Troubleshooting Locked Trailer Brakes with Activator Brake Controller Displaying No Connection

Updated 02/27/2017 | Published 02/24/2017

Question:

I have a DrawTite activater2...I have a dot on the display when hooked to the trailer

asked by: Janie

Helpful Expert Reply:

Since the Activator Brake Controller 5100 does not have a display chances are that you have another Activator like the IV 5504. When this unit displays a decimal point (and the trailer has no brakes) then this indicates no connection between the brake circuit and the brake magnets. Since your tires are locking up it sounds like you either have a corrosion issue somewhere in the socket or plug or that your trailer connector is wired incorrectly, with the 12V power circuit being fed to the brakes (causing them to lock up) even though the controller shows no connection on the brake circuit.

Use of wiring adapters can cause this issue too. If you are using 6-way wiring, which can be configured in two different ways, you could also have this same problem with 12V power being fed to the brake circuit. Please refer to the linked article on trailer wiring for more on how connectors can be configured.

expert reply by: Adam R