brake controller with exhaust brake
#1
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brake controller with exhaust brake
So i was just sitting here thinkin would it be a benifit to use a balance type controller? that way when the exhaust did its thing trailer brakes would also apply just a thought
#2
With age comes the cage
If you don't touch the brake pedal the trailer brake won't engage..(unless you do a manual override)
When the e-brake is doing its thing you will brake as needed and the controllers inertia controller will react accordingly. I am a fan of the P3 because it has the elec/hyd option.. You will find many opinions on what is considered to be the best controller on this site![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
When the e-brake is doing its thing you will brake as needed and the controllers inertia controller will react accordingly. I am a fan of the P3 because it has the elec/hyd option.. You will find many opinions on what is considered to be the best controller on this site
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![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
#3
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The brake controller question opens up a whole new can of worms. Everyone has a favorite and for that matter an opinion.
Myself, I run a Brakesmart and an exhaust brake and as far as I'm concerned, they are the best of both worlds when you run them together.
Jeff
Myself, I run a Brakesmart and an exhaust brake and as far as I'm concerned, they are the best of both worlds when you run them together.
Jeff
#4
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Yeah I have a 07 and I was wondering if the inertia type would be best with the exhaust as it slows the truck without touching brakes. So the p3 has bility to use brake pressure or inertia? I guess I thought hydroelectric meant that the controller controlled electric brakes nd hydro brakes. Am I wrong?
#5
Registered User
i second homestead. this is the only way to go. the brakesmart and maxbrake are the only two good controllers on the market and are true proportional controllers. the bd and pac have the most brake horse power of them all and no vacuum pump to fail. let the exhaust brake and gearing do most of the stopping as there is no wear parts. then when you apply the brakes you get equal and instant braking on truck and trailer.
#6
Registered User
I was fairly certain that even the interia style controllers needed a brake signal to operate. At least my prodigy does. What I end up doing is turning on the exhaust brake and then just touching the brake pedal will get the trailer brakes to engauge.
If you were to wire the brake controller to get a 12V signal when the EB was on it would take a couple of blocking diodes to only power the things you want, when you want.
If you were to wire the brake controller to get a 12V signal when the EB was on it would take a couple of blocking diodes to only power the things you want, when you want.
#7
With age comes the cage
Yeah I have a 07 and I was wondering if the inertia type would be best with the exhaust as it slows the truck without touching brakes. So the p3 has ability to use brake pressure or inertia? I guess I thought hydroelectric meant that the controller controlled electric brakes nd hydro brakes. Am I wrong?
When descending a hill with the E-brake on if it does not provide enough hold back you will step on the brake pedal and the trailer brake controller will do what you programmed it to do..
Here is a link to the tekonsha site it has a lot of info on it, they are even going to release a Prodigy® P2
http://www.tekonsha.com/product/default.asp
Here is a picture of the Carlisle elec/hyd actuator I have on my 42' GN:
![Name: P3010015.jpg
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and the 12k hd disc they stop it with:
![Name: P3010016.jpg
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Size: 47.9 KB](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/attachments/towing-hauling-rv-95/70266d1501319312-brake-controller-exhaust-brake-p3010016.jpg)
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#8
Proprietor of Fiver's Inn and Hospitality Center
I highly recommend staying away from an inertia controller. I want to control my trailer brakes, not have a controller trying to decide what my truck is doing and apply brakes accordingly. There is a delay in making that decision - - that is unacceptable and the initial surge the Prodigy hits the trailer with while it is making up its mind is unacceptable. When in lower gears on steep grades with the ebrake on, the Prodigy will overbrake. You can step on your brake just enough to activate your brakes lights and you just hit a surge to your trailer brakes and you have not even applied the truck brakes yet. NOPE, I have one and can't stand it. It is now in a box in the fiver perchance my true proportional controller gives up the ghost. Yeh, I know, I will get pounced on for my statements. ![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
Brakesmart or similar controllers monitor exactly how hard the brakes on the truck are being applied and do the exact same thing to the trailer. There is no comparison to the feel between the two styles. This controller ties into the braking system and monitors the pressure of the brake fluid - - it converts that to a signal for the controller. Very smooth and just want you want it to do.
Bob
![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
Brakesmart or similar controllers monitor exactly how hard the brakes on the truck are being applied and do the exact same thing to the trailer. There is no comparison to the feel between the two styles. This controller ties into the braking system and monitors the pressure of the brake fluid - - it converts that to a signal for the controller. Very smooth and just want you want it to do.
