Fuses and Circuit Breakers Required for a Brake Controller on a 2012 Chevrolet Silverado Work Truck

Published 11/22/2013

Question:

The installation instructions mentions the need for a 20 or 30 amp fuse if you do not have a custom wire harness but it does not say where it goes and the video does not mention it. I assume it goes on the red power wire. Could you please confirm?

asked by: William K

Expert Reply:

I believe the 20 or 30 amp fuse you are referring from the instructions is the 20 or 30 amp circuit breaker. If your truck did not come with the factory brake controller wiring under the dash, then new wiring will need to be ran for the brake controller. The 20 or 30 amp circuit breaker that you are referring to is installed on the blue wire going from the brake controller to the trailer connector. For this, I recommend the Brake Controller Wiring Kit - 20 amp, # 5505, or the Brake Controller Wiring Kit - 30 amp, # 5506. The amp rating of the circuit breaker will depend on the number of brake assemblies your trailer has. Use the 20 amp breaker if your trailer has 2 or 4 brake assemblies and the 30 amp breaker if your trailer has 6 or 8 brake assemblies.

Most GM trucks beginning in 2007 have the factory brake control wires tucked under the drivers side dash. GM did not include a plug-in style connector for these vehicles, so the wires are just cut and taped off. If you have those wires on your truck, then you will not need to worry about adding a 20 or 30 amp circuit breaker. You may have to install a 30 amp fuse and a 40 amp fuse in the under hood fuse box. I have attached a brake controller installation video on a 2011 Silverado that has the factory wires under the dash for you to check out.

expert reply by: John H