Brake Controller Wiring Questions

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Jan 30, 2022 | 07:33 AM

mikenc

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From: NC

Brake Controller Wiring Questions

Hi all - I'm installing a brake controller and have some questions about the wiring:

I need 2 hot wires from the battery - both are fused and one goes to the controller in the cab and one goes back to the plug on the hitch. Can I add these to the hot side of the starter solenoid, rather than to the battery terminal itself?

I need a ground to the brake controller in the cab. Can I ground it somewhere in the cab or should I fish a wire from the battery ground through the firewall to the cab?

Jan 30, 2022 | 09:34 AM

dustyroad

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From: NE Ohio

I went direct to battery on the 2 hot wires but those are going to be moved to a bus bar soon.
I also routed the ground to a ground bus bar on my firewall, you could probably do what you described without issues.. I just figured direct was better.

Jan 30, 2022 | 09:56 AM

Conanski

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From: Ottawa, Ontario

Ground in the cab is fine for the controller, the two hot wires must be fused and the exact location you pick that up isn't critical as long it has sufficient current capacity, so yes the hot side of the starter relay would work.

Jan 30, 2022 | 09:57 AM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

I followed the instructions with the controller. All the controllers I have installed say to run the white ground wire directly to the battery negative terminal. For the power wires, I usually run a circuit breaker instead of a fuse, so when out on the road if the problem is resolved it comes back on and starts working.

Jan 30, 2022 | 10:04 AM

dustyroad

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Joined: Jul 2013

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From: NE Ohio

I assumed he was installing a kit, which it should come with circuit breakers. Mine did.
My ground bus bar is ran directly to the battery with no issues so I think it's safe to run the ground anywhere just make sure it's a good ground.
I just didn't want multiple wires snaking back to the battery for a ground.
So different answers that achieve the same result. so that says to me it doesn't really matter how you connect it, as long as you have good solid connections.

Jan 30, 2022 | 11:51 AM

mikenc

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Joined: Sep 2016

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From: NC

Thanks y'all. It's a kit and has 2 fuses to put inline for the 2 power connections and they are self-resetting or whatever you call it.

I just figured I can put some ring connectors on the 2 hot wires and come from the starter solenoid instead of messing with the battery terminal. It's once-removed from the battery terminal and it meets the intent of the diagram that came with the kit, it's just not literally the same.

Going to give it a shot and see - thanks again.