How Does the Boost Levels of the Prodigy P3 Brake Controller Work

Published 03/04/2015

Question:

I have a Tekonsha P3 brake controller and would like to know more than the manual says about its operation. How does the boost work? On boost 1 when stationary when the P3 is initiated the output is 16 for 0.8sec, then it s back to 8 for 2sec finally increasing to 27 after 5.8sec. There is no mention in the manual about ping back to half after 0.8sec. What is going on? The manual covers the 27 while stationary. I also would like to know if the inertia sensor operates instantly on deceleration and adds to the boost value.

asked by: E D

Expert Reply:

Tekonsha's P3 brake controller offers a boost feature that gives you more initial braking power for those times when you're towing heavy loads. You can switch boost levels so that the power output to your trailer brakes automatically starts out at either 13 percent or 25 percent of the predetermined power setting.

So, if you boost the initial power so that your trailer brakes activate with 25 percent of the overall intensity at the start, the brakes will reach maximum braking faster. This is particularly beneficial if you are towing a heavy load because the intensity required to stop that load may be far greater than that needed to halt your vehicle. Therefore, sending out more initial power to the trailer brakes - and causing them to reach maximum braking faster - allows you to better control the trailer so that it doesn't push your tow vehicle before coming to a complete stop.

If your trailer weighs less than your tow vehicle, no boost is needed. But if you wish to set the boost so that your trailer leads the braking of your towing setup, you can select level B1. The attached table gives an indication of when you might use the different boost levels and the power increases that they offer.

Since this controller is a proportional controller it relies heavily on the amount of braking that it senses from the tow vehicle for operation. If you are stationary and apply the brakes it will spike up the boost level, but if it doesn't sense that the tow vehicle is braking it will back the brakes off as that is how it designed.

expert reply by: Jameson C