Adjusting electric brakes

[tralertrash]

What is the norm on adjustment of electric brakes. I periodically haul some machinery, and have to recalibrate the dash module. Should it be set to stop the TV? How do you set yours?

[brulaz]

Yardvarkers wrote:

jimw606 wrote:
... And is there a need to back the setting off a little when in slow town traffic? Thanks Jim

YES.

Just remember to put it back up when returning to the highway. I once forgot with the Prodigy 2 in my old truck, and in an emergency stop the trailer jacknifed. No harm done luckily but it was scarey.

Never could get the Prodigy 2 to stop jerking the trailer at low speeds without turning it way down. That's one of the things I really like about the built-in controller of the new trucks. They adjust trailer brake output according to your speed.

[Yardvarkers]

jimw606 wrote:
Yardvarkers method seems reasonable, but do you then back off a little when it is raining? And is there a need to back the setting off a little when in slow town traffic? Thanks Jim

YES.

[jimw606]

Yardvarkers method seems reasonable, but do you then back off a little when it is raining? And is there a need to back the setting off a little when in slow town traffic? Thanks Jim

[powderman426]

Wouldn't the ramp up adjustment affect the ability to lockup???

Anyone??

[gmw_photos]

ktmrfs wrote:
How many folks have been able to get the brakes set such that they can get at or close to lockup??

Reason I ask, is that on both my trailers, I can get the electric brakes to slow the combo down, but certainly well shy of lockup. That's after adjusting the brakes to the point just shy of dragging, upgrading the wiring to #12 etc. with a prodigy controller.

They will lock on gravel, but not on dry pavement. And if activated at a stop, it takes quite a bit of throttle to get moving, can tell they are definitely engaged.

Yes, at around 5.7V to 5.8V on the prodigy, I can get mine to lockup on the funfinder on dry pavement.
Dexter does state though that not combinations of brakes on all trailers can be set to a high enough level to attain lockup, and they consider this "normal".

[Old-Biscuit]

I can get them just shy of locking up on dry pavement at 25 mph using the manual lever.

[texasclarks]

ktmrfs wrote:
How many folks have been able to get the brakes set such that they can get at or close to lockup??

Reason I ask, is that on both my trailers, I can get the electric brakes to slow the combo down, but certainly well shy of lockup. That's after adjusting the brakes to the point just shy of dragging, upgrading the wiring to #12 etc. with a prodigy controller.

They will lock on gravel, but not on dry pavement. And if activated at a stop, it takes quite a bit of throttle to get moving, can tell they are definitely engaged.

I have mine adjusted and can indeed lock them up @ 25mph on dry,flat, paved roads. I can tell when mine are pulling too much or not enough. It takes some getting used to, but I know where my TV/TT combo likes best on my Prodigy

[ktmrfs]

How many folks have been able to get the brakes set such that they can get at or close to lockup??

Reason I ask, is that on both my trailers, I can get the electric brakes to slow the combo down, but certainly well shy of lockup. That's after adjusting the brakes to the point just shy of dragging, upgrading the wiring to #12 etc. with a prodigy controller.

They will lock on gravel, but not on dry pavement. And if activated at a stop, it takes quite a bit of throttle to get moving, can tell they are definitely engaged.

[Yardvarkers]

Instructions
1


Connect the trailer to the tow vehicle. Plug in the trailer's electrical connection to the receptacle near the trailer hitch on the rear of the tow vehicle.

2


Warm the trailer brakes by driving the rig at 45 mph with the manual lever on the brake controller applied for approximately ¼ mile. Tow the rig to a paved area that is flat and dry, such as a parking lot or deserted street or road.





3


Keep the engine running. Turn the power control knob on the brake controller to its mid-point setting.

4


Drive the rig up to a speed of approximately 25 mph and release the accelerator.

5


Slide the manual control lever on the front of the brake controller all the way over to its maximum limit.

6


Note the braking action of the trailer. If the trailer wheels locked up or skidded on the pavement, turn the power lever down to the next setting. If trailer braking was not sufficient to slow down the entire rig, turn up the power knob to its next setting.

7


Repeat the driving and braking test and make adjustments as necessary. Continue to make adjustments until trailer wheel-skid has been eliminated and there is sufficient trailer brakes to slow the entire rig down noticeably.

8


Test-drive the rig again and use the tow vehicle's brake pedal to slow or stop the rig. Make further finetune adjustments to the power knob on the brake controller, if necessary, until you are comfortable that the trailer brakes are doing their share of slowing and stopping the rig without grabbing or skidding.




Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_7603651_adjust-electric-brake-controllers.html#ixzz2mSz9gft1

[Old-Biscuit]

Provided the trailer brakes have been adjusted properly.

[donn0128]

Generally speaking electric brake controllers are adjusted to just shy of lockup when manually applied on level ground from 25 MPH