dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
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Joined: 03/23/2004
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I am having the same issue with my TT with the Prodigy. I pulled the breakaway pin and the trailer is locked and will not move. the prodigy, with the boost at max and power at 13 will not lock the brakes if the lever is pushed all the way. we know we don`t want TT brakes to lock up while braking, but the brakes will not hold the TT in place. under hard braking with the prodigy you can feel the TT brakes are not doing thier part in stopping. it feels as if the trauck is doing 90% of the stopping.
I have a new pendulum actuated controller and will give that a try before the next trip.
I know the problem is in the Prodigy. for mine anyway.
Wife kim
Son brandon 7yrs
Daughter marissa 6yrs
Dog shadow
07 Cherokee 32B
02 Excursion 4X4 V-10 4.30 gear
Reese HP dualcam,Prodigy brake controller,
Air lift air bags.
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camping than a good day at work!
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mikehart92
Oklahoma
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Joined: 06/24/2004
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RCMAN46 wrote:mikehart92 wrote:I would put money on the controller. Sometimes the Prodigy simply will not lock up the brakes. That is one reason I hate the Prodigy.
Mike
It is not the Prodigy. If the Prodigy is set to max it will apply full battery voltage to the brakes. That is the most any brake controller can do. There is no magic here. If the full battery voltage is being applied then the problem if there is one is the brakes. May need new brake shoes as the ones he has now may be glazed or oil soaked.
If what you say is true, then why would my Voyager lock up the brakes on my trailer, then when installing the Prodigy on the EXACT SAME SYSTEM, the brakes would no longer lock up?
None of you Prodigy guys have ever been able to answer this and lots of people have posted with the same question. For example, see the post just above.
Mike
2005 Chevy 2500HD.............6.6 D/A, 4x4, Crew Cab
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chadsalt
sc
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Joined: 04/04/2005
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mikehart92 wrote:RCMAN46 wrote:mikehart92 wrote:I would put money on the controller. Sometimes the Prodigy simply will not lock up the brakes. That is one reason I hate the Prodigy.
Mike
It is not the Prodigy. If the Prodigy is set to max it will apply full battery voltage to the brakes. That is the most any brake controller can do. There is no magic here. If the full battery voltage is being applied then the problem if there is one is the brakes. May need new brake shoes as the ones he has now may be glazed or oil soaked.
If what you say is true, then why would my Voyager lock up the brakes on my trailer, then when installing the Prodigy on the EXACT SAME SYSTEM, the brakes would no longer lock up?
None of you Prodigy guys have ever been able to answer this and lots of people have posted with the same question. For example, see the post just above.
Mike
Not sure I understand the question. If the brakes locked up with your old controller, now they wont, and if youve checked the brakes and theyre good then your Prodigy is broken. What is the question?
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Moosetrek
Cheyenne, WY
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Joined: 07/23/2007
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Wow! Thanks for all the responses. I was in fact using the lever - sorry I should ahve pointed that out - and setting the boost to max (shouldn't matter if I'm actuating with the lever though)
I'm wishing I'd got the P3, with the amperage measurements! I'll check the TV wiring, but it's a new in-bed plug I installed last year when I got the truck, and used the preset factory wiring harness under the bed. Just for grins I'll plug into the rear 7-way to compare. Sounds like as long as I have sufficient braking it may just be the trailer is too heavy and the (newer) tires are getting to much grip. Thanks again for everyone's input - I hadn't considerer the Prodigy as a potential source.
Silver 2008 Dodge CTD 2500 4X4 QC
Still got the 5th Wheel Camper
Cute farm girl next to me
Dogs in the back seat
Back in the land of cattle, horses, and trucks!
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deereone
NE
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Joined: 12/20/2005
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Several years ago I read Dexter brakes required a minimum of 10.5 volts at the trailer brakes. If that's true of other systems I don't know and maybe today that's no longer true. I have checked the voltage on many trailers at the brakes with the tow vehicles engine running and found less than 10.5 volts. There use to be a private website with a write up on the Prodigy that was interesting. Maybe someone will remember where the site was. I remember they said make the wiring between the Prodigy and the trailer brakes as short as possible and to solder connections instead of crimp to reduce voltage drop.
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dodge guy
Chicago, western subs.
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chadsalt wrote:snip "Then,What is the question?"
The question is, does everyone that says they cannot lockup there brakes during setup have a bad Prodigy? that would be quite a bit of people with bad Prodigies.
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chadsalt
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dodge guy wrote:chadsalt wrote:snip "Then,What is the question?"
The question is, does everyone that says they cannot lockup there brakes during setup have a bad Prodigy? that would be quite a bit of people with bad Prodigies.
How could I know about everyone? You and mike certainly appear to have defective units. The only way to know is put the tester on the wire and see if what power the Prodigy 'says' is being sent, actually is.
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mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Boost has nothing to do with the maximum braking power. The adjustment wheel is what changes the maximum braking power.
Boost only affects MINIMUM braking power.
Having boost on or off will not make any difference in wheel lockup.
Crank the wheel so it reads 13.0 when you pull the lever. That is maximum braking power, full battery voltage.
Now, if you are performing the exact same tests with the Voyager and the Prodigy, the Voyager will lock the brakes but the Prodigy will NOT, then that warrants further investigation. Clearly the brakes are working.
I do not understand why you are expecting US to provide an answer as to why the Prodigy will not lock the brakes. Clearly this is an issue that should be taken up with Tekonsha.
All I know is, my Prodigy will lock the brakes on my trailer at 6.0.
Maybe there are bad Prodigies out there? Again, a question for Tekonsha, not us.
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Moosetrek
Cheyenne, WY
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Sorry to stir up a mess here, I wasn't intending to start any battles over Prodigy vs ___?, I guess I just wanted to know if my situation is normal, or should I be able to lock up the brakes (not that I desire to do so on the highway), and therefore be looking for another weak link in my system before hauling 20K gcvwr up (and down!) a couple mountain ranges - thanks again for all your wise advice.
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LarryJM
NoVa
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Joined: 11/09/2007
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Ron Gratz wrote:Moosetrek wrote:---Is it possible that it's just too heavy a trailer or too tall tires to lock up? I can't think of anything else, but please let me know if anyone has suggestions. Should every trailer be able to lock the brakes assuming good working order?
Not necessarily. On some trailers, you cannot lock the brakes even if you apply full current. Here is what Dexter has to say:
QUOTE
BRAKES - Why can't I lock and slide my electric brakes?
On an unloaded trailer, you may be able to lock up your brakes if your electric brake controller is supplying full amperage to the brakes. When loaded to capacity, you may not be able to lock your brakes as electric brakes are designed to slow the trailer at a controlled rate, and not designed to lock up the wheels on a fully loaded trailer. Our brakes are designed to meet all applicable safety standards. All of our brakes will perform better after numerous burnish stops to seat the brake linings to the drums.
UNQUOTE
Ron "
I read that quote from Dexter with interest in the words they uses "electric brakes are designed to slow the trailer at a controlled rate"
and how it applies to this ongoing debate on whether the breakaway switch should be pulled before the safety chains separate.
I know on my last trailer and this one both are usually within 500lbs of their GVWRs and both had Dexter axles, I've tested them from 60mph by applying 9A trailer brake amperage w/o any TV brakes and they slow and control both the slowing of the TT and TV very well. I can't apply more than 9A TT brakes only due to the design of the 1970's Wagner "pedal machine" brake controller, which by the way I love since I can apply whatever TT brakes I want irrespectively of the TV brakes w/o ever taking either my hands off the steering wheel or eyes off the road 
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
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