What Size Fuse or Circuit Breaker Should be Used for Brake Controller on a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado

Question

Question:

Is there any reason a 30 amp fuse should not be installed in a 4 brake application that calls for a 20 amp fuse? I would think not... but I am not sure. Thanks.

asked by: Danny

0

Expert Reply:

The reason you would not want to install a 30 amp fuse or circuit breaker in a 4 brake magnet application, when installing a Prodigy P2 brake controller, # 90885, is that the extra amperage required to break the circuit could cause an issue with the wiring on the trailer or vehicle because it would take longer for the circuit to spike to 30 amps. In applications with 6 to 8 brake magnets or more, more amperage is required to activate the brakes properly so the time for the amperage spike is shorter to break the circuit in a 30 amp circuit breaker or fuse, and does not present an issue.

For brake controllers we do not recommended that fuses be installed in place of circuit breakers. One reason for this is that an auto reset circuit breaker will reset if there is an intermittent short, once the short is no longer present on the circuit, and braking performance would be restored. With a fuse, once blown, braking performance is terminated until the fuse is physically replaced.

On your 2006 Silverado, the installation uses fuses under the hood, see brake controller installation article. For factory tow package wiring installations, fused circuits are typical. Chevrolet typically installs a 30 amp fuse at the power stud where the brake controller power wire is attached. Installing a 20 amp fuse in that location will protect your brake controller better as long as your trailers only have one or two brake axles.

expert reply by: Robert G

0

Answer 1

That will depend on the amount of brake axles your trailer has. . The 20 amp breaker like #9506P is for 1 and 2 axle brakes, and the 30 amp like part #38630 is for 3 and 4 axle brakes

view full answer...

Answer 2

What you described is perfectly normal. When not connected to a trailer the Prodigy P2 part #90885 will show two dots like you described. After a period of inactivity the controller will go into sleep mode. It doesn't turn off with the vehicle…

view full answer...

Answer 3

If all you want is to prevent the 12 volt power supply of your trailer battery wiring from backfeeding onto your vehicle wiring or vice versa what you need is a one-way diode like part #RM-690. This only allows current to flow in one direction so…

view full answer...

Answer 4

I think you are going in the right direction. I would definitely replace the 14 gauge wire going to the trailer brake magnets with 10 gauge wire or larger. Usually larger than 10 gauge is hard to get into the trailer connector though. I would also…

view full answer...

Answer 5

The reason that 10 Gauge #10-1-1 or 12 Gauge #12-1-1 wire is recommended for 10" brake assemblies, like part #AKEBRK-35-SA, is because they pull more power than the lights on your trailer. I believe the green wire you are referring to carries…

view full answer...

Answer 6

If you are looking for a power source for your brake controller, I do not recommend using a fuse tap. The brake controller's power needs to be ran through an appropriately sized circuit breaker and to the battery post. The installation…

view full answer...

Answer 7

To determine the correct brakes for your trailer we'll need to first know the axle capacity. The Dexter Electric Trailer Brake Kit #23-26-27 you were looking at are designed for 3,500lb axles. From there you'll need a hub/drum assembly, which…

view full answer...

Answer 8

Hey Zach, congrats on the new trailer! You can either look at the info sticker near the tongue of the trailer to find the weight ratings of each axle or, if you can't find that, there is a sticker in the middle of each axle showing what the…

view full answer...

Answer 9

It can be rather difficult to tell whether or not a fuse is blow which is why you need locate the exact one that is associated with the lighting circuit you are having issues with. If you were to just scan the entire fuse box then you would most…

view full answer...

Answer 10

Because the Complete Propane Tank Holder Mounting Kit for 20-lb Tanks, part #37220BL, is designed to work with three different sizes of tanks, I can't say what the distance between the two tanks you choose will be. However, I can tell you the…

view full answer...

Answer 11

That's actually a really good question! All the Curt Echo #C51180 needs to operate properly are the basic trailer lighting functions (found on a typical 4-Way), and then 12V power. If you already have a 4-Way/7-Way adapter like part #C57672 then…

view full answer...

Answer 12

The Tow Ready wiring harness #118571 is rated for 7.5 amps for brake lights and turn signals and 7.5 amps total for running lights. The fuse that goes on the power wire connection to the battery is a 10 amp fuse. The wire gauge of the long 12 volt…

view full answer...

What Size Fuse or Circuit Breaker Should be Used for Brake Controller on a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado

Products Featured in This Question

Product Page this Question was Asked From

Featured Help Information

Instructions

Miscellaneous Media

Continue Researching