Actually, no... he didn't get advanced knowledge. A tech at a Ford dealership is not going to be privy to this kind of information. Diablo is careful about who they pre-release information to and it only goes to higher volume dealers they trust. Even their two warehouses didn't know the release date and were hit a little by surprise. I knew they were working on one but Diablo gave every indication (probably on purpose) that it was going to be much longer before it was out.

Either:
a) He was basing his experience on the 03-04 applications for the Predator
b) He was making it up
c) You misunderstand or misheard what he was saying.

 

Ken, I would agree that A is possible, he is the lead tech and has a repair buisness as well so sells them. He specifically said that he talked with his distributor and what was told to him was what he told me. I don't know him all that well I cannot vouch for his credibility that is why I prefaced my statement with "the Ford Tech at my dealer said" I appreciate your input and bottom line I am pleased that the tuner should be out soon.
Thank you for the info....

 

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yes I was refering to the hydraulic tie in.
First and foremost, a hydralic transducer to send an electrical feedback signal to the brake controller would be outright exspensive verses using a rheostat off the brake pedal.reliability issuse with a pressure transducer are also greater, not to mention more variables due to braking pressures within the hydraulic system itself. example: 3000 psi maybe full lock up the brakes unloaded but loaded full lock up may not occur untill 9000 psi.
the most logical and practical means operation is a variable input(from brake pedal) which would take place of your timing adjustment on an aftermarket unit, the gain adjustment on it controls the ratio of applied voltage to the brakes and the fact that it is tied into the ABS system it has the ability to increase voltage to the trailer brakes, sort of like a brake away safety(the ones on the trailer if it come unhooked)

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If these new guys get this worked up about a brake controler think about what it will be like when they start discussing oil.

 

Here we go, another controversy Yeeeeeee Hawwwwwwww

 

Ok I work with hydraulics all day every day for the last 20 years this is simply wrong. We have no reliablilty issues with pressure sensors and they are not all that expensive. Have you never had a rheostat with dust built up in it over years talk about unreliable. And if you want to talk about sealed ones well there go's you're cost again. I also have a degree in electrical engineering, and the pressure sensor would be a far superior means of getting input. Not only that the ABS info would be automatic, since when the pressure was pulsed for the anti-lock system the sensor would pick that up.

Also brakesmart uses pressure sensors and most people say it's the best controller on the market, so that kinda blows holes in you're theory that using pressure signals causes all kinds variables that will keep it from working.

How does Ford do it? I don't know and neither do you, so until we get some good information I guess we are flying blind.

I'm not really new, just usually don't have much to say.

 

Unrelated question - Tim, why are the margins on some of the posts in this thread so wide? Or is this just a local problem with my browser?

 

what kind of horrid signal would you get out of a pulsating ABS system ? you do not want your trailer brakes pulsing on and off do you?

as far as oil goes, regular or synthetic, just keep it clean.

 

Firstly, I must say it is obnoxious for anyone to point out that they have an electrical engineering degree. Or a law degree, or any other degree. In my younger years I was tempted to lend my statements credibility by offering credentials, but I have become rather good at resisting the urge.

I only scanned the above posts but it seems someone suggested that the electric signal to a trailer would be pulsed simultaneously with the ABS signal. I have no experience with ABS systems, but I think an ABS system uses a regular old master cylinder with a line pressurized by the brake pedal (with assistance) to a controller with four valves (four channel ABS), and at least four speed sensors. Each speed sensor tells the controller whether any wheel is slowing too fast (or stopping) compared to the vehicle. The controller then opens, closes, or releases pressure to individual wheels by manipulating one or more of the four valves to keep the wheel from skidding. So, to pulse the electric signal to the trailer you would have to place the transducer (the thing that converts the pressure signal to an electric signal) between one of the four valves and an individual wheel. I can't imagine why you would pulse the trailer brakes in synch. with the front right wheel or any other individual wheel. I would rather see the transducer between the master cylinder and the bank of valves. Back to work.

 

and the awnser to the million dollar question is:

it takes input from the ABS system, vehicle speed, and master cylider pressure. it can even detect trailer connection status.

jwdeats, you are right about the ABS system, plain old master cylinder to 4 channel ABS. also the only thing I ever let on that I am is an ideal man. mostly how to overcome an engineer's screw up.
still prying for how this controller does what it does.

 

Way weird as soon as I opened this thread it did it...now look what you have started...wonder if it will help my spelling

 

Cannot wait .......for that

 

Yep, this seems to be the best anwser yet.

jwdeats,

Obnoxious, sure maybe, but when somone starts talking down too me, like I'm not capable and they are somehow superior, well then shouldn't we have qualifiers? Sour grapes?

I also happened to notice that one of the aftermarket controllers advertise ABS with their controller, I wish I could remember who. Wouldn't that also lead one to believe that the pulse info from the hydraulic system would have to be used to achieve this, with aftermarket controls?

 

Personal attacks are really uncool, and I apologize to everyone for being sucked into even anwsering one.

Crash687,

Especially you I didn't think you were talking down to me, just words said in the heat of the moment.

 

ophus,
I don't start ripping on someone till they ask for it. we were engaged in a debate about how we thought the brake controller worked. I search answers that I hope will support my theroy. in this case it does not. Info was obtained ina sales litterature at a dealer. I am still waiting for my infromation from actual engineering data. (want to see how this system really ticks)
It was a bit tacky to state that you have an electrical engineering degree. exception: if you were the engineer that designed it. better have proof to back it up also. I have seen first hand engineers that could not design a simple recirculating oil coolant bath spray. (over a year of trial and error) solved their problems in 4 hours and used stock parts from the bible(Graingers catalog).