Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller Initial Set Up

Updated 07/10/2021 | Published 07/08/2021

Question:

HELLO, I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A SPECTRUM BRAKE CONTROLLER. WHEN CONNECTED TO MY TRAILER, WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKE ONLY 1 RED LIGHT LIGHTS UP, I THOUGHT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO LIGHT UP MORE WITH THE MORE YOU PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL. IS SOMETHING WRONG? HOW DO I CORRECT THIS.

asked by: JESUS A

Expert Reply:

The Curt Spectrum Trailer Brake Controller # C51170 is a proportional controller that uses an inertia sensor to adjust braking voltage that is sent to the trailer brakes. It has no way of reading the amount that you push on the brake pedal when the vehicle is not moving and will only send a little amount of power since it feels that there is no braking inertia. This prevents the trailer from pulling the vehicle to a hard stop when at very low speeds.

As you begin to drive with the trailer connected you will want to dial in the braking settings for proper braking with that trailer. Once you have the controller set it will self adjust for light and hard braking automatically by adjusting the output voltage to the trailer.

I have linked both the instructions below as well as our video that covers how to adjust the brake controller.

expert reply by: Bud M