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Richard_999's avatar
Richard_999
Explorer
Dec 29, 2014

Electric Brake Question

When I hook my fifth wheel wires up to the FORD F350 truck , the light comes on on the REESE PILOT electric brake box.

When I unplug the plug at the bumper, the light ( voltage display ) goes off completely. That MAY be normal, and being new to a FW , I am not certain ...BUT .. it would seem that if I left it connected all night, I might discharge the battery , or create premature failure of the brake box.

I looked for a Manual for this #80050 , but found none,
Does anyone know the answer to this ?

It may be that whoever wired up the bow hooked directly to the battery when it should have been to a keyed circut.

Of course .. I can just unplug it every night , if that is the final result.

Thanks In Advance ... Richard

5 Replies

  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer II
    Dec 30, 2014
    My brake controller's LED display stays on the whole time a trailer is connected. It's been on for several days at a time before. The truck always starts. LED's draw such little power it would probably take months or years to drain the battery.
    My controller is wired with the factory harness so GM obviously didn't think it needed to be controlled by the key. Unplug it if it makes you feel better but I never do.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Dec 29, 2014
    If it's like the prodigy the light will go off 10 minutes after the truck is shut off.
  • Cool_Canuck's avatar
    Cool_Canuck
    Explorer
    Dec 29, 2014
    That light indicates the brake circuit is complete. Never had a Reese. On the Tekonsha's it draws very little power and I never worried about having it plugged in over night.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Dec 29, 2014
    My brake controller only has power when the 7-pin is connected.

    With a Ford you do not have to disconnect the 7-pin overnight since it is cut out by a switch when the Ford's ignition is off, but with a Chev it stays live with the ignition off, so you always unplug the 7-pin once parked for the night.

    If you want the trailer to be level overnight, you usually have to unhitch and raise or lower the front of the 5er. So you would be unplugged for that night too.

    Some places the truck sticks out too far so you have to unhitch anyway. Sometimes you want to use the truck and leave the trailer there so you unhitch anyway.

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