trailer brake wiring help
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trailer brake wiring help
I just installed a Jorda Ultima brake conroller, along with a 6 pin plug. I used a T connector that has 2 extra wires, a bolue for the traier brakes, and a red for an aux power lead. I wired everything up myself, using 2 20 amp circuit breakers for the controller power and the aux power lead. All the lights work on the trailer, but the brakes don't. I tried switching the brake and aux power wires, but no go. All connections are tight. Ground is secure. What gives? Thanks for the help.
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This is the standard hook-up diagram for aftermarket T plugs.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion...ilerwiring.jpg
http://www.clubfte.com/users/mil1ion...ilerwiring.jpg
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Actually, I have a 6 pin. I thought the wiring may be different on the trailer, as it's a '72 Zimmerman, but the troubleshooting manual that came with the Jordan says if there is no green continuity light, either 1)The trailer is connected with an open circuit on brake line. 2(Corrosion on trailer plug contacts.
3)Loose 12 volt connection.
The connections are all tight, the plugs are fine, and every wire is hooked up. If I wired it up wrong, the guide says the continuity light should always be on. The trailer was jsut inspected, so I'm pretty sure the trailer brakes work.
3)Loose 12 volt connection.
The connections are all tight, the plugs are fine, and every wire is hooked up. If I wired it up wrong, the guide says the continuity light should always be on. The trailer was jsut inspected, so I'm pretty sure the trailer brakes work.
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From: Virginia
If you manually move the lever on the brake controller, do the trailer brakes work? If they do, you must have a problem with the wire that hooks to the truck brake switch, and then to the controller.
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I found it! No electric brakes on trailer. Do'h!! My dad was sure there was, but I took apart the trailer side of the plug, and sure enough there was only four wires, missing the brake and 12v wire. I can't even find a battery on the tongue. Found out the trailer has surge brakes, I'm guessing only work with the break-away box. I'm gona look into seeing if it would be easy to add elec. brakes. Sucks, but I'm glad my wiring went good for once. Thanks for the responses.
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From: Virginia
"Found out the trailer has surge brakes"
Doesn't it have a master cylinder on the tongue of the trailer? I don't think this is a bad system unless you want to back the trailer up a hill. Then you have to lock it out.
Doesn't it have a master cylinder on the tongue of the trailer? I don't think this is a bad system unless you want to back the trailer up a hill. Then you have to lock it out.
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Yes, it does have a master cylinder in the tongue, all along which I thought was the battery since I tought it had electric brakes. I was test-driving it today to see how the brakes were, and the brakes are pretty good, I just don't like how they take about 10-15' to take effect. THough I wasn't slamming them on, and I was only foing about 25 mph. Must have some auto lockput, 'cause I had no problem packing it up.
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From: Virginia
The neat thing is the tongue is spring loaded. As you stop the truck, the weight of the trailer pushes against the mechanism in the tongue, and the motion actuates the master cylinder. If you have a unloaded trailer, there is not much weight to push against the tongue, so you have little braking effect. As you add more weight to the trailer, with electric brakes you usually have to adjust the brakes a little bit, but with the system you have, the more weight naturally pushes harder on the tongue, which gives more braking effect automatically. I think if you had a heavy loaded trailer, and try to back up a hill, it may give you a problem.
And a guy told me that surge brakes may be illegal in some states, but he couldn't explain why. Does anybody else know if this is true, and the reason behind it?
And a guy told me that surge brakes may be illegal in some states, but he couldn't explain why. Does anybody else know if this is true, and the reason behind it?
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I haven't heard of surge brakes being illegal in any states. I know that UHaul and other rental agencies use surge brakes on thier trailers, so if they are illegal in those states, I don't know what the rental companies are doing for brakes on the trailers they rent in there.
I know what you mean about trying to back up a hill with a surge brake trailer, I've had to do that a few times and it was an aggravating experience.
I know what you mean about trying to back up a hill with a surge brake trailer, I've had to do that a few times and it was an aggravating experience.