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aubiexx's avatar
aubiexx
Explorer
Oct 05, 2013

Brake lights working but Prodigy says not connected

I posted earlier about my 69 Airstream Overlander and my TV is a 99 2500 Suburban. I have found that the brake controller to be odd about working properly and am trying to find out if the problem is.

Based on forum recommendations I swapped my draw tite activator 2 for a Prodigy 2.

This afternoon I installed it. The trailer brake lights seem to be working and I can hear a noise from the rear passenger wheel on the trailer like it's engaging the brake.

The Prodigy shows two dots indicating not connected. Any ideas?

Is it possible that I have a bad connection on the pig tail wires going to the trailer or my vehicle?
  • aubiexx wrote:


    The Prodigy shows two dots indicating not connected. Any ideas?

    ?


    Not arguing, as I just have a Prodigy. But on mine, when it shows 2 dots. It is telling me that I have boost set. When I hook up. I get a " C ",. That goes away, and only shows the dots, until I hit the brakes. When it is not connected correctly. I get a " N.C. "
  • Thanks for the details. I took the 7 way apart on my TV and it's fairly corroded. At the pin there was no reading, but when I pulled the blue wire out, got a great response from the voltmeter directly on the blue wire.

    Will replace the receptacle tomorrow and send an update.
  • aubiexx wrote:
    Thanks. If I use a voltmeter to test the electric brake connection on the receptacle on rear of my tow vehicle, should it register amperage when the brakes are pressed and my tail lights are on?


    When it comes to the Prodigy P2 and P3 there is a lot of confusion on how the controllers work. Pressing the brake pedal does not always send voltage to the trailer like the time based units do.

    If there is no boost programed in there will be no voltage to the trailer when brake pedal is first pressed. But if the brake is held for more than 5 seconds the Prodigy will send 25% of the gain setting to the trailer.

    If Boost 1 has been programmed the Prodigy will send 14% of the gain setting then after 5 seconds 25%. If boost 2 or 3 the initial will be 28% then after 5 seconds 25%.

    Moving the slider will always send voltage to the trailer. Full travel will be what ever the gain was set to.

    When the TV and trailer are moving and the brakes are applied the Prodigy will first send the Boost setting voltage then it will send a voltage that is proportional to the deceleration rate of the TV and trailer. This can be anything from 1 volt or less to the gain voltage depending on how rapidly the TV and trailer are decelerating.

    Here is a link to the instruction book.

    Prodigy P2 Instruction Manual



    Now to answer your question yes a voltmeter can be used to measure the voltage but not amperage at the 7 way connector. Due to the Prodigy using a pulse width modulated voltage you may not see the same voltage as the Prodigy display.

    But the prodigy will put the gain voltage value to the 7 way when the slider is moved to max travel. This is even when the trailer is not connected. The Prodigy display may show NC without a trailer connected.

    I suspect you have a wiring problem most likely in the trailer.

    I am not sure but the Prodigy may show NC if there is only one brake magnet active. This may explain why you can hear a noise at the trailer.

    This is why I prefer the Prodigy P3. It provides a current reading and if there are not 4 magnets connected this can be detected by the current reading. My 4 wheel 5th wheel draws about 1 amp per volt applied.
  • Thanks. If I use a voltmeter to test the electric brake connection on the receptacle on rear of my tow vehicle, should it register amperage when the brakes are pressed and my tail lights are on?
  • I had a similar problem this spring when I hooked up. Problem was the wire from the Prodigy to the Dodge connector. I unplugged and replugged and it worked fine. Hope it is that easy for you. I take my prodigy out for the winter. If the same thing happens next spring, I plan on cleaning pins and using some dielectric grease.
  • Not doubting what you say but parts are confounding.
    If the P2 shows ". ." then it is not sending any current to the brakes. So it doesn't make sense that you hear anything at one of the wheels.
    I would confirm the brake wires continuity to the 7 pin. Then do the same on the trailer side and confirm continuity from the 7 pin to each of the brakes.
    Some place you have an open connection at either the TV or the TT. Make sure the 7 pin is clean and dry inside.