Can A Brake Controller Be Turned Off So It Doesn't Drain Vehicle Battery

Published 09/17/2021

Question:

In you pros/cons section re the Curt C51170, there was mention that the controller could be a battery drain for a seldom-used vehicle. A couple of questions come to mind: a is that possibility unique to this controller, or is that general for most or all of them? b is there a way to prevent this - such as removing a fuse or adding a simple toggle switch that would turn off the unit while not in use?

asked by: Norman D

Helpful Expert Reply:

The fact that the Curt # C51170 has a direct connection to battery is not unique to the Curt Spectrum brake controller, they all install in that manner. This is purposely done as a safety measure, so the user can't forget to turn on the brake controller before they tow.

The good news is that after a short period of inactivity (varies from 10-20 minutes) the controller will go into a sleep mode, at which point they only draw a miniscule amount of power. Unless the vehicle will be left unattended for a few months, you wouldn't need to worry about the battery getting discharged.

If you plan on leaving the vehicle for months on end, you could unplug the controller's control box from the vehicle harness, but you'd need to remember to plug it back in before towing.

We don't recommend removing a fuse or installing a switch.

I've linked to a video that explains how the Curt Spectrum Brake Controller Works.

expert reply by: Mike L