harper223
West Texas
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I have a HA, and when I bought the thing about 3 yrs ago I had them send me a brake controller- the Tru Control Gold. I have had several issues with these controllers and am about to be on my second replacement unit in 3yrs.
Problem 1) The display went out. Replaced under warranty.
Problem 2) The new replacement unit drains my TV battery dead. This has happened 2x. I called Hensley and they mentioned that a few of their customers were complaining about the same problem and that the controller, even when the TV is turned off- drained from the battery the equivalent power of what a car stereo would pull. In other words, it would be the same as leaving your radio on all the time, even with the truck turned off.
Question: Is this normal? My connections are clean between the controller and the truck, I double checked those. The controller reads an error message that the battery is low and that there is a short in the system. When I called Hensley, they were more interested in sending me a replacement than trying to diagnose anything. Not impressed, and I call B.S. on the system short. If there is one, its not coming from the TV.
I just don't see how a brake controller could pull that much power with the TV turned off. They are sending me a new unit, but I think I will be getting a different brand controller.
BTW, the Hensley controller has thicker gauge wiring coming from it, probably 12 gauge, while the truck's wiring is thinner- probably 14 gauge. I didn't see this as a problem though.
"Whatever is good to know, is difficult to to learn."
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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harper223 wrote:Snip...
They are sending me a new unit, but I think I will be getting a different brand controller.
Snip...
I think that would be a good idea based on past reports and posts about that controller.
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook Titan 30FKS TT
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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harper223 wrote:The new replacement unit drains my TV battery dead. This has happened 2x. I called Hensley and they mentioned that a few of their customers were complaining about the same problem and that the controller, even when the TV is turned off- drained from the battery the equivalent power of what a car stereo would pull.
Question: Is this normal?
Since Hensley said it happens, apparently it is normal!
I have used their brake controller for a number of years and am completely satisfied. It performs better than any other! It drain my battery when my truck sat for an extended period. However, all controllers will draw some current more than others. try the new one they are sending and if it continues to drain your battery, then you have two choices, (1.) use another controller, or (2.) start your vehicle enough to keep the battery charged.
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carringb
Corvallis, OR
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My Prodigy works 100x better than my Hensley Gold ever did.
Bryan
2000 Ford E350 DRW Wagon (14-pass all captains chairs)
V10 w/ Banks PowerPack, Diablo Predator, 4.56 LS, ~350,000 miles
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harper223
West Texas
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What blows me away is that they seemed to blow it off, like, "Oh yeah, those units pull voltage when the vehicle is off." So they just send me another one to do the same thing? I'm looking at the P3 with the vehicle specific wiring harness so I won't have to cut anymore wires. Etrailer.com has the whole setup for around $155.00 with free shipping.
It makes no sense at all to me why a brake controller would drain a battery when the vehicle is off.
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BurbMan
Louisville, KY
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Another forum member had the Silver version and wound up ditching it for a Prodigy also...they have not gotten good reviews at all. Prodigy is plug n play with the right harness.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Even the almighty Prodigy will drain the TV's battery if left long enough.
There's no "off" switch so the controller has to always be "on" to some degree so it can sense when you press the brake pedal the first time and wake up.
No doubt the Hensley controller is a pig but there's nothing to not understand there...
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
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harper223
West Texas
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Can this be bypassed, like through a relay switch? So when the TV is turned off, the brake controller is off as well.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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The controller would need to be fed with "keyed power" meaning that the power is only on when the key is on.
Most keyed power is only designed to operate relays, so if you can find one of these keyed power sources, you can use it to activate a relay that you install in the red wire running to the brake controller.
By the time all is said and done with your time and trouble you are probably better off financially by just buying a different controller.
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harper223
West Texas
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Thanks for all the input fellas.
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