Draw-Tite Brake Controller - 5520
Start with the proven 5500 Act II brake controller, then update the looks, give it a brighter display, and add Tekonsha's quick disconnect feature to get the Activator III brake controller.
Activator III Electric Trailer Brake Controller by Draw-Tite and Reese
The Activator III brake controller features all the same benefits of the Activator II controller but with the added benefits of plug-and-play connectors and new great looks.
- Designed For 2, 4, 6 and 8 brake trailers
- Digital Output Indicator
- Thumb Wheel Output Adjustment
- Overload Indicator
- Lifetime Limited Warranty
- 100% Solid State
- No Hydraulic Connections
- No Moving Parts or Pendulums
- Mounts Anywhere at Any Level - No Leveling Required
- Dimensions: 3-1/4" (W) x 4-7/8" (L) x 1-1/8" (H)
Draw-Tite's Activator III electronic brake controller is for trailers with electric brakes. The controller applies the trailer's brakes electronically as soon as the brake pedal is engaged, unlike pendulum models which react to inertia created after the tow vehicle's brakes have already begun to stop. The amount of braking power (output) and rate of application (sync) are both adjustable for the individual driver's preference, road conditions, type of trailer and load. The driver can control the amount and rate of braking from soft to aggressive and the brakes can be manually applied.
- Required: For vehicles without brake control adapters.
- Tekonsha Pigtail Harness (7894)
- 30 amp. Circuit Breaker (38630)
- Recommended:
- Pulse Preventer (5501)
Reese # 83520 Brakeman Ultra
Video of 2-8 Brake Electronic Brake Controller by Draw-Tite and Reese - 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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Ask the Experts about this Draw-Tite Brake Controller
- Wiring a # 5520 Act III Brake Controller On a 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited
- Installation of the, # 5520, Act III Brake Controller On a 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited will require the following parts.
T-One Vehicle Wiring Harness with 4 Pole Trailer Connector, Item # 118416, if you do not already have one.
Brake Controller 7 & 4 Way Installation Kit - 10 Gauge, Item # ETBC7
These items will provide all of the wiring, brackets, circuit breakers, and connectors needed along with the brake controller for installation. We have a instructions for installing a brake contr
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- No Display Of Output Strength And No Brakes When Applied On Draw-Tite Brake Controller, # 5520
- If the Draw-Tite Brake Controller, # 5520, does not show output strength but it shows the decimal point all the time, then the red wire going to your stoplight switch is connected to the wrong side of the stoplight switch or to a wrong switch (cruise control).
You will want to make sure the red wire on your brake controller is connected to the cold side of your stoplight switch, which is the side that will show power only when the brake pedal is pressed.
If the brake controller shows just
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- Act III Brake Controller 5520 Not Recognizing Trailer Connection with 1992 Ford E-350
- The # 5520 Activator III brake controller will not show a decimal point constantly. You will only see the point when you do not have your trailer connected and you either press the vehicle brake pedal or activate the manual switch.
If you do have the trailer hooked up and the controller does not show the brake output, this would indicate a problem on the blue electric brake wire, as you mentioned. To pinpoint where the problem is occurring, use a light tester like part # 3808 to test the
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- Draw-Tite 5520 Activator III Not Providing Power to the Trailer Brakes on a 2010 Ford F-150
- It sounds as if there may be a problem on the blue output wire from the trailer connector. This situation occurs when the brake controller cannot sense the connection to the trailer brake magnets. You will need to check the blue wire on the vehicle and trailer wiring all the way to the brake magnets, and make sure the trailer brake magnets are properly grounded.
A multi-meter will not have enough draw to allow the brake controller to activate. Using a test light, item # 3808 if needed, will p
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- Brakes on Trailer Lock On When Connecting Trailer To Vehicle
- It sounds like there is a short in the wiring of your brake controller somewhere in the system. When the trailer brakes lock on when connecting the trailer wiring, this is an indication that the brake signal or Red wire is getting a constant 12 volt power. The wire may be coming in contact with another wire.
I would recommend checking the wiring connection of the Red wire. This wire should only be connected to the wire that gets signal when the brake pedal is pressed. You will want to use a c
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- Brake Controller Not Working on 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 When Trailer Is Connected
- If your 2006 Dodge Ram was not equipped with a factory 7-way connector, the brake output and 12-volt accessory circuits are not ran to the rear of the truck.
You will need to run a length of 10 gauge wire, like the part # 10-1-1, from the blue lead of the 7-Way connector, under the vehicle, to the engine compartment. Make sure to avoid any moving parts like the suspension and steering components and anything hot like the exhaust. In the engine compartment behind the drivers side wheel well, t
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- Are Settings Maintained on Draw-Tite Brake Controller, # 5520 If Trailer is Disconnected
- The Draw-Tite Act III Brake Controller, part # 5520, does not need to be reset if the vehicle is shut off or every time you connect a trailer. It does retain the settings. Most brake controllers are designed with that feature.
The output control on the brake controller that is adjusted during initial setup, is fine if you are towing the same trailer, with the same load, in the same road conditions.
If you change trailers, the load on the trailer, or if the road conditions change you will w
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- Troubleshooting OL Error Code On a Draw-Tite Activator III Brake Controller # 5520
- On the Draw-Tite Activator III Brake Controller, part # 5520, the OL designation on the display will mean overload. The cause of this is most likely a bad ground or a short to the blue brake out put wire. I am including a link to the instructions on the Draw-Tite brake controller.
The first thing I would check is the connector on the back of your vehicle. Any dirt or corrosion can be causing a bad ground or a short to the brake output pin. The solution is to clean out the connector and get ri
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- Draw-Tite/Reese Trailer Brake Controller Does Not Light Up or Show a Display
- It is possible that the act of the plug coming out while driving confused the brake controller. What you will what to do is disconnect the controller for about 15 minutes and then reconnect it. After you do this, before doing anything else, go through the set up process as outlined in the instructions I have linked for you.
If there are still issues, make sure that the trailer connectors are intact and that none of the pins are bent or damaged and that the wiring is not damaged.
You can al
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- Installing a Brake Controller on a 2012 Harley Davidson Motorcycle for Towing a Aspen Sentry Trialer
- I spoke with Aspen trailer to get some details for you they recommend a time delayed brake controller for their trailers with electric brakes. The representative there said that many of their customers have excellent performance from the Activator III electric trailer brake controller by Draw-Tite, # 5520.
The advantage of a time delayed brake controller on a motorcycle is that it can be positioned in any way, so you can easily find a mounting location that is out of the way but still allows
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- Adding Trailer Wiring and a Brake Controller to a 2012 Harley Davidson TriGlide Trike
- The first thing you will need to do is install a wiring converter on the trike to add a 4-Way trailer connector, and then add a 7-Way connector. You can use # 119175KIT. You will connect the white wire to a grounding location. Connect the brown wire to the running light wire. Connect the yellow wire to the left turn signal. Connect the red wire to the brake light. And connect the green wire to the right turn signal.
After this kit is installed, you will need to add a 7-Way using # 37185. Conn
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- Wiring and Display of the Draw tight Activator 2 on a Nissan Titan
- To attach the Draw-Tite Activator II, item # 5500, electronic brake controller to your vehicles factory connector you will need a Universal Brake Control Wiring Adapter, Nissan, item # 20266. This adapter has four wires that attach color for color to the wires on the brake controller. If you have an adapter that plugs into your vehicle that has five wires then you will have to use a circuit tester, item # 3808 if you need one, and verify the function of each wire once it is plugged in.
Attach
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Installation Details
