Is 40 Amp Breaker Needed When Installing Brake Controller

Published 02/16/2022

Question:

What is the purpose of the 40 A Circuit Breaker on your wiring diagram for the 9030 Voyager brake controller? In your wiring diagram, i can see power going to the vehicle/s trailer connector at the back of the vehicle the blue wire, but what is the white wire coming out of the trailer connector and going to the positive terminal of the battery through a 40A breaker? Dont I need to provide a ground wire from the trailer connector mounted on the vehicle with the other end of it grounded to the frame of the vehicle? I figured I might need that ground wire to have a good ground between the trailer and vehicle. I am assuming that power goes out of the controller through the trailer connector and on to the brakes. The other side of the brakes would need to be grounded for them to work. I believe there is a hard ground wire that runs from the electric brakes, on the trailer, back to the trailer connector. Shouldnt there be a ground wire from the trailer connector on the vehicle to, perhaps, the frame of the vehicle for a hard ground? I I had a 1999 Chevy Tahoe and it was rear-ended totaled. I saved the controller and am now trying to mount it in a new-to-me 1999 Chevy Suburban. I did not install the controller in the Tahoe the first time and no longer have the Tahoe. The controller was installed by a local trailer shop on the Tahoe about five years ago and had been working fine. It does not have the plug and playinch wiring connectors. Thanks!!!

asked by: Verne S

Helpful Expert Reply:

In the brake controller wiring diagram there is a 40 amp breaker and circuit that is pictured but it is not required for the install and wiring of the brake controller. That's a totally separate circuit that is typically used for charging the trailer battery if present and does not actually need to be used on the trailer if it's not needed.

expert reply by: Jameson C