brake issue: wires hot, newer brake assembly doesn't enage

I check my brakes for even power by taking a couple of hard stops down from highway speed and then measuring the temperature of the drums with an infrared thermometer.

Thank you all for your replies,

I am afraid I didn't have time to reply before we set off on the trip. The magnet was indeed the problem. I bought one and swapped out the old one and I was good to go!

I love the compass checking idea.

Thanks again!

Let me add "EACH" brake magnet will draw around 3-amps when 12VDC is applied to the brake assembly.

I assume you adjusted the BRAKES SHOES as well during the install. It is just like automotive brakes in that you turn the wheel and adjust the STAR NUT to just grad the wheel when spinning then back off a short bit.

It almost sounds like to me you misswired or maybe NOT wired all of the brake magnets. Usually one hot wire goes to each brake magnet and the ground may be frame ground going back to the 7-way connector. Should be easy to troubleshoot if half of it is working...

Your POST TITLE thru me for a minute saying the wire is hot could also mean it burns your finger when you touch it.

Oh - another easy trick is to use your campers compass and hold it up close to the magnets when brakes are applied and it will move the needle... These work great even on the outside of the brake with the wheels mounted... Having someone activating the trailer brakes I can walk around my trailer and see the compass move inches away from the brake assy.

Also note some newer truck will not supply BRAKE VOLTAGE by just pushing in on the truck brake pedal when stopped. You have to use the slider switch to send voltage to the brake magnets when below 10MPH on my 2010 Ford F150...

let us know how you are doing...

just my thoughts
Roy Ken

You could try this. With brake drum off, hold a piece of metal next to magnet and have some one active the brake control to see what happens. This should confirm if magnet is bad or that you have a connection problem.

When engaged you should get about 3 amps through the coil. And the coil should attract an iron object.

Dead magnet will do that. If when energized you are not getting anything that tells me a dead magnet or no power to the magnet. Think of electricity like water flow. Open a valve, get flow and that flow operates things.