On the way home Sunday from our last outing our brake controller reads a short in the system. We made it home safely, but the brakes were in & out the whole way home.I used my test light to check the brake wire to positive at the 7-pin connector and it would light. I'm not sure this is a good test though, as it may have only completed the circuit.If I use my ohm meter, could I narrow my search to the truck or the camper? If it's in the camper, I expect I could then remove each drum's magnet from the circuit by cutting the wires leading to the drum to find which is having a problem.I'd like to avoid having to pull each hub to check the wires inside... I just packed the bearings last spring. I could do it, just trying to avoid it if I can.Now that I think about it... Could I disconnect the brake system's ground then test the brake wire to positive?As you can see, I need assistance from others more experienced. Thanks in advance for your help!Happy Camping!John.

MegaJohn wrote:On the way home Sunday from our last outing our brake controller reads a short in the system. We made it home safely, but the brakes were in & out the whole way home.I used my test light to check the brake wire to positive at the 7-pin connector and it would light. I'm not sure this is a good test though, as it may have only completed the circuit.If I use my ohm meter, could I narrow my search to the truck or the camper? If it's in the camper, I expect I could then remove each drum's magnet from the circuit by cutting the wires leading to the drum to find which is having a problem.I'd like to avoid having to pull each hub to check the wires inside... I just packed the bearings last spring. I could do it, just trying to avoid it if I can.Now that I think about it... Could I disconnect the brake system's ground then test the brake wire to positive?As you can see, I need assistance from others more experienced. Thanks in advance for your help!Happy Camping!John.Do any of your wires pass through the axle? Very common issue of insulation chafing at that point causing an intermittent fault.You can replace the wiring, or sleeve it in plastic conduit to keep it away from sharp metal edges.Dollars to donuts that is where the issue is, unlikely to be the truck.

happened to me twice, was a wire rubbing the drum close to the magnet. Use a compass to check each wheel for magnet operation, if that does not help then Jack wheels up one at a time, engage brakes with the breakaway, spin the wheel. might be a good time to do a bearing pack and inspection anyway.

kaydeejay wrote:Do any of your wires pass through the axle? Very common issue of insulation chafing at that point causing an intermittent fault.You can replace the wiring, or sleeve it in plastic conduit to keep it away from sharp metal edges.Dollars to donuts that is where the issue is, unlikely to be the truck.Thanks for your help. The wires DO pass though the axles... I'll check that first! ;)Happy Camping!John.

SDcampowneroperator wrote:happened to me twice, was a wire rubbing the drum close to the magnet. Use a compass to check each wheel for magnet operation, if that does not help then Jack wheels up one at a time, engage brakes with the breakaway, spin the wheel. might be a good time to do a bearing pack and inspection anyway.Thanks for your suggestions.I am trying to avoid removing the drums as I just had them off to repack bearings & inspect brakes in the spring... removing them again would mean replacing the seals also. Everything looked in order and held in place in the spring... but I could have missed something.I like the campass trick and will have to remember that one if needed. ;)Happy Camping!John.

MegaJohn wrote:kaydeejay wrote:Do any of your wires pass through the axle? Very common issue of insulation chafing at that point causing an intermittent fault.You can replace the wiring, or sleeve it in plastic conduit to keep it away from sharp metal edges.Dollars to donuts that is where the issue is, unlikely to be the truck.Thanks for your help. The wires DO pass though the axles... I'll check that first! ;)Happy Camping!John.x2, Most likely place for failure

Brake Controller Showing Short in the System | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

SDcampowneroper
Explorer
Nov 20, 2012
happened to me twice, was a wire rubbing the drum close to the magnet. Use a compass to check each wheel for magnet operation, if that does not help then Jack wheels up one at a time, engage brakes with the breakaway, spin the wheel.
might be a good time to do a bearing pack and inspection anyway.
kaydeejay
Explorer
Nov 20, 2012
MegaJohn wrote:
On the way home Sunday from our last outing our brake controller reads a short in the system. We made it home safely, but the brakes were in & out the whole way home.

I used my test light to check the brake wire to positive at the 7-pin connector and it would light. I'm not sure this is a good test though, as it may have only completed the circuit.

If I use my ohm meter, could I narrow my search to the truck or the camper? If it's in the camper, I expect I could then remove each drum's magnet from the circuit by cutting the wires leading to the drum to find which is having a problem.

I'd like to avoid having to pull each hub to check the wires inside... I just packed the bearings last spring. I could do it, just trying to avoid it if I can.

Now that I think about it... Could I disconnect the brake system's ground then test the brake wire to positive?

As you can see, I need assistance from others more experienced. Thanks in advance for your help!

Happy Camping!
John.
Do any of your wires pass through the axle? Very common issue of insulation chafing at that point causing an intermittent fault.
You can replace the wiring, or sleeve it in plastic conduit to keep it away from sharp metal edges.
Dollars to donuts that is where the issue is, unlikely to be the truck.

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Brake Controller Showing Short in the System

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