The Indicator Light Is Always Bright On The Hayes-Lemmerz Energize III Brake Controller # 81741B

Question:

I installed the brake controller as per instructions, it seems to work well, manually or by applying the brakes, the only thing bothering me is that on the paperwork is says that the led light should come on dim and brighten as you apply more brake. i do not see this happening,and i dont see that the gain is doing anything, when i pull on the manual lever, it seems to work ok the harder i slide it the harder the trailer stops the truck, but again i dont see any led change. always bright

asked by: Danny

Expert Reply:

There is a pendulum lever arm on the left side of the Hayes-Lemmerz Energize III Brake Controller # 81741B, that sounds like it might need to be adjusted. You need to align it with gravity, in other words, it needs to point straight down. If the lever arm is too far forward the indicator light will stay brighter.

Here are the steps to adjusting the pendulum on your brake controller:

A. Connect the trailer to the tow vehicle for this adjustment. If a load leveling hitch system is used, it should be connected and operational. Locate the tow vehicle and trailer on a flat level surface. Make sure the tow vehicle stop lamps are operating correctly and disconnect the tow vehicle/trailer electrical connection.
B. Adjust the gain wheel to its maximum setting.
C. Depress the brake pedal far enough to turn on the vehicle stop-lamps. Hold this position.
D. Pull the pendulum leveling arm toward the red indicator light. The red indicator light should illuminate bright red.
E. Push the pendulum leveling arm away from the indicator light until the light just reaches minimum brilliance. The leveling arm should be approximately straight down. Repeat steps D and E several times to make sure the indicator light has just reached minimum brilliance.
F. Release the brake pedal. The pendulum is now initially adjusted. A readjustment may be necessary if the loading of either the tow vehicle or trailer causes a considerable change in the tow vehicle front to rear position. Also a further readjustment may be desired during road test and performance adjustments.

expert reply by: Jeff D