Troubleshooting New Trailer Brake Magnets that are Weak

Updated 03/11/2015 | Published 03/10/2015

Products Featured in This Question

Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Assembly - 10" - Right Hand - 3,500 lbs

(303)

$83.92

10 Gauge Wire - Blue Primary - Per Foot

(108)

$1.61

Question:

I just bought new Hayes/AL-KO 12inch x 2inch Electric Brake Assembly RH and left hand. I installed and get a green light on my Tekonsha Voyager XP I adjusted the controller to the highest setting and activated the hand control on the unit. I get a buzzing noise but can freely turn the wheel with no resistance from the magnet. So I took off the hub and took a steel saw blade on the magnet, the magnet doesnt even hold the saw blade, i also tried a screw driver. any help is appreciated

asked by: Gary

Expert Reply:

It sounds like you either have bad grounds for the brake assemblies or you are using too small of gauge for the brake assemblies themselves. The brake output circuit should be 10 gauge wire like the part # 10-1-1 which is sold by the foot.

Make sure the ground wires of the assemblies are attached to a clean metal surface on the trailer's frame. You can try adding jumper wires from the trailer frame to the main ground of the trailer's wiring to see if that might help as well.

expert reply by: Jameson C