Hello,
Based on research I did (ok I read alot on here and some other boards) I went with a Prodigy Brake Controller for my 1990 F150 and my new trailer. Now I had read about possibly needing a pulse preventer in some circumstances, and after I wired everything up and tested it out, when I put on the 4-ways I do get the flashing Prodigy. Now I don't know that this will be a problem -- nor do I really plan to tow with 4-ways on, but I like to do things right. So I went out and got a pulse preventor. The package I got is made by Draw-Tite...and it has a whole bracket (though I don't really see the need and will take it off unless someone can give me a good reason to keep it), but I'm at the installation phase now.

The diagram on the back shows cutting the wire from the brake light switch and wiring this inbetween the switch and the brake lights -- leaving the brake controller as is. Now when I installed my controller - per the directions I went from another wire at the base of the steering column (I think it was for ABS issues) and it works PERFECT. I don't particularly like the idea of cutting wires anyway, but can someone help me with installation here? Can I wire it between the wire I tapped for brake sensor and the brake controller or does it have to go between the brake light switch and brake lights or what?

Help is greatly appreciated. This is on a 1990 F150 BTW.

Thanks!

 

TTT

 

I wired my pulse preventer between the brake controller and the brake light switch. The red wire from the controller that goes to the brake lights is bugged together with the output wire from the brake light switch and the input wire from the pulse preventer. The output wire from the pulse preventer than is bugged to the wire leading back to the brake lights. I followed the instructions that came with the pulse preventer.

I've tested the trailer brakes before the pulse preventer was installed and after. It works correctly.

 

I think our setups will be slightly different, as the 89-91 Ford trucks seem to be unique with the ABS setup. I couldn't go from the brake light switch for the brake controller, I had to go to another wire per the instructions that came with the controller. That's part of my dillema -- where do I go with this?

 

I think the first way you did it was correct. My Prodigy instructions say that for '89-'91, "the stoplight wire must be spliced into via the turn signal harness on the steering column. The turn signal harness is the crecent shaped harness attached to the steering column." So the pulse preventer would go between there and the Prodigy.

 

Well, I drew out a diagram to help myself better understand the way the pulse preventer needs to be installed, and I believe it needs to go where the brake controller is installed -- I just need to figure out which side is before the controller and which is after -- so I can install it correctly.

I don't see any other way to do it -- I'm going to look through my manual's wiring diagrams to try and double check -- but it sounds like I might need to just snip the wire and test to see which is right.

BTW -- Initially I thought I could install it inline with the brake lead that goes to the controller, but thinking about the way the diode and system work that wouldn't work at all. The problem is that the pulse preventer (diode) only lets signal pass one way -- which means all the signlas could continue to pass to the controller. It needs to be installed in the circuit with the brake lights AFTER the brake controller -- so the signla can pass to the lights, and to the brake controller, but feedback from the 4-ways cannot come back past it to the brake controller.

If anyone has additional info -- let me know, I'll probably try this tomorrow or this weekend!