[AT] Brake controllers

[charlie hill]

Joe,  two points.  You might be getting power to the lights and not to the 
brake magnets.
I'm not sure how yours is wired but I suspect there is a bigger wire that 
runs the brakes
and a smaller one to the lights.

Point two.  It only takes a few amps to light the light bulbs.  It takes 
considerably more
to engage and hold those electromagnets.  Thus the reason for a bigger wire.

You could have corrosion or a bad connection on the wire to the brakes and 
not on the lights
or you could be getting enough current to burn the lights but not enough to 
actuate the brakes.

If that all checks out then the problem is probably in the controller.  It 
might not be bad.  It might
just be out of adjustment.   There is more than one type and I haven't 
messed with any of them for
a while so I won't try to address that.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Joe Hazewinkel
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 4:15 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: Re: [AT] Brake controllers

Thanks for the tips.  The strange thing is the lights all work fine, and the 
controller lights up like it wants to work, but no juice to the breaks. 
Seems strange that a ground would effect only one part of the hookup?

Enjoy, Joe

Sent via mobile device

On May 5, 2014, at 3:32 PM, "charlie hill" <charliehill at embarqmail.com> 
wrote:

Farmer would tell you to check the grounds.

You can test it by putting a volt meter in the circuit between the power
supply wire to the
brakes and a chassis ground.  Get someone to engage the brake and see if you
get a voltage reading.
It should be almost as high as the charge on your battery.  12 + Volts.

Don't have a volt meter?  do the same thing with a 12 V light bulb and see
if it comes on and how brightly
it burns compared to connecting it directly to your battery.

Charlie

-----Original Message----- 
From: Joe Hazewinkel
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2014 1:47 PM
To: Antique tractor email discussion group
Subject: [AT] Brake controllers

OK,

I know we have discussed this at points in the past, I just don't remember
all the details, so I'm bringing it up again.  I think my brake controller
has gone bad.  It just won't engage the trailer brakes at all.  I thought it
might be on the trailer side, but my neighbor borrowed my trailer, and the
brakes worked fine for him.

My trailer is a 20-ft gooseneck trailer, with dual tandem Dexter axles under
it.  Both axles have brakes.  I pull it with an 1997 F-250 diesel.

Any recommendations on a decent brake controller?  The one I have now is a
Valley brand, and it worked good for the past ten years or so.  I looked at
the local auto supply place and they had three different models covering a
wide range of prices.  I just want something that works.  Can you share your
wisdom with me please?

Enjoy, Joe

Sent via mobile device
_______________________________________________
AT mailing list
http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at

_______________________________________________
AT mailing list
http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at

_______________________________________________
AT mailing list
http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at