Can an Electric Trailer Brake Controller be Used on a 1999 Mack Truck CH600 with Air Brakes

Updated 02/07/2012 | Published 02/05/2012

Products Featured in This Question

Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller - 1 to 4 Axles - Proportional

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Pollak Circuit Breaker - Cycling/Automatic Reset - 30 Amp - Straight Mount Bracket

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Question:

90195 will it work on my mack truck

asked by: Jerry D

Expert Reply:

If you want to use a brake controller that does not require the use of the air brakes on your Mack Truck, then you can use an electric brake controller like # 90195. You will have to hardwire it to the vehicle and you will need a 7-Way trailer connector if your do not already have one.

I assume that on a truck of this size, you will have some type of trailer connector on it. It is just a matter of wiring it in correctly. On the brake controller, the white wire needs to be grounded to the battery, the black wire connects to the positive battery terminal via a 30 amp circuit breaker, # PK54530, the blue wire goes out to the trailer connector and the red wire is input from the brake switch. More on the red wire connection below.

Another option is to use the Hayes Air Actuated Trailer Brake Controller, # HA100400C. This unit works with the air brakes on the truck and then sends an electric signal back to the electric brakes on the trailer. For this set up, there is an input for an air line and 4 wires.

The red wire attaches to a dedicated brake light signal (a signal that only carries a brake light and no other functions). Blue goes back to the 7-Way trailer connector on the brake output circuit, see wiring diagram link. Black is 12 volt power in from the vehicle battery via a 30 amp circuit breaker.

expert reply by: Michael H