed a signal into the light circuit and it happened to work. On the modern computer controlled electronics I have a sneaking suspicion that might not be welcome in current vehicles.
Brian
2005 F250 Supercab, Powerstroke, 5 speed automatic, 3.73 gears.
20 ft race car hauler, Lola T440 Formula Ford, NTM MK4 Sports Racer
1980 MCI MC-5C highway coach conversion
2004 Travelhawk 8' Truck Camper
|
enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/05/2005
View Profile
|
The brake controller is outputting to the brakes. there is no connection to the brake lights. The controller is operating normally.
I am wondering why you are operating your brakes manually other then to test them.
If you apply light pressure on the brake service pedal teh contoller should operate and the brake lights will operate.
Bud
USAF Retired
Suzuki XL7 pushing Pace Arrow
|
jerem0621
Sequatchie, TN
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Thanks for your replies. It was actually a feature on the Hayes controller. The only time I can think that it would be beneficial to manually activate the brake independent of the tow vehicle is in a sway situation. I don't have a sway issue so this is no problem.
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Sounds like your Hays was back feeding down the brake light wire that attaches to the controller. (Bud, the brake light wire goes to the controller to tell it when to activate) I've never had another controller do this and I wonder if it was really supposed to.
Scott, Grace and Wesly
2003 Dodge 3500 4x4, 6 speed Cummins (lightly bombed),
2004 Forest River 25RKS many, many mods.
H0NDA eu2000i
|
|
|
jerem0621
Sequatchie, TN
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
click here
I assure you that It is a feature of Hayes brake controllers.
Thanks
|
enblethen
Moses Lake, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 01/05/2005
View Profile
|
You are correct that an additional wire is connected to the brakelight lamps. Most controllers do not do this.
|
jerem0621
Sequatchie, TN
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
Offline
|
Come to think of it now that I have a proportional controller I have a set it and forget it mind set. I never have had to use the manual brake lever on my new controller. I was always fiddling with the Hayes time based unit.
Thank God for Tekonsha.
|
BenK
SF BayArea
Senior Member
Joined: 04/18/2002
View Profile
|
jerem0621 wrote:A few months ago I replaced my Hayes time based brake controller with a Tekonsha Primus (original Primus not the new iq). I am very happy with the proportional braking with this pendulum based controller.
Something that bugs me about my "New controller" vs my old one is that when I manually apply the brakes on the new controller the tail lights on the truck and trailer do not activate! I spoke with Tekonsha and they said that the controller is functioning properly.
on my Hayes Syncronizer time based controller when I would activate the trailer brakes on the brake controller the tail lights on the truck and on the trailer would activate.
For some reson I feel like this is a major safety issue.
What do you all think? Am I over thinking the importance Of the brake lights coming on when I manually activate the trailer brakes?
Do the new Tekonsha products activate the trailer brakes lights when you manually apply the brake?
If your TV brake pedal light switch is adjusted correctly for you
trailer brake controller...when ever you just touch the brake pedal
and the switch initiates...both the trailer brakes will be working
and the TV & trailer brake lights will be lit
With the boost set high on mine (P3), the trailer brakes can be
set to skid before the TV's brakes EVER come on or even see's an
increase in brake fluid pressure.
So whenever a sway condition presents itself. I just touch my brake
pedal and the trailer brakes start to brake and the TV's brakes never
start till I press harder. No need to touch the manual lever/button
when the TV's brake switch is setup correctly and the trailer brake
controller senses the TV brake pedal switch
The only time I use the trailer brake controller's manual button or
lever is to test the brakes when leaving for the trip or after any
stop for fuel/rest/etc and leave the station/etc.
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
|
ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
enblethen wrote:You are correct that an additional wire is connected to the brakelight lamps. Most controllers do not do this.
Actually, they do. All electronic controllers attach to 4 points:
Ground
+12VDC
Wire to trailer brakes.
Stop lamp input from tow vehicle.
Without the stop lamp input, the controller has no way of knowing to apply the trailer brakes. None of them apply brakes just because the tow vehicle is slowing down. They need to know the operator is applying the service brakes and with an electronic controller, the only way is to use the brake lamp input.
Hydraulic controllers are a bit different.
|
|
|
