Troubleshooting Electric Trailer Brakes
Updated 12/17/2018 | Published 12/15/2018
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Question:
Just connect power on one side of tire brake and is good but when i checked the next brake, no power coming through. What could be wrong ?
asked by: John W
Helpful Expert Reply:
It sounds like you may be troubleshooting your trailer's electric brake assemblies.
Electric trailer brakes, whether they are 12 x 2-inch models like # AKEBRK-7-SA or smaller brakes like 7-inch set # AKEBRK-2, need a solid connection at both of their magnet wire leads. Electric brakes have two wires; either one can be connected to the brake circuit or to ground since the brake magnets are non-polarized. This is why both brake wires on # AKEBRK-7-SA and # AKEBRK-2 are the same color as shown in the linked photo.
If one brake is getting power and another is not the first thing to check is the ground. If your trailer setup has the brakes grounded to the frame right near each brake you can disconnect the ground wire so that you can sand off that grounding point. The ground should be made to clean bare metal, to a surface that is free of paint, primer, rust, grease and dirt. If the trailer brakes are wired to a trailer-mounted junction box like # HS381-9000 you'll need to make sure that the main ground from the junction box to the frame is likewise made to clean bare metal.
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35 Ft 4-Way Trailer Wiring Harness - Wishbone Style - 42" Ground
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