Bob
#9
Registered User
I highly recommend staying away from an inertia controller. I want to control my trailer brakes, not have a controller trying to decide what my truck is doing and apply brakes accordingly. There is a delay in making that decision - - that is unacceptable and the initial surge the Prodigy hits the trailer with while it is making up its mind is unacceptable. When in lower gears on steep grades with the ebrake on, the Prodigy will overbrake. You can step on your brake just enough to activate your brakes lights and you just hit a surge to your trailer brakes and you have not even applied the truck brakes yet. NOPE, I have one and can't stand it. It is now in a box in the fiver perchance my true proportional controller gives up the ghost. Yeh, I know, I will get pounced on for my statements. ![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
Bob
![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
Bob
But it may be different on the flats.
#10
Proprietor of Fiver's Inn and Hospitality Center
Bob
#11
Top's Younger Twin
When I switched to the Brakesmart...several yrs ago now I was VERY impressed because the Tekonsha controller I had would slam the brakes on then fade out fast...probably the cheap controller as it did not cost much. I hauled strongman gear from coast to coast for two yrs then I hauled RV's for 3 yrs...and used the same Brakesmart I have in my truck now. No matter what the load was it worked smooth. Actually I found that many of the new RV's I hauled had terrible brakes...or no brakes thanks to the Brakesmart.
Not sure if you can get a pyro and boost display or not but I have the first prototype on my truck that the original owner developed.
Scotty
Not sure if you can get a pyro and boost display or not but I have the first prototype on my truck that the original owner developed.
Scotty
#12
Registered User
I understand how the brakesmart works... But for a truck with an EB that doesn't seem like something that would work well when you want the EB to do most the work with a little support from the trailer brakes. With my Prodigy I can touch the brakes enough to actiave the controller then it adds braking proportional to what the EB is doing.
I may be wrong but it sounds like the brakesmart will only brake based off of service brakes, so in order to get trailer braking and exhaust braking I would have to be using the service brakes... To me that doesnt seem like the best combo.
I may be wrong but it sounds like the brakesmart will only brake based off of service brakes, so in order to get trailer braking and exhaust braking I would have to be using the service brakes... To me that doesnt seem like the best combo.
#13
With age comes the cage
I highly recommend staying away from an inertia controller. I want to control my trailer brakes, not have a controller trying to decide what my truck is doing and apply brakes accordingly. There is a delay in making that decision - - that is unacceptable and the initial surge the Prodigy hits the trailer with while it is making up its mind is unacceptable. When in lower gears on steep grades with the ebrake on, the Prodigy will overbrake. You can step on your brake just enough to activate your brakes lights and you just hit a surge to your trailer brakes and you have not even applied the truck brakes yet. NOPE, I have one and can't stand it. It is now in a box in the fiver perchance my true proportional controller gives up the ghost. Yeh, I know, I will get pounced on for my statements. ![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
Brakesmart or similar controllers monitor exactly how hard the brakes on the truck are being applied and do the exact same thing to the trailer. There is no comparison to the feel between the two styles. This controller ties into the braking system and monitors the pressure of the brake fluid - - it converts that to a signal for the controller. Very smooth and just want you want it to do.
Bob
![Laughing](https://www.dieseltruckresource.com/forums/images/smilies/laughing.gif)
Brakesmart or similar controllers monitor exactly how hard the brakes on the truck are being applied and do the exact same thing to the trailer. There is no comparison to the feel between the two styles. This controller ties into the braking system and monitors the pressure of the brake fluid - - it converts that to a signal for the controller. Very smooth and just want you want it to do.
Bob
I am pleased with the P-3 I take the 42' GN loaded with 20K places most people would consider a once in a life time hunting trip..set it and forget it.. it is smooth on and off the road with the smaller GN with electric brakes or with the 42' with the disc brakes.
#14
Proprietor of Fiver's Inn and Hospitality Center
Which one of the 4 boost levels did you have it on? I am pleased with the P-3 I take the 42' GN loaded with 20K places most people would consider a once in a life time hunting trip..set it and forget it.. it is smooth on and off the road with the smaller GN with electric brakes or with the 42' with the disc brakes.
#15
With age comes the cage
The P-3 is an improved controller over the Prodigy.. And the Prodigy P-2 will be an improved controller over the P-3.. all are about 1/4 to 1/3 the price of a Brakesmart..