Draw-Tite Brake Controller - 5520
Electronic controller activates electric trailer brakes with a preset intensity when you apply the brakes in your vehicle. Digital display, manual override, and a simple, plug-in port included. Power output and braking aggressiveness are adjustable.
Features:
- Brake controller activates trailer brakes with preset intensity
- Signal is sent to trailer brakes when tow vehicle's brakes are activated
- Adjustable output control lets you determine the amount of braking force
- Set to maximum when you travel through hilly terrain with a fully loaded trailer
- Back off the power output when you tow a lightweight trailer
- Sync setting lets you adjust the aggressiveness with which the brakes are activated
- Get full power output faster by moving switch forward to increase activation speed
- Achieve smoother braking by moving switch in opposite direction to supply power gradually
- Digital display is easy to read
- Built-in, slide-bar manual override
- Quick and easy installation
- No need to mount level like proportional brake controllers
- Mounting bracket, wiring harness and hardware included
- Plug-in port makes it easy to connect to wiring harness
- Plug-in, vehicle-specific brake-control adapter (sold separately) can be used for certain applications to reduce installation time
Specs:
- Application: trailers with up to 4 axles (8 brake assemblies)
- Designed for use with electric brakes only
- Dimensions: 3-1/4" wide x 4-7/8" long x 1-1/8" tall
- Limited lifetime warranty
Time-Delayed Braking
The Activator III applies your trailer's brakes when the brake pedal in your tow vehicle is engaged. Every time you apply the brakes in your vehicle, a signal is sent - via the brake switch - to the Activator. The controller then sends power out to your trailer brakes to activate them with an intensity set by you, at a rate determined by you. Both the amount of braking power (output) and rate of application (sync) can be adjusted to suit your preference, the road conditions, type of trailer and size of the load. To determine which levels are best for your application, you must test out your towing setup and choose what feels best.
A time-delay controller is so named because there is a delay between the time that you initially apply the brakes in your tow vehicle and the time that the controller reaches maximum power output. Unlike a proportional brake controller, which activates your trailer's brakes based on the deceleration of your tow vehicle, the Activator sends power out in the same way, with the same gradual delay, no matter the braking situation. Although this delay always exists, it can be adjusted by changing the sync setting.
Sync Settings
To adjust the aggressiveness of your trailer's braking action, use the slide control on the side of the Activator III to change the sync setting. If you want to reach maximum power output faster, move the switch forward. To get smoother braking action, move the switch backward, thus supplying power to the trailer brakes more gradually. You can alter the sync setting to suit your driving preferences or to improve handling based on changing road conditions or varied trailer loads.
Quick, Simple Installation
Because inertia plays no role in the functioning of this controller, you do not have to mount the unit at any particular angle. As a result, mounting options are limitless, so long as you can still easily access the controller. After mounting the unit, hardwire one end of the included pigtail harness directly into your vehicle. The other end plugs into the brake controller.
Installation Accessories
For even easier installation, a vehicle-specific wiring adapter (sold separately) is available for most newer trucks and SUVs. One end of the custom adapter plugs into your vehicle, and the other end plugs into the controller - no hardwiring required.
Note: If a custom brake-control wiring adapter is not available for your vehicle, one of the following will be required:
20-Amp circuit breaker (9506P - sold separately) for 2- to 4-brake applications
30-Amp circuit breaker (38630 - sold separately) for 6- to 8-brake applications
See also etrailer.com's exclusive 7- and 4-way brake-control installation kit (ETBC7 - sold separately) if you don't already have a 7-way plug at the back of your vehicle.
5520 Draw-Tite Act III Time-Delay Trailer Brake Control
Video of Draw-Tite Activator III Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Time Delayed
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer
installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Video Transcript for Trailer Brake Controller with Wiring Installation - 2006 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
Today on this 2006 Chevrolet 3500 Pickup truck we are going to install part number 5520-3015P. This kit consists of the activator three brake controller and the adapter cord to go between the tow package on the pickup truck and the brake controller. The first thing we are going to do is get access to the port for the brake controller and that is behind this panel right here. Remove this nut. There are two snaps on the side of the panel. Undo those and then pull the panel off. This port right here, the second from the left, is the one we need to use. We will take our adapter cord and plug it in right here. Make sure it snaps in and then put the cover back into place. 00:45
Next we will move on to our bracket for the brake controller itself. We are going to mount it to this piece of sheet metal right here. We are going to be using self tapping screws to attach this to since the brake controller comes with screws that are really only good for going into plastic. We will route our cable over to our bracket for the brake controller and we will plug it into the brake controller. These two set screws will hold everything in place. Use a zip tie to hide the wires so they are safe and out of the way. We will check our brake controller now for function. First we will hit on the foot brake. If you see a dot that means you have got connection there. Try the manual override if you have power there too and that is without the trailer hooked up. Now we will hook up a trailer to it and we will check our ratings from there. 01:54
Try the manual override and with the trailer hooked up we have numbers now. Hit the foot brake and we have got numbers too. That means it is working properly. If this is our manual override this activates the brakes by themselves. This is our gain control right here on top and that controls the total output on a scale from one to ten. On the left hand side there is slide switch which is a sync switch. That controls how soon the brakes on the trailer are when you hit your foot brake. When you have it closest to you and you hit the foot brake it cycles through relatively fast. Go the opposite way, all the way to the front of the truck and you can see it is pretty slow going up to full power. With that, that will finish our install for part number 5520-3015P on our 2006 Chevrolet 3500.
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4.8 out of 5 stars (6 Customer Reviews)
by: George12/14/2012
Installation Details
