Prodigy Brake Controller
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2005
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Prodigy Brake Controller
I have the Prodigy Brake Controller version 2.6 from Tekonsha on my 02 F250. I bought the Ford Harness to connect it. I have read the paper work with the controller but have some questions. Does the brake controller turn off when you shut off the truck or does it just go into sleep mode?
The other day I left the truck and came back in about 10 minutes. Before starting I glanced at the controller and it displayed two dots. Wondering about battery drain.
Can someone also explain a bit better how the manual lever works? Do you just move it right to left to manual controller the trailer brakes? Is the power **** setting used just for manually braking? When would you use manually braking?
Craig
The other day I left the truck and came back in about 10 minutes. Before starting I glanced at the controller and it displayed two dots. Wondering about battery drain.
Can someone also explain a bit better how the manual lever works? Do you just move it right to left to manual controller the trailer brakes? Is the power **** setting used just for manually braking? When would you use manually braking?
Craig
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 98
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From: Anderson SC
I installed a prodigy on my 2002 f250. The two dots mean that the controller is installed properly. The two dots will go off after a few minutes after you turn off the truck. The dots will reappear after you place your foot on the brake. i had this controller on another truck and never had a problem with battery drain.You slide the lever when you think you need more braking at that particular moment. Go to the prodigy site and download the user manual and it explains everything.
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Senior User
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I have the manuals and even downloaded them in electronic form. I read them but still had questions on usage. I know I had left the truck for about 15 minutes and when I came back the two dots were visable. Maybe I hit the brake pedal getting in the truck. Other times the display was blank. Will watch it next time.
The power **** isn't discussed much in the documentation. When not using manual mode does the power **** setting even come into play or does the controller set the power level automatically?
I did add the lower 05 dash panel to my 02. This allowed me to install the upfitter switches. I was looking for a good place to install the brake controller. The cubby next to the upfitters worked out perfect. I trimmed a small hole in the back of the cubby for the controller harness. The controller fits very snug into the cubby and looks real nice installed that way.
Craig
The power **** isn't discussed much in the documentation. When not using manual mode does the power **** setting even come into play or does the controller set the power level automatically?
I did add the lower 05 dash panel to my 02. This allowed me to install the upfitter switches. I was looking for a good place to install the brake controller. The cubby next to the upfitters worked out perfect. I trimmed a small hole in the back of the cubby for the controller harness. The controller fits very snug into the cubby and looks real nice installed that way.
Craig
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 457
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From: SW ND
The power **** just sets how much power will be put to the trailer brakes. If the trailer brakes lockup you have too much power and it needs to be reduced. This is described on setting power or adjusting power.This setting is for when you use the brakes normally.
The manual lever is for manually applying the brakes, at any time. The farther the lever is moved the more braking power you will have. The manual lever gives full power to trailer brakes, regardless of power setting.
That's what I got out of the directions.
The manual lever is for manually applying the brakes, at any time. The farther the lever is moved the more braking power you will have. The manual lever gives full power to trailer brakes, regardless of power setting.
That's what I got out of the directions.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 807
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From: Houston, TX
On mine, the two dots go off after a while. I have the harnesses for it in both my '05 Expedition, and my '03 250. When I had it in the expy, I parked it at the airport for nearly a week, no problem.
And jorlee describes the operation perfectly. You basically go through a "setup" process to set the correct setting on the power ****. I don't have the instructions in front of me, but as I remember it, you basically start out with the power around 6 if I remember, and hold the manual full left (which is brakes off) and then start down the road around 25 mph. Then you put the manual full right (brakes on) and if the trailer brakes lock up, you dial down the power setting. Or if the the power wasn't enough to brake the trailer, you dial the power up. You keep doing that over and over until you find the right power setting for that trailer.
The other button, the Boost button, basically just lets you decide how much power is applied when you brake. I think on my 6500lb travel trailer, I left it at the lowest setting.
Rgds,
TX
And jorlee describes the operation perfectly. You basically go through a "setup" process to set the correct setting on the power ****. I don't have the instructions in front of me, but as I remember it, you basically start out with the power around 6 if I remember, and hold the manual full left (which is brakes off) and then start down the road around 25 mph. Then you put the manual full right (brakes on) and if the trailer brakes lock up, you dial down the power setting. Or if the the power wasn't enough to brake the trailer, you dial the power up. You keep doing that over and over until you find the right power setting for that trailer.
The other button, the Boost button, basically just lets you decide how much power is applied when you brake. I think on my 6500lb travel trailer, I left it at the lowest setting.
Rgds,
TX
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 594
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From: New Jersey
The dots will go off after the controller is idle for 10 or 15 min. You will not have any power drain on the battery. Even when the dots are lit, the thing uses next to no power unless you are braking. I had one in my '03. It is the best aftermarket controller out there.
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Elder User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 545
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yes like everyone has said its about 15 minutes or so they go out and come on when brakes are touched not when vehicle is started.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 80
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From: virginia
Originally Posted by cef2lion
I have the manuals and even downloaded them in electronic form. I read them but still had questions on usage. I know I had left the truck for about 15 minutes and when I came back the two dots were visable. Maybe I hit the brake pedal getting in the truck. Other times the display was blank. Will watch it next time.
The power **** isn't discussed much in the documentation. When not using manual mode does the power **** setting even come into play or does the controller set the power level automatically?
Craig
The power **** isn't discussed much in the documentation. When not using manual mode does the power **** setting even come into play or does the controller set the power level automatically?
Craig
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 495
Likes: 0
At ~20mph, increase power **** till the trailer brakes lock up and then back it off. It will change with different loads and trailer weights.
b1, b2 and b3 are ramp rates. linear, lots of trailer brakes then tapers off the ramp rate till it reaches the power **** setting and not a lot of trailer brakes at first then it ramps up really fast.
The dots will go off after a while ...
I had a 3 year old controller fail about a year ago. It wouldn't maintain the power setting. It would attain it and the voltage would drop off to 0. Not good.
I called Tekonsha and asked if I could get it repaired and they told me to take it to the nearest Tekonsha retailer, explain what happened and they would give me a new one.
I did and they did. Very nice.
b1, b2 and b3 are ramp rates. linear, lots of trailer brakes then tapers off the ramp rate till it reaches the power **** setting and not a lot of trailer brakes at first then it ramps up really fast.
The dots will go off after a while ...
I had a 3 year old controller fail about a year ago. It wouldn't maintain the power setting. It would attain it and the voltage would drop off to 0. Not good.
I called Tekonsha and asked if I could get it repaired and they told me to take it to the nearest Tekonsha retailer, explain what happened and they would give me a new one.
I did and they did. Very nice.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 684
Likes: 2
From: Tucson, AZ
I agree that the Prodigy is the best aftermarket controller. There is no significant power drain when the truck is off and need not be a concern. Read the manual, it does explain all of the aforementioned items.
However in my opinion the towcommand is the best.
However in my opinion the towcommand is the best.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 2
Brake Smart?
Hello to all. I too have the Prodigy and am very happy with it. That said, there is another unit (which I wanted originaly) called the BrakeSmart (which was not under production when I went looking) which does in fact use the hydraulic brake pressure in it's calculations ala Ford's built in controller. Try the link:
http://www.drperformance.com/brakesmarthome.html
http://www.drperformance.com/brakesmarthome.html