Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

04 PSD and I,m installing the Draw-tite Activator II, In the instructions it says to connect the the power wire directly to the battery with a 30A breaker, and the ground as well. Should I do this or is there an easier way? I'm figuring that this might be the only way to do it and not mess up the electrical system. The blue wire and the red wire are going to just hook up to the supplied factory harness.
I've got to get this right as I will be travelling up and down the Monteagle Mountain just outside Chattanooga right out of the box with my new rig. All of you know that have seen it that it is a monster! Not one to go down with 10K and no trailer brakes.
Thanks, Eric

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Directly to the battery so you are not pulling power from another circut, overloading it, then blowing a fuse. Then you will have no brakes along with whatever you tied into. 30 amp is a pretty good size circut. They don't want people tieing into an existing 10 amp and thinking they are good to go.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Install the power wire as instructed. The ground can be fastened to any metal part. Don't forget to check the system every time you start out. Also, check the fourway flashers do not activate the brakes. If they do you will need to install a pluse preventer in the system. Not all app will do this but if you should happen to use the 4-ways it will pluse the brakes as well.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Read your owners manual your truck should already have a circuit for your brake box.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

My 00 S.D. did

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

My wiring harness appears to have all but a power lead to the battery. It has a ground, but the instructions say if the power goes right to the battery then to ground at the battery as well. Muffman and Birddog my manual says nothing about the controller. The supplied factory harness has a red, blue, white and a much smaller guage green.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

You already have a prewired circuit in your truck that is set up for this. Get the harness out of your glove box, wire it to your controller correctly, plug it in and start using it.

The prewired circuit is fused correctly for this application. Don't let everyone make it more complicated than it already is.

I will be more than happy to call you and talk you through the details of the installation. Just by chance I installed about 20 of them this last week alone.

Buck

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Your red is the power source directly to the battery. This wire should go to black wire on your controller.

White is ground. Should go to white on controller.

Blue is the brake wire going to trailer brakes. Should go to blue wire on controller.

Green is the signal wire that will more than likely go to a red wire on your brake controller.

Plug it in and job done.

Buck

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Thanks for the reply Buck, that tells me what I need to know, thanks for taking the time.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

NP.

Be safe towing that big trailer.

Buck

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Here's a tip.
I assume you have a Brake Rite pump on the trailer...
The fuse that the controller pulls the juice from needs to be at least 40 amp.
30 will work, but it'll burn out over time... Trust me...

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Tim, Thanks for the tip I will get a 40, I used a 30. Eric

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Wouldn't using a 40 fuse in a circut designed for 30 possibly asking for trouble?

Over rating the fuse will make the wiring the 'fuse'

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

All right now Air Bag light on. Maybe coincidence, probably not coincidence. The good news, still 4K miles of warranty. Possibly occured as I hooked the red wires together at first.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

I got the tip from the good people at Myco.
Then saw the 30 burn out in a friends truck a week later...

The BR pump needs plenty of juice all the time...
Just do it.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

Since the Fords are already prewired with the fuses and relays, this should already be fused and a nonissue.

Re: Quick Wiring Question On Brake Controller
 

It is already fused from the factory with the correct amperage. I have never had the factory fuse blow on any of the trucks we do. So I can't speak first hand about putting a larger fuse in.

What does all of that mean? :) It means it should be a non issue. But maybe Tim has experienced otherwise???? I've seen crazier things have to be done to make something work correctly on these vehicles. I'm guilty of trying it all myself to make things work.

Case in point: Ford is the only manufacturer of the big three that makes their positive circuit to the trailer wiring hot only while the key is on. Can't say why they do it, but they do. Kind of drives me crazy at times. I can't count how many customers have had me rewire this circuit to make it constant hot while the key is off. Not saying it's right, but I am saying it's beneficial.

Buck