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diplomatdon's avatar
diplomatdon
Explorer
Aug 16, 2016

brake controller wireing on DP

I am installing a brake controller on my 2001 Monaco Diplomat. Have installed previously in 2 class C's, pickups and suv, however air brake pedal doesn't have brake light switch to tie into. Would appreciate and help as to which wire and where to tie wire into to actuate controller. Thanks, Don
  • On our '05 HR Endeavor the wires for the controller were under the dash up alongside the steering column. Even though the friendly folks at HR said there were no connections provided. Took 2 days to find them pulling at all unhooked wires under the dash. Only problem is the negative signal from the brake controller that requires a relay to change it to +12v. There is a brakelight signal under the dash but beware, when the exhaust brake comes on it send a signal to turn on the brake lights and energizes the brake wire going out to the trailer putting the brakes on full, Another reason for using a relay for your signal.
  • Thank you for your replies. Don't care for the thought of the controller in the engine bay, haven't found any under the dash, and haven't looked in the left console but will. Don't want to take the dash apart as typical Monaco's of this vintage the plastic is cracked from around the screw holes, and afraid if I take it out it will fall to pieces. Guess I will keep looking. Don
  • On a diesel with air brakes the brake light switch is a pressure switch mounted in the air brake line. Your coach may already be pre-wired for a controller but as noted they can be hard to find. Monaco's usually have a central 12v wiring panel with fuses and relays where you should be able to find all 12v circuits including those for the controller.
  • Not sure when Monaco started providing the trailer brake wires, but I found mine in my previous coach (2008 Safari Simba) in the left console beside the driver's seat. My current coach with Freightliner chassis, the wires were up under the dash and took me two days to find.

    Good luck....those buggers are hard to find.

    Ron
  • Ivylog's avatar
    Ivylog
    Explorer III
    Between not being able to find the extra wires that Monaco runs to the back of the MH and no wire to run the brake signal from the front run box up to the dash... (I did find the extra wires hidden in the dash after several hours of looking) I gave up and mounted the controller in the engine compartment. Everything you need is easy to find back there and once the gain is set on the controller you should not have to change.

    Last week I may have found the rear wires in the back run box.