Need some advice... trailer brake adjustment...

Lynnmor wrote:

CavemanCharlie wrote:


Yes, except for the last paragraph. One of the reasons you can't get a after market controller that uses brake pressure anymore is because that design screw up the Anti Lock Brakes.

Wrong, the Brakesmart and MaxBrake used a transducer for a pressure sensor (just like factory controllers)and they worked just fine. They were developed for modern systems, I have a Brakesmart and my son uses a MaxBrake.

The older systems that used some brake fluid were said to be incompatible with Anti-Lock brakes, but even some of them would work.

OK. I didn't know.

CavemanCharlie wrote:


Yes, except for the last paragraph. One of the reasons you can't get a after market controller that uses brake pressure anymore is because that design screw up the Anti Lock Brakes.

Wrong, the Brakesmart and MaxBrake used a transducer for a pressure sensor (just like factory controllers)and they worked just fine. They were developed for modern systems, I have a Brakesmart and my son uses a MaxBrake.

The older systems that used some brake fluid were said to be incompatible with Anti-Lock brakes, but even some of them would work.

Lynnmor wrote:

hohenwald48 wrote:
I've been anxiously awaiting a response to my previous post. Is anybody able to explain the difference between a timer controller, inertia controller and a proportional controller like a Prodigy. I know everybody always says the Prodigy is the controller to get but I guess I'm just looking for details regarding why and the operation of the three (or more) kinds of controllers.

I had always heard of timer controllers and Prodigy controllers but all the talk of inertia controllers in this thread got me to wondering what the differences are.

A timed controller will start braking when the brake lights come on. The braking will increase as time goes by. Maximum braking is reached about four seconds after impact.

Inertia controllers use a pendulum that increases voltage as you brake harder. It depends on the tow vehicle to have the ability to slow.

A Prodigy controller works like a pendulum, but is solid state. It also has some adjustments that allow some braking from the time the brake lights come on.

Factory controllers use the brake fluid pressure in the truck to determine how much brake is applied. The driver is actually in control.

After market controllers that act like the factory controllers were available, but folks wouldn't buy them, opting for cheap instead. Now they are out of business.

Yes, except for the last paragraph. One of the reasons you can't get a after market controller that uses brake pressure anymore is because that design screw up the Anti Lock Brakes.

hohenwald48 wrote:
I've been anxiously awaiting a response to my previous post. Is anybody able to explain the difference between a timer controller, inertia controller and a proportional controller like a Prodigy. I know everybody always says the Prodigy is the controller to get but I guess I'm just looking for details regarding why and the operation of the three (or more) kinds of controllers.

I had always heard of timer controllers and Prodigy controllers but all the talk of inertia controllers in this thread got me to wondering what the differences are.

A timed controller will start braking when the brake lights come on. The braking will increase as time goes by. Maximum braking is reached about four seconds after impact.

Inertia controllers use a pendulum that increases voltage as you brake harder. It depends on the tow vehicle to have the ability to slow.

A Prodigy controller works like a pendulum, but is solid state. It also has some adjustments that allow some braking from the time the brake lights come on.

Factory controllers use the brake fluid pressure in the truck to determine how much brake is applied. The driver is actually in control.

After market controllers that act like the factory controllers were available, but folks wouldn't buy them, opting for cheap instead. Now they are out of business.

I've been anxiously awaiting a response to my previous post. Is anybody able to explain the difference between a timer controller, inertia controller and a proportional controller like a Prodigy. I know everybody always says the Prodigy is the controller to get but I guess I'm just looking for details regarding why and the operation of the three (or more) kinds of controllers.

I had always heard of timer controllers and Prodigy controllers but all the talk of inertia controllers in this thread got me to wondering what the differences are.

If a Prodigy is not an inertia controller then what is it? How does it work? I know some brake controllers operate off a timer. ie: the longer you press the brake the more brake is applied to the trailer brakes.

I always thought the difference between timer controllers and proportional controllers was that the proportional controllers were operated by inertia and applied more trailer brake the more aggressively you brake the TV.

So, if the Prodigy is not a timer controller and it is not an inertia controller then just how does it work?

I have a timer controller and am thinking of changing it out and I want to know what makes one type better than the other.
Thanks

I have an inertia controller, it works for both my PUP and TT. Panic stops and regular driving it has worked fine.

Thanks for all the input..!!..

I think I can get this figured out now..!!..

Nate

The controller should has a "aggressive" trim adjustment - Ie how quickly the brakes are activated. On my old controller I used have to adjust this trim for slow speed driving versus interstate driving (it became a pain); I bought a more modern Prodigy controller which has a much better inertia-style trim adjustment (although you can override it);

The controller senses how fast you are slowing and applies progressively more brakes to the trailer WITHOUT snatching.

Not sure how old your controller is but you may want to get a new one as they have come a long way..... BTW - as others have said, you may want to make sure your brakes are adjusted correctly.

I replaced the intertia controller in our Suburban with a Prodigy P2. It's so much nicer...money well spent.