What Do the Level and Gain Setting Do on a Tekonsha 9030 Voyager Brake Controller

Published 12/31/2008

Question:

What does the level and gain mean? How do I set it? Is it advantageous to set even if not towing? How do I turn it of if I choose to do so?

asked by: John

Expert Reply:

On the Tekonsha Voyager brake controller, part # 39510, there are seven levels of brake intensity. You will need to decide how much brake you want applied to your trailer in relation to the amount of brake you are applying in your vehicle.

For instance, let us say you are hauling a trailer that is heavier than your vehicle. If you are only lightly riding your brakes, you will need a little more power going to the brakes on your trailer to accomplish the same effect. In a case such as this, you will want to increase the gain, or level, on your brake controller. If the trailer is very light, you will want to decrease the level of gain on your brake controller.

These functions help you attain the smoothest ride possible. There is a dial on the left side of the front face on the controller, and you will turn this dial to the appropriate number. It does not really matter if the level is set when you are not towing, as the signal is not going anywhere anyway. The brake controller will turn itself off 15 minutes after the vehicle has been turned off. Brake controllers do not have an on/off switch because a dangerous situation could result if the controller was accidentally turned off while towing.

I attached installation instructions for this product for you to check out also.

expert reply by: Andi