Will Curt Echo Brake Controller Continue to Operate with Phone Turned Off

Updated 05/27/2020 | Published 11/11/2018

Question:

Will this unit function stand alone, or does this mobile phone and bluetooth connection have to be constantly paired with it the whole time you are towing? I am hoping that after initial setup that the phone could be put away or turned off and that this unit would still function. I would hate to have the phone battery die and all of a sudden be without trailer brakes...

asked by: Brian

Expert Reply:

After the Curt Echo Wireless Brake Controller # C51180 is installed and paired to your phone it will continue to function as a proportional brake controller whether or not your phone is on. If your phone happens to die mid-trip, the brake controller will continue to operate without issue with the most recent settings applied.

The only thing you will lose in this scenario is the manual override function, which is operated by touching the big red dot on the phone screen. This may be needed in an emergency brake situation. Because of this I highly recommend still having the phone available with the app pulled up when towing, ideally situated in view with a dash mount bracket like # RVS-CEL-M1.

This is a really nice, unique brake controller that is extremely easy to set up and use. We recently had a chance to play around with it and found it to work great.

expert reply by: Chris R

Brian

3/26/2020

Will you still need to connect the wire to the battery?

Chris R.

3/26/2020

If you are talking about the 12V circuit on the 7-Way, which would indeed get ran to the battery, then yes - this connection needs to be made for the Echo to function properly. This is really the only circuit that needs to be active. Most other controllers need the brake output pin as well.

Steve

5/24/2020

Does this conform to the California requirement and remove the need for a 30235-P on a 2007 dodge ram with factory 7 pin? (California Department of Transportation requires that your trailer's brake lights illuminate when the manual override is activated)