Brake Controller Recommendation ?

[RockyMtnRay]

I don't agree with the "grossly overapply" portion of the statement. I assume that you must have done a side by side comparison of the Prodigy and the Energizer III products to make such a statement.

I personally haven't made such a comparison as I have been using a Prodigy from the get-go. But I have had multiple discussions with several people who **used** to use pendulum controllers and then switched to Prodigy...the unanimous conclusion was that pendulum controllers "suck" in the Colorado Rockies...on long steep grades they often would cause trailer brake lockup with only moderate application of the TV brakes. I have no idea if any were the Energizer III...and the Energizer III may indeed be immune to such issues (the Hayes website does indicate it uses different sensing technology).

Furthermore, when I was looking around for a controller last year, several hitch shops here in Colorado Springs told me they would not sell any of the pendulum controllers because of the issues with brake overapplication on long steep grades.

What solid state product does the Prodigy controller use that provides proportional braking while canceling out the grade component of driving? Something has to point down!

Good question. I agree that something has to determine where vertical is at the point when the brakes are applied. Tekonsha's Prodigy webpage (http://www.tekonsha.com/prodig.html) states "Equipped with a self-adjusting sensing device similar to the one used in guided-missile technology to allow for easy, flexible installation — from nearly horizontal to nearly vertical — PRODIGY® constantly adjusts itself to the position of the tow vehicle. " The "constantly adjusts itself to the position of the tow vehicle" clause indicates to me they're using some kind of solid state accelerometer to constantly detect relative angle of the controller to "down" so this is known when the brakes are activated...and a logic circuit to differentiate between the force of gravity and force of deceleration after the brakes are activated. What kind of solid state accelerometer they're using is probably proprietary...but during my USAF career I learned that such solid state accelerometers are common in missle guidance systems. They're also not cheap (or didn't used to be anyway)...possibly one reason the Prodigy is substantially more expensive than the time-delay and common pendulum controllers on the market.

[Bill]

Aha! That would explain why all of these controllers, pendulum or "guided missile / inertial", have to have a connection to the brake lights! I always wondered about that. When you are not braking, the circuit figures out where "DOWN" is, under the assumption that no braking is going on. It constantly updates the reading as the angle of the road changes. Then, when you apply the brakes, it freezes the current value of "DOWN", and applies the brakes in proportion to the change from DOWN.

Any controller that doesn't do this would be subject to the over-braking effect Ray describes. But with modern electronics, there should be no reason why a modern well-designed pendulum controller couldn't be grade-corrected as well as a "guided missile" controller.

Ten years ago, a "guided missile" sensor was wildly expensive, so "guided missile" controllers weren't built. On the other hand, pendulum sensors were quite cheap, so pendulum-based controllers could be built. However, the electronics needed by either controller to determine DOWN, and the difference from DOWN, were also wildly expensive in those early days, so although pendulum controllers were built, they didn't correct for grade. My guess (and it's only a guess) is that early pendulum controllers, uncorrected for grade, got a bad reputation in those early days. Today, they may, in fact, be grade-corrected, but the installers in the Rockies remember the old days.

Could be ...

Ignore my private comment, Ray.

Bill

[mjlaupp]

I was simply pointing out that there is more than one good brake controller on the market.

I also know that Hayes Lemmerz manufactures a "cheap" controller that applies more pressure to the brakes the longer they are applied. This type of system, and there are many like it, would lead to brake lockup and burnout to anyone driving in the mountains.

The Hayes Energizer III controller manual states that there is no special compensation for downhill braking. They also state that a properly adjusted controller will not have problems with downhill grades. I find that this is indeed the case. I like the fact that there is a small incremental increase in trailer braking on a downhill grade. I have adjusted my controller to fit the TV/TM towing combination that I use. I would have to re-adjust it for a new combination of TV and trailer. Perhaps this is where the Prodigy's "automatic compensation" has the greatest advantage over the other controllers.

MJL

[RockyMtnRay]

I also know that Hayes Lemmerz manufactures a "cheap" controller that applies more pressure to the brakes the longer they are applied. This type of system, and there are many like it, would lead to brake lockup and burnout to anyone driving in the mountains.

Yeah, these are the time-delay types. And if not adjusted properly, will certainly produce lockup...if not on the highway, then definitely at low speed in traffic. But, somewhat surprisingly, the shops that wouldn't sell me a pendulum type were selling these. And I knew there had to be a better way.

I have adjusted my controller to fit the TV/TM towing combination that I use.

I think this is critical. Looking at your TV/TM combo, I see you've got a relatively beefy TV for a 2720 sized trailer...your full sized pickup undoubtedly has much stronger/larger brakes than does a smaller SUV or minivan type TV. Those who have smaller TVs will most likely feel a need for more trailer braking than you so they adjust the gain on their controller to much higher settings...and if it's a pendulum type, will have it tilted to engage more quickly and strongly on level ground. And then when they get into a steep downhill situation, the pendulum is going to really turn on the trailer brakes.

[mjlaupp]

This almost sounds like the "Ford vs Chevy" discussion. I conceed that the Prodigy is probably a better controller. I'm not convenced that I need one even when I tow my TM with my Isuzu Trooper II. If I find a problem with the Energizer III, I will consider purchasing a Prodigy.
MJL

BTW: Did you read the warning about mounting your cell phone within 12" of the Prodigy controller? Does the phone apply the brakes when it rings.

[dlajoie]

My TM dealer installed a brake controller with the trademark "Actuator" written on it. It has a little lever for adjusting between "min" and "max", a red light that illuminates when braking, and the big red button on the right for those emergency stops. The dealer explained the operation of all these features and they seem to work fine. We didn't get an operator's manual. Has anyone ever heard of "Actuator"? Who makes it? How does it compare to the vaunted Prodigy?

[Bill]

[quote author=RockyMtnRay link=board=1;threadid=1293;start=msg9693#msg9693 date=1064867799]

I also know that Hayes Lemmerz manufactures a "cheap" controller that applies more pressure to the brakes the longer they are applied. This type of system, and there are many like it, would lead to brake lockup and burnout to anyone driving in the mountains.

Yeah, these are the time-delay types. And if not adjusted properly, will certainly produce lockup...if not on the highway, then definitely at low speed in traffic.[/quote]Ray and Mike -

In my opinion, time-cycle controllers are DANGEROUS and should be outlawed. I owned one for a few days - I speak from experience.
The problem (again in my opinion) is not that they will eventually lock up - you can set the max braking power to prevent this. Rather, the problem is that they take no note of how hard you are braking. When they see the tow vehicle's brake lights come on, they gently begin to apply the trailer brakes. They gradually build up the braking force if you keep the brake pedal depressed longer, but think what that means in a panic stop situation. You need to stop NOW, but the trailer brakes are just loafing, and the trailer pushes the tow vehicle ahead, into harm's way. Just about the time you smash into the obstacle, the trailer brakes start to get serious. NO THANKS, NOT ON MY RIG!

Any proportional controller - either inertial or pedal-activated - reacts in proportion to how hard you are braking the TV. This is the only thing that makes sense.

Bill