What are your Prodigy brake controller settings?

09-13-2005, 01:41 PM

Just finished installing tow receiver and brake controller on my new TV and it's time for setup. I'm curious as to how others have set things up (good sanity check on my newbie attempts) so I did some forum searches. There appears to be some information but it's scattered, so thought it might be a good idea for a poll to get more information and get it in one place.
This is a poll for Prodigy brake controller settings (most owners seem to use these). I'm interested also in how the results might correlate. For instance, I would guess that the results will be independent of the tow vehicle but might very with TM model, TM load and brake condition/adjustment (but not much overall variation). Results might also help show up problems that people may not know they have (but too early to tell at this time).
So, how about contributing your Prodigy brake controller settings (voltage and boost) along with your TV typel, TM model and some comment on TM load, brake condition. Also, if you could get the TM brakes to lock up for the adjustment or not.

Paul

RockyMtnRay · 09-13-2005, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbuck1

Just finished installing tow receiver and brake controller on my new TV and it's time for setup. I'm curious as to how others have set things up (good sanity check on my newbie attempts) so I did some forum searches. There appears to be some information but it's scattered, so thought it might be a good idea for a poll to get more information and get it in one place.
This is a poll for Prodigy brake controller settings (most owners seem to use these). I'm interested also in how the results might correlate. For instance, I would guess that the results will be independent of the tow vehicle but might very with TM model, TM load and brake condition/adjustment (but not much overall variation). Results might also help show up problems that people may not know they have (but too early to tell at this time).
So, how about contributing your Prodigy brake controller settings (voltage and boost) along with your TV typel, TM model and some comment on TM load, brake condition. Also, if you could get the TM brakes to lock up for the adjustment or not.

Paul

Trailer is an '02 2720SL with a lot of equipment/options (swing hitch, awning, AC, dual batteries, overhead cabinet, microwave, 2 supplement wooden cabinets on the floor). And I tend to travel fairly heavily (water tanks at least half full, substantial amount of food (it's a long way to grocery stores from most of my campsites), and quite a bit of gear for my cycling, hiking, climbing, and/or kayaking activities). Bottom line is the trailer weighs between 3600 and 3900 lbs depending on the load for any given trip.

I keep the brake drums adjusted pretty tightly (noticable drag when spinning the tires by hand).

Highest Prodigy setting that doesn't cause banging/clanking/jerking is 12.

Boost is level 1 (lowest). Higher boost levels produce more jerking but not better braking.

Never have been able to get trailer tire lockup with the trailer loaded.

I'm seriously considering retrofitting the trailer with electrohydraulically actuated disc brakes before next year's towing season. Stopping distances in panic stops are bit too long for my tastes.

**kdrickard** · 09-13-2005, 10:15 PM

Good question. I'm curious also as I have not been able to calibrate to my own satisfaction.

I'm at around 8.0 right now, no boost. I played around with trying to get the brakes to lock after they were warm a few times by rolling it higher without success. I can get a very strong drag at 10 mph applying the trailer brakes manually -- so that's what I shoot for now. If I roll it too high, I feel the TM tug too much on the TV when I brake at normal speeds. On steep hills I boost it to b1 and it seems to do fine.

Kevin

09-13-2005, 10:33 PM

So far the responses are not very promising.

I don't have the Prodigy. I have the Valley Odyssey brake controller.

I also can not get brake lock up. The instructions are that I should adjust to get lock when using the TM brakes only at 25 mph. There is no setting that will achieve brake lockup.

If I set it so that it feels good when braking at high speed then it is real jerky during a stop at low speed. If I soften it for low speed driving then it seems to take too long to stop at high speed. I have mine adjusted so that it feels good at higer speeds.

**Bill** · 09-14-2005, 09:22 AM

Hmmm. I know this is a Prodigy thread, but let me toss in a floater.

I have a Jordan Ultima controller - the one that is cable-connected to the brake pedal arm. This controller can produce lockup at low speed. (Setup instructions suggest setting to lockup at 20 mph, then backing off a bit.) I haven't tried for lockup at high speed, so I don't know if I can get it there, and since I don't ever want lockup at high speed, I haven't tried.

When the controller is properly adjusted, I do get a small amount of grabbiness at VERY low speed, such as pulling into a gas pump at 2 mph. At 10 mph, it is smooth.

Bill

Speckul8r · 10-10-2005, 02:57 PM

I just bought a TM < a month ago and have the Prodigy on my '05 Sierra. It's set at 6, no boost. You can feel the brakes engage and give me a nice, comfortable feeling at all speeds. Took the TM to WV, about 500 miles round trip. Interstate to switch back, curvacious mtn. roads. Manually, it'll slow me down real quick w/no lockup. Haven't tried for lock up because this setting feels right. I should say that this is the first electric brake set up I've had. But I have lots of experience with surge brakes on boat trailers.

10-10-2005, 04:34 PM

Dealer helped me set mine (followed the recommended procedure in the book). I am running on 6.0 with no boost although like the previous post I will probably set the boost to 1 when we head up into the appalachians later this month. We tested the brakes by manually engaging at 25 mph without using the TV brakes at all. They did not lock up the TM wheels but definately slowed us down. So far, 6 works good for me with very little push or pull unless I am going down a steep incline. (or is that decline?) Bill

10-10-2005, 07:35 PM

Some more results on what I thought had become a dead thread...thanks!

Anything higher than 8 definitely felt wrong, but some boost at the lower numbers felt better than none to me. I ended up with setting of 6 and boost b1.

Paul

Speckul8r · 10-13-2005, 03:17 PM

Your tow vehicle is quite a bit lighter than the Sierra I use. I think that using boost 1 is what the destruction manual advised for your situation.