trailer brake questions
Hello all, new to rv'ing and to this forum and have a few questions about my electric brakes. First off, my 1991 5th wheel is a 30' 6500 lb unit (obviously tandem axle). Previous owner had no controll...
Forum Discussion
Thanks for the replies everyone,
SO cord is a bit more durable than you might be giving it credit for donn, especially when compared to exposed plain insulated wires or even sheathed wire pairs. It may not be the best solution money can buy but it's 10 times better than what comes from the factory. I've used this stuff a lot at a previous machine manufacturing job and it has pretty good impact resistance too where normal unprotected wires would get pinched right in half. Incidentally, isn't the pigtail that plugs into your truck and exposed to all manner of elements a type of SO cord?
Carol Brand Type SOOW Cable Features:
Excellent resistance to oil and moisture
Good tensile strength, elongation and aging characteristics
High flexibility
Excellent abrasion resistance
Water-resistant
UL Listed and CSA Certified for indoor and outdoor use
Ozone-, sunlight (UV)- and weather-resistant
TRU-Mark® sequential footage marking
Point well taken about line loss, although I still question if the impact is neglegible over only 20'
However, running 10ga all the way to the brake leads is clearly the top performer!
(online line loss calculator)
12 volts input >>> 14ga@ 12' >>> 16ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 10.84 volts out (factory)
12 volts input >>> 12ga@ 12' >>> 14ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 11.20 volts out (+ .36 volts over factory)
12 volts input >>> 10ga@ 12' >>> 14ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 11.43 volts out (+ .59 volts over factory)
12 volts input >>> 10ga@ 12' >>> 10ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 11.52 volts out (+ .68 volts over factory)
I used 4 amps as the load for each wheel, sounds like it should be closer to 3 amps. Also, volts in should probably be more than 12,
Actual performance for the factory wiring is questionable as the right side has much longer wires than left and, while the hot wire is 14ga the ground only uses 16ga.
Yes I deff need to pull the wheels and inspect bearings and brakes, with the price of etrailer assmeblies it hardly makes sense to repair components
The previous owner only used it a few times a year but I know from pulling my jeep on a trailer with surge brakes that went out, that can be a handful with just truck brakes and that was only about 4000#. Also, in Michigan we have no inspections to worry about!
SO cord is a bit more durable than you might be giving it credit for donn, especially when compared to exposed plain insulated wires or even sheathed wire pairs. It may not be the best solution money can buy but it's 10 times better than what comes from the factory. I've used this stuff a lot at a previous machine manufacturing job and it has pretty good impact resistance too where normal unprotected wires would get pinched right in half. Incidentally, isn't the pigtail that plugs into your truck and exposed to all manner of elements a type of SO cord?
Carol Brand Type SOOW Cable Features:
Excellent resistance to oil and moisture
Good tensile strength, elongation and aging characteristics
High flexibility
Excellent abrasion resistance
Water-resistant
UL Listed and CSA Certified for indoor and outdoor use
Ozone-, sunlight (UV)- and weather-resistant
TRU-Mark® sequential footage marking
Point well taken about line loss, although I still question if the impact is neglegible over only 20'
However, running 10ga all the way to the brake leads is clearly the top performer!
(online line loss calculator)
12 volts input >>> 14ga@ 12' >>> 16ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 10.84 volts out (factory)
12 volts input >>> 12ga@ 12' >>> 14ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 11.20 volts out (+ .36 volts over factory)
12 volts input >>> 10ga@ 12' >>> 14ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 11.43 volts out (+ .59 volts over factory)
12 volts input >>> 10ga@ 12' >>> 10ga@ 8' >>> 16ga@ 1' = 11.52 volts out (+ .68 volts over factory)
I used 4 amps as the load for each wheel, sounds like it should be closer to 3 amps. Also, volts in should probably be more than 12,
Actual performance for the factory wiring is questionable as the right side has much longer wires than left and, while the hot wire is 14ga the ground only uses 16ga.
Yes I deff need to pull the wheels and inspect bearings and brakes, with the price of etrailer assmeblies it hardly makes sense to repair components
The previous owner only used it a few times a year but I know from pulling my jeep on a trailer with surge brakes that went out, that can be a handful with just truck brakes and that was only about 4000#. Also, in Michigan we have no inspections to worry about!
