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Brake controler

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Old Mar 2, 2012 | 09:23 PM
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Brake controler

Ive got a 18' equipment trailer I use to move my Bobcat around.

I pulled the trailer with my 02 and everything was good as far as the brakes go.

I hooked up to my 99 dually and thats a diffrent story.

The trailer brakes come on so hard it almost rips the hitch off.

The trailer went right sideways across the highway last time.

I fooled with the settings on the brake controler but nothing changes.

Its a Enegizer and has the main settings button and on the other side its got a little white toggle back and forth switch.

Suppose my controler is shot or am I not doing something right?
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 07:00 AM
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the toggle is for a manual use of just the trailer brakes only. Should be used if you are having a fishtail or something like that to keep the trailer behind you.

You need to adjust the gain on the controller. Reduce it a bit.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 08:33 AM
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Its got "Min" and "max" on it and I got it on "min".

The toggle Im talking about isnt the hand switch, its the other little plastic settings switch.

I think it has something to do with having to be level?
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 04:25 PM
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The white plastic switch to which you are referring determines how aggressively the brakes activate and you have to adjust it to compensate for the slope of the mounting position. That is most likely what is causing your intense engagement. The owner's manual showing how to adjust it is online.

This may vary by model. How old is your controller?

Steve
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 07:07 PM
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Its probably 10 -12 years old.
Trucks only got 30,000 miles on it so it hasnt been used much./
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 08:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Vinford
Its probably 10 -12 years old.
Trucks only got 30,000 miles on it so it hasnt been used much./
I would pull up the manual and adjust your settings. Controllers are pretty robust and I have used the same model you have in the past with good results.

Steve
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 08:35 PM
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Originally Posted by RV_Tech
I would pull up the manual and adjust your settings. Controllers are pretty robust and I have used the same model you have in the past with good results.

Steve
Thanks Ill play with it some more.
I dont have a manual the controler was in the truck when I bought it.
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 08:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Vinford
Thanks Ill play with it some more.
I dont have a manual the controler was in the truck when I bought it.
The owner's manuals for all the Energizers are online. Just goggle it. Set the gain on top to min and just adjust the white adjuster. If adjusting that does nothing, the controller may well be shot, but that would be very unusual, so I am always very hesitant to blame controllers.

If the controller has the ability to give you gradual stopping manually, it should have the ability to do the same thing when you hit the pedal. If it rips your teeth out when you try to stop the trailer manually, there is something wrong as the controller does not depend on the setting you do with the white adjuster for manual.

Steve
 
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Old Mar 3, 2012 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by RV_Tech
The owner's manuals for all the Energizers are online. Just goggle it. Set the gain on top to min and just adjust the white adjuster. If adjusting that does nothing, the controller may well be shot, but that would be very unusual, so I am always very hesitant to blame controllers.

If the controller has the ability to give you gradual stopping manually, it should have the ability to do the same thing when you hit the pedal. If it rips your teeth out when you try to stop the trailer manually, there is something wrong as the controller does not depend on the setting you do with the white adjuster for manual.

Steve
I never tryed it manually I was to busy twisting the **** .
It locked up tight smoking the tires as I tryed to stop at a stop sign with a cop standing there watching me.
 
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Old Mar 4, 2012 | 05:28 AM
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OOPS ! LOL
 
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Old Mar 8, 2012 | 09:17 PM
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So i tryed it again today and think I might know the problem.

I set up everything and got it working a bit better than it was , but I noticed that
my truck brakes arent working very good so the harder I step on truck brakes the harder the trailer brakes come on , making the trailer lock up.

I never noticed my truck brakes werent that good when I was driving around empty.
 
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Old Mar 9, 2012 | 09:52 AM
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If that's the case, you WOULD do lots better with a new controller....the one like you have a pendlenum (sp?).... the harder you hit your truck brakes, inerta swings the pendlenum forward.... the new controllers are electronically controlled and are a lot more precise with braking the trailer. Look at the Prodegy, you'll love it.
 
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Old May 23, 2012 | 08:25 AM
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Well i got a new controller and thought the problem was solved but its doing the same thing again.

Have it backed right off on the gain and when I touch the truck brakes the trailer locks up hard?
 
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Old May 23, 2012 | 10:24 AM
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is your wiring correct?
 
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Old May 24, 2012 | 09:44 AM
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Originally Posted by TexasRebel
is your wiring correct?
Im starting to wonder but its Ford factory plugin.
 
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