Strange electric break problem

[Stumpalump]

My electric breaks do a weird thing that I can't figure out. If I connect the trailer it says connected and works great for one use of the break and then it says not connected. It never returns to connected until I either cycle the ignition switch or un plug and rep plug the trailer connector but then it just does the same thing. It says connected and works once then goes to unconnected status. Do you have any idea where to look?

 

[ih8philly]

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will jump in, but I would start with a trailer brake tester such as this: http://www.etrailer.com/Wiring/Tekonsha/6562.html. To see if the problem is related to the brake controller or the trailer itself. I encountered a problem like this on a family members trailer and it ended up being faulty wiring to one of the trailer brakes.

 

[John E Davies]

The usual problem with electrical weirdness is a poor ground. You need to have a large gauge (12AWG or bigger) dedicated ground for the brakes. Don't rely on a little wire or the ball coupler itself for the return current path.

If all the wires check out, including the splices at the brake magnets, then it's possible your brake control unit is bad. You could carefully bypass the control box using a heavy jumper to apply current directly to the brakes to see if they stay working - that might verify that the unit is bad..... and you can go to the manufacturer's website for troubleshooting info.

Good luck.

John Davies
Spokane WA USA

 

[Stumpalump]

John nailed it. I just replaced a broken ground wire last week near the break backing plate. The symptom of that was a constant NC or no connection. I left an extra couple of inches of slack in the wire for axel drop but it got pinched when the trailer bottomed out off road. It was cut up but had at least a couple of strands connected. That explains why it showed connection at first but once the load on the coil was on it, it was not enough ground causing the error. It was the popular Tekonsha Prodigy break controller for reference.