How Does a Proportional Brake Controller Work

Question

Question:

My truck, 2018 GMC Canyon with factory wiring for trailers except braking. Can you explain to me how the wiring kit that comes with the controller that sells for 174 works. It looks like will I would have to strip and splice. Kind of crude now days.

asked by: William B

0

Expert Reply:

Hey William, it looks like you're asking about the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller # 90195. This is a proportional brake controller, so basically how it works is the brake controller will activate the trailer brakes with the same intensity and at the same time as the tow vehicle.

This brake controller also automatically adjusts the trailer's braking based off of the deceleration of the tow vehicle.

expert reply by: Bryce D

0

William R.

7/22/2024

I understand how well your controller works. What I want to know is information about wiring the controller to the wiring harness under the dash. Is any information you will provide generic or is it specific to my truck?

Bryce D.

7/22/2024

@WilliamR I gotcha, so unfortunately you're still going to have to hard wire the wires to your truck. No plug is under the dash, but the needed wires are already run. The wiring diagram goes as follows: 1. Black - goes to the positive terminal on your battery; 2. Red - would need to get connected to the stoplight switch; 3. White - goes to a known ground; 4. Blue - goes to the brake output.

William

7/22/2024

@BryceD Ok, 1 and 3 I get. 2 means connect to the cold side of the brake switch which turns hot when the break petal is pressed. 4 is a mystery. Sounds like you mean connect to the 'hot ' side of the brake switch, which is on when the ignition switch is on. Correct?

Bryce D.

7/22/2024

@William Yes, that is correct.

See All (7) Replies to William R. ∨

Answer 1

To install the Tekonsha Prodigy P3 Trailer Brake Controller #90195 in your Freightliner S2RV chassis all you need is the install harness part #3027-P which plugs into a connector behind the steering column panel.

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Answer 2

Hey Tim, thanks for reaching out! Yes and no. The Prodigy P3 #90195 only comes with a pigtail that splices into factory wiring on any given vehicle so this specific part number won't be plug and play. With that being said, your motorhome likely…

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Answer 3

I can help you pick out a brake controller and figure out if your truck has been wired already or not. First lets start with the brake controller. I highly recommend the Tekonsha P3 #90195, because it is a proportional brake controller which means it…

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Answer 4

Having a truck that old with tow package wiring for installing a brake controller is a new one on me, but I can certainly help you determine which wire serves what function. Just about every brake controller out there will have four wires exiting the…

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Answer 5

Ford trucks like yours that came from the factory with a brake controller will display an error code on the instrument cluster if an aftermarket controller, such as a Tekonsha Prodigy P2 #90885 and its harness #3034-P, are installed. To have the TBC…

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Answer 6

If you sever the blue wire leaving the P3 controller part #90195 leaving enough room to reconnect it and test the end of the wire leaving the controller with a circuit tester like part #PTW2993 you should see voltage when you slide the manual…

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Answer 7

The electric brakes on your trailer are not intended to stop your entire rig - both your 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 Pickup and your hitched 6500-lb travel trailer - just the trailer itself. Your truck's hydraulic brakes have far more stopping power than…

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Answer 8

Most likely your problem is corrosion on the brake output circuit of the 7-way. I would inspect the 7-way on both your trailer and 2007 Ford F250 and clean the pins as necessary. I also attached an FAQ article on troubleshooting brake controller…

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Answer 9

The brake controller adapter for the Tekonsha brake controller #39523 is different from the 2002 Chevy Tahoe to the 2016 Chevy Silverado. The correct adapter for the 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 is the #3016. The adapter that fits…

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Answer 10

The trailer hitch that I recommend for a 2020 Ford Ranger is the Curt Trailer Hitch Receiver part #C13417 which is a custom bolt-on fit that does not require any cutting or drilling. The process should actually only take you around 20 to 40 minutes.…

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Answer 11

To install a brake controller like the Hopkins Agility part #HM47295 in your 2019 Ford F-150 you'd actually just need the #37185 which would plug into the 4-way you have at the rear of your truck and then you'd splice the blue wire of the…

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Answer 12

Since you mentioned that your brakes are brand new it's very likely you have a set of self-adjusting brake assemblies that just haven't adjusted fully to the point of activating strongly. This is a very common problem actually and has a very…

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How Does a Proportional Brake Controller Work

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