How to Wire Kelsey Energize Trailer Brake Controller

Updated 10/24/2018 | Published 10/23/2018

Question:

After wiring Kelsey energize white red blue and black the red light stays on doesnt suppose to come only when you apply the brake

asked by: Daniel

Expert Reply:

The four wires on trailer brake controllers are standardized so they always connect in the same way. The black wire connects to the battery positive terminal (through a circuit breaker) to deliver operating power to the controller; the white wire is ground; the blue wire carries the controller's output to the vehicle's trailer connector; and the red wire connects to the cold side of the brake light switch.

This red wire brings in the signal from the brake light switch and that tells the controller you are applying the brakes. The red wire must connect to the COLD side of the switch, which is the wire that carries voltage ONLY when you press the brake pedal. If you accidentally connected a different vehicle wire to the red wire this could explain why the controller thinks you are already pressing the pedal when you are not.

I was not able to find an online copy of the owner's manual for the Kelsey Energize controller. If you have the manual, you can check the troubleshooting section.

If not, I would focus on testing the vehicle wire you connected to the controller's red wire. Make sure this wire carries power ONLY when you press the pedal and at no other time. You can use a circuit tester like # PTW2993 to check the wire you connected to the red wire on the controller. If you do find that the correct brake wire is connected to the controller, then it may have internal damage.

expert reply by: Adam R